Steps Toward Improvement
The VA's Office of Information Technology (OIT) has begun implementing changes:
The Trump Executive Order Impact
Adding complexity to VA’s challenges is Executive Order 14125 (March 20, 2025). The EO consolidates federal procurement for common goods and services, including IT, under the General Services Administration (GSA).
While consolidation could potentially increase purchasing power for commodity software like Microsoft Office, concerns exist about:
- GSA's ability to handle VA's specialized healthcare software needs
- Impact on VA's ability to quickly procure mission-critical software
- Reduction in GSA's budget and staff while increasing responsibilities
Within 30 days of the order's issuance, GSA was designated as the executive agent for all government-wide acquisition contracts for IT (FedScoop). However, the order allows GSA to "defer or decline" this role when necessary to ensure continuity of service, which may provide flexibility for specialized VA software.
How The SIE Group Approaches Software Asset Management
At SIE, we understand the critical importance of effective software license management. Our teams have helped organizations similar to the VA identify and eliminate waste in their software portfolios while ensuring operational needs are met.
Our approach includes:
- Comprehensive Software Inventory: Creating a complete inventory of all software assets, including detailed usage metrics.
- License Optimization: Analyzing software usage patterns to identify unused licenses and opportunities for consolidation.
- Vendor Management: Negotiating favorable contract terms and challenging restrictive licensing practices.
- Governance Framework: Establishing clear policies and procedures for software procurement and management.
- Automated Monitoring: Implementing tools for continuous monitoring of software usage and compliance.
Take Action for Better Software Management
Whether you're managing IT for a government agency, healthcare organization, or private corporation, effective software license management is essential for controlling costs and maximizing value.
Poor software management will drain your budget and impact operations. If you want to prevent these negative outcomes, contact SIE today for a comprehensive software asset management assessment.
Schedule a Consultation
Our experts will help you identify opportunities for cost savings and operational improvements through better software license management.
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The SIE Group provides expert IT advisory services to government agencies and private organizations, specializing in digital transformation, IT governance, and strategic technology planning.