Software asset management audit company IPR-Insights opens branch in Romania

IPR-Insights officially launched its branch in Romania to offer companies, for the first time on the market, independent expertise from the manufacturer, in order to reduce software costs and eliminate risks related to the acquisition and management of licenses.

Most companies and organizations in Romania pay far more than they should for their software licenses, and the audits of software manufacturers, which are becoming more frequent, increase the risks and costs of licensing.

Sandor Zsoldos, CEO at IPR-Insights, pointed out that the company he runs addresses the user directly, that software assets are critical elements of IT systems, and that their management requires complementary knowledge of IT, finance and legislation. He added that mismanagement of licenses leads to additional costs and significant risks for the company: legal risks, generated by the illegal use of the programs, and financial risks, caused by unnecessary purchases or too expensive software licenses. That is why software asset management (SAM) and software license optimization (SLO) procedures and technologies are vital tools. According to a Gartner study, these software costs can be optimized by up to 30 percent.

“In addition to the significant cost reductions that can be achieved by efficiently managing software at the company level, the threat posed by the audits of major software manufacturers is constantly increasing for all users. Moreover, often under-licensing or over-licensing affects companies, and their IT and licensing administrators are increasingly open to proactive software program management (SAM). As in Poland, where we launched the subsidiary four years ago, in Romania there are currently no consultants and no software management solutions that are independent of the manufacturer. It is a niche in the market that offers us the opportunity to develop and offer profitable solutions to Romanian companies,” stated the CEO.

He pointed out that the SAM market in the world is growing and is expected to reach USD 2.32 billion in 2022 compared to USD 1.16 billion in 2017. According to Gartner figures, the costs of implementing SAM worldwide are small compared to the benefits. In 2018, the SAM costs were USD 1.33 billion, while the savings achieved thus amounted to USD 119 billion. By 2020, the SAM cost estimate is USD 1.76 billion, and the economy for companies is USD 140 billion.

After the successful launch of the Polish subsidiary, IPR-Insights enters the second major regional market, the one in Romania, appreciated by the Country Manager Octavian Filip as being very similar to the Polish one and with no independent SAM consultants.

“The need to reduce costs is the first thing I hear in discussions with any company. For these, the result of a software asset management (SAM) project exceeds any expectations. I am extremely pleased to be able to offer such services from the position of independent consultant of IPR-InsightsS Romania,” said Octavian Filip.

For the expansion in Romania, over EUR 1.4 million was invested in the development of SAM installation and expertise capabilities, the five-year business plan foreseeing revenues of about EUR 1.2 million in 2024, similar to those achieved in Hungary in 2017. Two more people will soon join the team and work on client projects together with the more than 30 consultants in Hungary and Poland, said Octavian Filip, the plan being for the local team to be consolidated continuously to keep up with existing projects.

Established in 2002 in Hungary, IPR-Insights has over 15 years of expertise in Software Asset Management and a dynamic presence in Central and Eastern Europe. The company serves a portfolio of over 150 clients and has completed more than 550 Software Asset Management projects.