For the METRO project, challenges for the SAM managers included: complete transparency over the decentralized IT infrastructure, risk assessment at any time, compliance for the most important software vendors, and cost-optimized software deployment across all METRO companies in more than 30 countries.

As a basis for successful SAM, the first task by METRO was to achieve maximum data quality. Raynet’s Technology Asset Inventory solution RayVentory made it possible to consolidate the data and provide more than 60 METRO-specific reports in an automated way.

Further processing takes place in USU Software Asset Management. Today, this guarantees not only the minimization of legal and financial risks, but also of software costs. For example, METRO is able to immediately identify unused licenses on the more than 80,000 clients and always adjust the portfolio.

"We are proud that we have created the basis for sustainable and economical management and optimization of the entire hardware and software portfolio at METRO with our technology and our partner USU," said a pleased Ragip Aydin, Managing Director of Raynet.

The SAM@Helaba project started in mid-2018 with the goal of introducing holistic software asset management (SAM) based on the PROSA concept of Processes, Roles, Organization, System, and Awareness. Software is no longer procured exclusively via the classic software purchasing process, since many products, goods and services already include software.

In the course of the project, the Helaba purchasing department was able to expand the existing SAM structures and integrate processes and organization into the product group purchases. The USU Software Asset Management solution was successfully introduced, and awareness of SAM was substantially increased. As a result of the new SAM orientation, the transparency of software licenses was improved and significant cost savings or cost avoidance were realized. "I am very pleased that the SAM@Helaba project has also been judged a success by an external jury of experts," said Dr. Sebastian Fass from Helaba.

"We congratulate our customers on their exceptional project success, which the prestigious awards also reflect. The two strategic projects show the important value of SAM and demonstrate innovative solutions that should interest other companies," said Olaf Diehl, Director of SAM Product Management at USU.

About METRO AG
METRO AG is a listed international wholesale company headquartered in Düsseldorf. As the management holding company, METRO AG heads the group and focuses on the tasks of group management and the administration of METRO Wholesale. This has a total of 678 stores in 24 different countries worldwide and also runs a supply business in 10 other countries.

You can find more information at www.metroag.de/en.

About Helaba
The Helaba Group – more than 6000 people at 18 locations in Germany and around the world. We help our customers achieve their goals, both nationally and globally. As a reliable commercial bank, a central bank and partner for the German Sparkassen as well as a committed regional development bank.

You can find all further information at www.helaba.com/int.

About USU Software AG
As a leading provider of software and services for IT and customer service management, USU enables companies to master the demands of today’s digital world. Global organizations use our solutions to cut costs, become more agile and reduce risks – with smarter services, simpler workflows, and better collaboration. With more than 40 years of experience and locations worldwide, the USU team brings customers into the future.

In addition to USU GmbH, which was founded in 1977, the subsidiaries USU Technologies GmbH, USU Solutions GmbH, USU Solutions Inc. and USU SAS also belong to USU Software AG (ISIN DE 000A0BVU28), which is listed in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange.

Further information: https://www.usu.com