ASAP Software's Titling Engine Revs Up Inventory Automation

Business Wire, Sept 14, 2006

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. -- ASAP Software has developed a software titling service that works with desktop management tools to produce clean, analysis-ready software inventory reports. The global software services and hardware provider will introduce the ASAP Titling Engine Service (TES) at the Gartner IT Asset Management Summit in Orlando, Fla., Sept. 18 - 20. E[acute accent]Software titling is an important part of tracking applications installed across an enterprise, yet it's a challenge even for the best desktop management solutions because of inconsistencies in naming conventions and the way management tools read applications and executables. Furthermore, most tools don't have versioning capabilities, and updating applications is often done through additional queries or manually, creating room for errors and taking more time. Inventory data produced by these solutions needs additional, manual input before it is usable for further analysis. E[acute accent]The ASAP Titling Engine Service (TES) solves these and other problems by leveraging ASAP's database of more than 30 million executables to standardize publisher names and software titles. The result is more concise inventory reports that are ready for further analysis in minutes. E[acute accent]"Software inventory has long been a vital function within desktop management tools. We've taken the next step to give customers a portal that allows them to find titles that are recognized by the inventory tools, remove manual processes and help them reduce the number of queries required to give them accurate data," said Cindy Grogan, vice president, asset management solutions at ASAP. "The ASAP Titling Engine Service runs within the framework of the customer's existing desktop management solution, so there is no need to open multiple applications to run inventory reports." E[acute accent]A typical desktop management solution might show the same publisher names different ways. A top-tier publisher, such as Adobe or Microsoft, might be represented half a dozen or more ways. Then every update of these applications (such as Acrobat 7.0, 7.01, etc), is represented as a separate installation. With this methodology, an inventory on 1,000 PCs can be nearly impossible to analyze without additional queries and sometimes manual processes. E[acute accent]The ASAP TES normalizes the publishers' names and application titles to eliminate these queries and processes. It categorizes software inventory data and automates the identification of the software to create a thorough list of applications installed on Windows-based devices. TES users can then easily compare a standard software inventory report structure to the software purchase records for license compliance reporting. The service also allows customers to add titles for their proprietary applications. E[acute accent]"Knowing where proprietary applications are installed is every bit as important as tracking commercial applications to ensure end users have the tools they need to work effectively," said Grogan.

E[acute accent]About ASAP Software

E[acute accent]ASAP Software is a leading provider of IT products and services to businesses and institutions in North America and Europe. ASAP is tightly focused on helping clients evaluate, purchase, track, deploy and support their software and hardware assets. The Company employs a team of Certified Software Managers and authorized hardware experts, and provides an industry-leading asset management solution. ASAP offers a comprehensive portfolio of services to help its clients control IT purchasing and management functions. Its award-winning eBusiness solutions, E-Way and eSMART, utilize comprehensive electronic reporting to help them manage IT assets and volume license contracts cost-effectively, maintain software compliance, and monitor software usage. ASAP is a specialty business of Buhrmann, one of the world's leading suppliers of office products.