My biggest time sink isn't broken hardware, it's license paperwork

I hate how much time I waste on software license audits. Every quarter, I have to check every computer in the office to make sure licenses are valid. It takes days, and half the time, the records don't match up. Last month, I spent three hours on the phone with a vendor because their system said we were overlicensed, but we weren't. This means real problems like slow systems or crashes get pushed back. I feel like a paperwork clerk instead of a tech. Why do companies make this so hard? How do you handle license checks without losing your mind?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_zara2mo ago

Ugh, I feel that pain. I finally set up a cheap desktop inventory tool that runs automatically and spits out a simple report. I use Spiceworks, it's free. Now I just check the report against our purchase orders once a quarter instead of touching every machine. It gave me my sanity back.

xenar142mo ago

Wait, Spiceworks is actually free? No way, most of those tools bleed you dry with licenses.

troyp372mo ago

Did you also think free tools were too good to be true?