Software licensing
Software licensing can be a contentious and complex area for IT managers, but is essential to getting value from your software investments. While new models such as software as a service (SaaS), open source and freeware offer new ways to source software, auditing and compliance for your existing software estate remain an important part of IT governance. We analyse the latest trends in this important field.
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News
30 Apr 2025
FCA wants ‘safe place’ for finance firms to test artificial intelligence
Financial services regulator proposes artificial intelligence testing environment as part of its AI Lab Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2025
Fujitsu UK staff will get bonus despite Post Office scandal fallout
Employees will receive bonuses as Fujitsu UK reaches sales target - suggesting that its pause on bidding for public sector business has had limited impact Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2023
TSB and Fintech Scotland lab open for applications
High street bank opens applications to its latest fintech programme in partnership with Fintech Scotland Continue Reading
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News
21 Jul 2023
SAP’s Klein sees $1tn market for AI business software
Enterprise software company embeds AI across product portfolio to improve efficiency in business processes Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2023
Brits are using healthcare apps without proper checks
As mobile health app acceptance increases, people are taking risks by using them without any advice from their medical professionals, finds survey Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2023
Oracle shifts database support goalpost
Oracle has updated its maintenance and support across its relational database family – we explore the implications Continue Reading
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Blog Post
23 Jun 2023
Doing much more, with even less to spend
The nature of IT means that there are numerous ways to achieve more-or-less the same result.Some options are technically superior; others may be lower cost or simpler to manage. With so much choice ... Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2023
Software spending grows fastest as finance firms spend $652bn on tech in 2023
Banks and investment firms are increasing their spending on IT despite gloomy economic outlook, but priorities have changed Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2023
Enterprise software price hikes risk derailing digital transformation
Buying software and cloud services for strategic initiatives is all very well as long as the price is stable. But costs are escalating, which is impacting value Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2023
Belgian bank leaps forward in digital transformation through core banking outsourcing deal
Online bank moves to a software-as-a-service core banking platform to ‘leapfrog’ in-house development Continue Reading
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Blog Post
18 May 2023
Legacy IT: A technical debt field of dreams
In Field of Dreams, while walking in his cornfield, Kevin Costner’s character hears a whisper: “If you build it, he will come,” which, without giving the plot away, inspires him to build a baseball ... Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2023
Defra's tech review reveals legacy IT issues across government
The Public Accoubts Committee recently found that Defra has been unable to measure inefficiencies due to running legacy IT Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2023
Defra’s legacy IT unsupported and ill-equipped for digital services
A Public Accounts Committee report has found many applications are based on legacy IT and paper-basd systems, holding back digitisation Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2023
Bing AI push rings in price change
Microsoft’s large investment in OpenAI has seen an expansion of AI in Bing. This appears to be reflected in new Bing API licensing Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2023
Lloyds Bank joins industry IT standards group
UK banking giant Lloyds Banking Group has joined an industry group which promotes global IT standards Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
Banks don’t want to develop fintech in-house
Banks are increasingly partnering with fintechs to gain access to their platforms, with few interested in developing such capabilities in-house Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2023
Controversial Fujitsu contract with Post Office extended after technical challenges moving to cloud
The Post Office has extended a contract with Fujitsu after being unable to resolve technical issues related to migrating its IT to the cloud Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2023
How millions of consumers and businesses are using open banking
SMEs and consumers are increasingly turning to open banking services to help them manage their businesses and lives Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2023
UK government study reveals 50,000 people employed in AI sector
Government publishes baseline analysis of UK artificial intelligence sector as it pins hopes on future growth Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2023
SolarWinds doubles down on APAC business
SolarWinds teams up with key systems integrators in the APAC region to develop joint offerings as it bolsters its capabilities in observability and autonomous operations Continue Reading
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News
06 Mar 2023
Fintech industry calls for regulatory change to help struggling consumers
Fintech trade body calls for regulatory changes to allow fintechs to broaden services for people struggling in the cost-of-living crisis Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2023
Shawbrook Bank uses Pegasystems for low-code business process rewrite
SME lending and savings bank Shawbrook Bank is using a low-code platform from Pegasystems to rewrite outdated business processes Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2023
Government announces national fintech hub
The UK Treasury has announced a centre for fintech innovation, two years after a major report recommended one Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2023
Oracle goes on hunt for Java non-compliance
Non-Oracle organisations warned to check if they comply with Java SE licensing after Oracle introduces radical changes Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2023
Santander SME platform harnesses Salesforce
Bank platform that helps UK small and medium-sized enterprises expand export opportunities is built on cloud technology from Salesforce Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2023
Seven million people in UK used open banking services in 2022
More than seven million people used services that harnessed open banking last year, with 1.2 million of these first-time users Continue Reading
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Podcast
16 Feb 2023
Enterprise open source: A Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
We speak to Spotify’s open source tech lead, Per Ploug, on supplier relationship management in open source Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2023
Executive interview: Putting a value on open source
Spotify’s open source tech lead discusses why open source is failing those whose free time is dedicated to maintaining code Continue Reading
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News
30 Jan 2023
Former Fujitsu staff under police investigation to face Post Office IT scandal inquiry
Two former Fujitsu IT professionals being investigated for potential perjury will face Post Office Horizon public inquiry in May Continue Reading
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E-Zine
16 Jan 2023
CW EMEA: Protecting the privacy of schoolchildren
In this month’s CW EMEA, we look at how schools in Germany have stopped using Microsoft Office 365 over lack of clarity over how data is collected, shared and used. We also delve into how former UK spy boss Richard Dearlove leaked names of MI6 secret agent recruiters in China to back an aggressive right-wing US campaign against tech company Huawei. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2022
EU fails to protect human rights in surveillance tech transfers
Transfers of surveillance technology from the European Union to African governments are carried out without due regard for the human rights impacts, the European Ombudsman has found after a year-long investigation into the European Commission’s management of an aid fund Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2022
Microsoft 365 banned in German schools over privacy concerns
German schools cannot legally use Microsoft Office 365 over lack of clarity about how data is collected, shared and used, as well as the potential for unlawful transfer of European citizens’ personal data to the US Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Nov 2022
Gartner: Three key tasks needed to decommission applications
A guide to slimming down a full portfolio of applications that are expensive to maintain and difficult to adapt to business needs Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2022
Russia risks shortage of PCs and software
Russian consumers and businesses could face a shortage of IT equipment including PCs and software Continue Reading
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E-Zine
27 Sep 2022
Making digital a key ingredient at Mondelez
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to snack giant Mondelez, the owner of Cadbury, about how AI and data are transforming its business. SAP is increasing support costs for the first time in years – we assess the impact on customers. And a Ukrainian tech CEO tells us how his company kept going despite the Russian invasion. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2022
US to see huge increase in embedded finance transactions
Retailers and other non-financial businesses are increasingly offering their customers financial services, such as credit and payment options Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2022
Blancco works with charity to provide IT for African schools
Blancco is providing data sanitisation and erasure software to The Turing Trust so that old IT equipment can be securely reused by school children in Sub-Saharan Africa, instead of adding to world’s growing e-waste problem Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2022
Finnish AI Region drives digital growth in small businesses
Helsinki-based SMEs are being offered support and resources to help them get the best out of artificial intelligence technology to improve their operations and create services to sell Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jul 2022
Learn the basics of SaaS licensing and pricing models
SaaS licensing can be tricky to navigate, and a wrong choice could cost you. To get it right, examine the different types of licenses and the main pricing models. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2022
Legacy UK customs system stops accepting registration requests
HMRC closes new applications to legacy customs system as its shutdown nears Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2022
Fintech firm chooses Salesforce software to support growth
Revolut is to use Saleasforce software to support sales and marketing as part of its expansion plans Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Jun 2022
Government wrong to pass the buck on computer evidence reform
IT expert James Christie tells Computer Weekly why he is disappointed that the government has no plans to change the rules on the use of computer evidence in court Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Jun 2022
Swedish entrepreneurs capture the world’s attention with eye-tracking technology
A growing number of killer apps are driving the uptake of eye-tracking systems – and Sweden is positioned to play a leading role Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2022
Prison and Probation Service’s tagging ambition ‘outstripped its ability to deliver’
HM Prison and Probation Service’s programme to transform the tagging of offenders has failed to deliver after software platform was scrapped Continue Reading
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News
31 May 2022
Heineken puts employees in charge of their own careers with new HR system
According to Sanne Noordam, head of SAP SuccessFactors in the Netherlands, companies need to look and listen more closely to the needs of employees in order to attract and retain them Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2022
How Rimini Street is growing its footprint in ASEAN
Rimini Street is expanding its reach in ASEAN as more companies, such as Malaysian carmaker Proton, look for cheaper software maintenance options Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2022
Most big businesses are taking up banking as a service
API-based banking services allow corporate customers to offer financial services without the need for heavy tech development or regulatory approval Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2022
How Carrefour is lowering its Oracle footprint
Migrating core business applications requires a multi-pronged approach, so what remains on-prem, and where does SaaS fit? Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2022
Nationwide Building Society streamlines digital onboarding through API
Building society is improving its digital onboarding process through application programming interface-based technology from a US startup Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Feb 2022
Finland brings cryostats and other cool things to quantum computing
Not only is Finland the clear leader in refrigeration technology for quantum computers, but it also leads in fundamental research into the underlying quantum information theory Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2022
Dutch software engineers join campaign for research funding
Software researchers from all over Europe are sounding the alarm: to maintain a strong international competitive position, more financial resources must be committed to software research Continue Reading
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Definition
25 Jan 2022
software audit
A software audit is an internal or external review of a software program to check its quality, progress or adherence to plans, standards and regulations. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Twelve million jobs to be lost to automation in Europe by 2040
Millions of current jobs in Europe will be carried out by robots as software robots automate processes Continue Reading
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News
13 Jan 2022
Ikano Bank’s team of robots exceeds 2021 targets
How the Swedish bank’s robotic automation project reached its time-saving target with time to spare, automating 168 processes, creating an in-house RPA team and embedding automation in every department’s thinking Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Dec 2021
A trial relying on computer evidence should start with a trial of the computer evidence
Learning from the Post Office Horizon scandal - the most widespread miscarriage of justice in recent British legal history Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2021
European finance firms increase open banking spend
Financial services firms are increasing investment in open banking capabilities, with improvements to payment initiation and onboarding capabilities expected Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2021
Can UAE become a world leader in AI?
The UAE has launched multiple programmes as it bids to be a world-leading location for artificial intelligence innovation Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2021
Stockholm and Copenhagen: Different IT innovation journeys, similar success
Swedish and Danish capitals have build compelling tech startup success stories, and now rub shoulders with the likes of San Francisco Continue Reading
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Blog Post
08 Oct 2021
Is it a Suite, Package, Bundle or Platform?
People have been selling collections of products and tools for centuries, and with the advent of commercial IT and off-the-shelf software, IT suppliers were quick to follow. There are various ways ... Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2021
Nordic central banks drive fintech and digital currency
Banks are working together through a cross-border financial technology development hub Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2021
Estonian government opens its digital heart to tech testers
Tech startups are being invited to build and test their products and services on the Estonian government’s IT estate for free, in return for use of the software developed Continue Reading
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News
18 Aug 2021
Thames Valley Police drops ERP system after spending £14m
Thames Valley Police exits tri-force programme to develop new enterprise resource planning software for the police Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2021
GoStudent: Europe’s newest edtech unicorn
Europe’s biggest ed-tech unicorn reaches unicorn status and tests sector traditions Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2021
Global fintech investments reach new heights
The global financial technology industry is emerging from the pandemic-triggered slowdown with record levels of investment to fuel further growth Continue Reading
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News
23 Jul 2021
TfL under fire for relying on Uber facial-verification data in licensing decisions
TfL is facing numerous legal appeals from Uber drivers as a result of its decisions to revoke their private licences on the basis of mistaken information from Uber’s systems Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2021
Fintech sector continues to attract investment as Revolut hits $33bn valuation
Revolut has become the most valuable financial technology firm in the UK after its latest round of investment, with plans for a ‘superapp’ Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2021
Klarna’s alumni thrive with new ventures after witnessing path to success
Former Klarna employees are using their experiences with the fintech giant to create the next wave of Swedish tech startups Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Jun 2021
reverse-engineering
Reverse-engineering is the act of dismantling an object to see how it works. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2021
Server-side licensing leads to hike in public cloud prices
Changes made over the last year or so to protect open source revenue streams is starting to impact public cloud managed service costs Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2021
Why ITAM can aid IT-fuelled business recovery
As a sense of normality returns, we look at why IT asset management is the stealth tool for clearing a path towards greater digitisation Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2021
Grafana Labs switches open source licensing to stem strip-mining tactics
Public cloud providers have been accused of strip-mining open source products, offering them as managed services, cutting a valuable revenue Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2021
UK fintech investment hits new heights as government announces increased support
The UK fintech sector saw high levels of investment in the first quarter of this year, with increased support from the government Continue Reading
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E-Zine
13 Apr 2021
The evolution of RPA
In this week’s Computer Weekly, our latest buyer’s guide looks at the future of robotic process automation (RPA). Google’s legal victory against Oracle over the use of Java APIs has huge significance for software developers. And we find out how expectations of IT have grown as firms prepare for the post-Covid workplace. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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12 Apr 2021
US court issues Google API with Java ruling
US Supreme Court rules that specifying an API function call to enable third-party developers to access functionality should not be copyrighted Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2021
Microsoft accused of stifling secondhand software market
In 2012, UsedSoft won a case for second user software, which has enabled the market to grow across Europe. But it is now under threat Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2021
US court issues Google API with Java ruling
US Supreme Court rules that specifying an API function call to enable third-party developers to access functionality should not be copyrighted Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2021
Clarification needed on IT ‘super-deduction’ allowance
Chancellor announces that companies investing in qualifying new plant and machinery assets will be able to claim a ‘super-deduction’ allowance Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Feb 2021
How colocation fits alongside a cloud-native architecture
IT departments are on a cloud-native roadmap to become more agile, but they are constrained by the risks involved in migrating core systems and data Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Feb 2021
Why Brexit will make software licence transfers and database copyright harder for UK firms
Brexit will make it more difficult for UK companies to sell unused software licences and to enforce their database rights in Europe. Firms will face a legislative disadvantage over AI-generated databases Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Feb 2021
Audi fine-tunes its digital performance to boost online car sales
In this week’s Computer Weekly, the digital chief at Audi UK discusses how the carmaker is tackling the slump in new car sales. One of the largest global malware botnets has been taken down, but how much of a blow will it be for cyber criminals? And we hear how one county council made huge savings on its SAP installation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2021
CIO interview: Deryck Mitchelson, director of digital, NHS Scotland
We speak to NHS Scotland’s head of digital about the IT to help ease the pressure on the health service, which has intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2021
How Nottinghamshire County Council saved loads of money on SAP
The council was paying £100,000 a year just to keep ECC patches up to date and needed to find savings to support frontline services Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Jan 2021
The five tenets of quality ITAM
At the end of last year we looked at some of ITAM’s failings. This time we explore how to improve ITAM Continue Reading
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Opinion
21 Dec 2020
HANA or ‘na’?
With alternatives abundant, many organisations are holding off on enterprise software upgrades Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Dec 2020
What is wrong with ITAM?
IT asset management should be an important pillar in an organisation's digital transformation journey, but it doesn't seem to be working Continue Reading
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News
16 Dec 2020
Lancashire police integrate body-worn video into digital policing app
Body-worn video integration will transform Lancashire police’s time-consuming and manual procedures into an efficient digital workflow, but claims that BMV will increase transparency and accountability are not backed by the evidence Continue Reading
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News
26 Nov 2020
Robots taking jobs, but creating careers
Robotic process automation developers tell Computer Weekly about the job they never expected to be doing Continue Reading
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News
24 Nov 2020
Three options for next year’s IT strategy
CIOs are under pressure to reduce costs, but they also need to modernise applications and help their businesses return to profitability Continue Reading
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News
19 Nov 2020
Cut jobs or cut software spending?
With little or no growth in IT budgets, IT chiefs will be tasked with cutting costs in 2021. Improving IT asset management can help to avoid job cuts Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Oct 2020
Forrester: Why tagging should be used to manage hybrid assets
With complex hybrid environments, there is a need to apply IT asset management best practices across cloud and on-premise systems Continue Reading
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E-Zine
20 Oct 2020
Why is IBM splitting in two and what does it mean for CIOs?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, IBM is splitting in two, hiving off its services business to focus on hybrid cloud – we examine what it means for CIOs. Our new buyer’s guide looks at how intelligent workload management can cut cloud complexity. And we analyse how getting backup right can help tackle ransomware threats. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2020
Coronavirus raises the software audit stakes
IT asset managers say they are receiving more requests from software publishers to check for licence discrepancies Continue Reading
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Blog Post
01 Oct 2020
Considerations for 2021 IT budget
With the start of the fourth quarter IT leaders are likely to be scratching their heads, to figure out where best to spend whatever IT budget has been allocated for next year. No one could have ... Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2020
Over two million Brits using open banking
Data shows more than two million people in the UK are now taking control of their financial data through open banking Continue Reading
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News
25 Sep 2020
Tips on breaking free from long-term IT contracts
Far-reaching, multi-year contracts are less popular these days, but IT departments often find the renewal date is still years away Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2020
Green Cargo extends Rimini contract to keep legacy SAP backend running
Mainframe and SAP to provide systems of record, with real-time data for new digitisation initiatives, built on multi-cloud, RPA and low-code platforms Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2020
Hyundai-Kia expands Rimini Oracle contract to regional offices
Car manufacturer expands its existing third-party support contract. Savings will help fund autonomous and electric car development Continue Reading
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News
04 Sep 2020
HotelBeds uses API management platform to reduce cost
HotelBeds has switched from its legacy suppler to a licensed service in an effort to reduce API management costs after traffic doubles Continue Reading
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News
05 Aug 2020
Inside Juniper’s radical IT transformation
Western Australia’s aged care provider Juniper embarked on an aggressive strategy to completely transform its IT operations in just two years Continue Reading
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News
04 Aug 2020
Nordic enterprises look for SAP price reductions as they navigate Covid-19
Businesses in the Nordics are using SAP Cloud Platform to address Covid-19 challenges and are also seeking price reductions Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2020
Private equity leads Nordic IT sector consolidation
Private equity firms and industrial giants are triggering mergers and acquisitions in the Nordic tech sector as investment slows amid the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2020
HSBC chooses AWS for public cloud business operations
HSBC will use a cloud platform from Amazon Web Services across its business operations to accelerate its public cloud use Continue Reading