Gartner Insights Abstract

Take Control of Your SAP License Audit to Minimize Costs

Published: 05 August 2024

Summary

SAP on-premises license audits are a risk that customers must prepare for. IT sourcing, procurement and vendor management leaders receiving an SAP audit notification should use this research to understand and minimize compliance issues, navigate the audit process and optimize settlement costs.

Included in Full Research

Overview

Key Findings
  • SAP clients struggle to maintain a compliant licensing position, due to the complexity of SAP’s licensing, various metrics and lack of internal software asset management processes to address common SAP compliance issues, such as nonexpired users or multiple logons.

  • SAP clients frequently don’t negotiate the SAP audit process, which may result in a broader scope than what would have been audited if the requests were challenged.

  • SAP is generally contractually entitled to charge list price and backmaintenance for out-of-compliance licenses, putting SAP customers in an extremely weak negotiating position where findings are identified.

Recommendations

IT sourcing, procurement and vendor management

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Analysts:

Calum McDonald Ciaran Hudson

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