Software is the largest area of IT expenditures for most enterprises today. Software, unique from other areas of spend, replaces other things and brings new capabilities to your organization. Optimizing how you acquire, deploy, renew and govern
software assets provides the agility needed for business transformation and transparency to control costs.
ISG’s Software Advisory practice leverages our unmatched market insights, research analytics and expertise in validating your architecture, requirements, bill of materials, utilization and compliance to help you to effectively reduce costs, manage
software assets, mitigate software compliance risks and resolve software audit issues.
ISG brings the objectivity, research and expertise across the digital ecosystem to help you rapidly realize the benefits of your software acquisitions and the digital transformations they enable.
There are many reasons why Core Banking and associated platforms are being refreshed across the banking landscape –
Fintechs are attracting bank clients, and banks are challenged to handle the shift to digital engagement models. We can
answer your questions:
ISG can help you solve for your banking platform challenges, including building an actionable strategy and business cases, sourcing the right software and implementation partners, transforming your operating model to align with new capabilities, and realizing the value of your software investments.
Learn how to identify oversights that cause overspending and increase transparency around determining your commitment compared into your consumption.
Watch On-DemandReview Oracle’s licensing models and gain insights to Oracle’s negotiation practices and build and execute an effective sourcing and licensing strategy.
Watch On-DemandLearn how to build and execute an effective sourcing and licensing strategy to deliver cost savings and risk avoidance.
Watch On-DemandISG’s software advisory experts discuss Microsoft 365 and its refresh of hosted user productivity offerings, Microsoft’s “last mile” of traditional perpetual software, and Windows Enterprise back from the “brink.”
Watch On-DemandWhen it comes to IT cost control, an underused discipline is Software Asset Management. Watch to learn what you need to know to drive more value out of your software investments.
Watch On-DemandISG is a leader in proprietary research, advisory consulting and executive event services focused on market trends and disruptive technologies.
Get the insight and guidance you need to accelerate growth and create more value.
Learn MoreIn the realm of enterprise software-defined networking (SD-networking) solutions and services, organizations face a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by various strategic factors, including the emergence of new technologies, business imperatives and organizational processes. These factors are intricately aligned with global trends, such as enterprise
digitalization, business transformation, the need for enhanced security and the growing momentum toward cloudification. This study, conducted by the ISG Provider Lens™, focuses specifically on SD-networking within the U.S. market. It encompasses a broad spectrum of services and technologies, including managed SD-WAN, transformation services (consulting and advisory), edge technologies (including private enterprise 5G) and secure access service edge (SASE).
SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) is the unification of capabilities that previously existed in two separate offerings: SAP Datasphere and SAP Analytics Cloud. As its name implies, Analytics Cloud was SAP’s analytics offering. However, unlike many of its competitors, it also included planning capabilities. SAP Datasphere was the evolution of SAP’s data warehouse as a service (formerly called SAP Data Warehouse Cloud) and included data management, data integration, data federation, data governance and data catalog capabilities.
Our 2025 research divides the workforce-management landscape into five focused guides—WFM Basics, WFM Suites, WFM for Healthcare, WFM for Manufacturing and WFM for Retail. Each report applies a common evaluation lens yet weights criteria to reflect the operational realities, compliance pressures and innovation priorities unique to its scope. Together, they provide a panoramic view of the market and a set of targeted benchmarks that let buyers zero in on the capabilities—and partners—best aligned to their context.
ISG Software Research is expanding our ISG Buyers Guide™ coverage to include the topic of sustainability. Our buyers guide will focus on sustainability exclusively rather than the full spectrum of environmental, social and governance topics. One reason is that gathering, managing, analyzing and reporting environmental data under the various frameworks and statutes presents enterprises with considerably greater challenges than the other two. For most, it is likely the least well defined and the hardest for acquiring and managing environmental-related data. ISG Research asserts that through 2027, one-half of enterprises will have insufficient data and software to adequately measure their environmental, social and governance metrics to inform their governance strategy, risk management and targets.
The six costliest words in managing a finance department are, “We’ve always done it this way.” The record-to-report (R2R) cycle describes the process of finalizing and summarizing the financial activities of a business for a specific accounting period—typically a month, quarter or fiscal year. It is important to note that R2R exclusively covers the activities between recording (keeping the books) and reporting (publishing financial statements and management accounts). It involves completing various tasks to ensure that all revenue, expense and other financial transactions are properly recorded, accounts are balanced and accurate financial statements can be prepared.
There are two common models. Some vendors embed AI in the base product, which can raise subscription costs, even if usage is limited. Others offer AI as a higher tier or separate module, letting customers adopt when they determine the time is right. Pricing can be per user, per unit or based on tokens or consumption.
Validate total cost of ownership across delivery models, including migration and exit costs. Review data rights, responsible-AI terms, compliance and regulatory fit, security and processing standards and service levels. Confirm how usage is metered (e.g., tokens or units) and whether costs are forecastable.
Finding leverage with large providers can be difficult. Start by scrutinizing the bill of materials to remove waste. Set fair targets using market data, assign clear owners and an escalation path, and structure the negotiation around outcomes, so pricing and terms improve as the software delivers measurable value.
Use four anchors: Price-to-value (align pay with outcomes delivered), time-to-value (get clear on pace of benefits after purchase), flexibility (ensure capacity to adjust as needs change), and predictability (get clarity on cost for expansions, true-ups and renewals).
Run a software asset management program with accurate entitlement and deployment records, periodic internal reviews and clear governance. Common audit triggers include reduced spend, merger or acquisition activity and any major changes to your environment. Proactive hygiene reduces exposure and speeds resolution.
