Enhancing your SaaS asset management (SAM) with a digital adoption platform (DAP)

Ori Herrmann
By Ori Herrmann
Updated May 19, 2023

Rooting out the causes of digital friction has become increasingly difficult in recent years, as enterprise tech stacks have grown rapidly. Although it’s easy to observe when employees are encountering difficulties or that their applications are unused or duplicative, the specifics of what, where, why, and how issues have arisen remain elusive.

Fortunately, there are two powerful and trustworthy tools that can assist your company in tackling these challenges: Software asset management (SAM) systems and digital adoption platforms (DAPs). Here, we’ll dive into how using these tools together can give you the visibility to effectively manage your tech stack and root out digital friction in your organization. But first, a couple of quick definitions.

What are software asset management systems and digital adoption platforms? 


Software Asset Management (SAM)

  • Software asset management (SAM)

SaaS asset management is designed to help companies follow the rules of using licensed software and manage their digital spend. With SAM, you can analyze software assets, track usage, and check if licenses are being used effectively. SAM also helps optimize software value and communicate important information with other stakeholders.
Digital Adoption Platform (DAP)

  • Digital adoption platform (DAP)

A DAP acts as an invisible overlay on top of any application, providing things like in-app guidance and support. This streamlines the learning process and improves user adoption by offering an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Additionally, the platform provides valuable insights into user behavior, enabling businesses to optimize their software for improved user engagement and productivity.

Rooting out and mitigating digital friction with SAM and DAP

SaaS Asset Management (SAM) provides visibility into an organization’s software assets, such as license entitlements and usage metrics. While this is helpful in making sure that the correct licenses are acquired, SAM does not provide any actionable insight into how the software is being used by employees. 

However, according to Deloitte, companies can expect to achieve between 5% and 25% annual savings on application costs by implementing a robust SAM program. By leveraging SAM, organizations can better optimize software investments and reduce their risk of noncompliance via visibility into their software.

Once the root of the issue is identified, then the fun begins – the solving, and that’s where a DAP comes in.

Organizations using DAP tools reported an average of 35% improvement in software adoption rates. DAPs not only give you visibility into how your software is being utilized, but also provide tangible ways to increase adoption of the software. 
Digital Adoption Platform Features

DAPs can be configured with a variety of features that allow organizations to understand usage patterns across their employee base and identify areas for improvement. These include:

  • Custom onboarding processes 
  • Interactive tutorials 
  • Contextual help and support 
  • Analytics dashboards 

While many companies have invested in either SAM or DAP, it is important to note that SAM is particularly essential for effective software asset management, whereas DAP is more focused on optimizing digital transformation efforts. 

Tips for choosing the right SaaS asset management software and digital adoption platform for your business needs 
Tips for DAP

Choosing the right SAM or DAP for your organization can be daunting, but it is crucial for maximizing productivity and eliminating the stress of manual processes. Here are some tips to simplify your decision-making process:

  • Identify your organization’s specific needs: Consider your organization’s size, industry, and goals. This will help determine what features are essential for your DAP or asset management system.
  • Look for customizable solutions: A one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable for your organization. Look for a platform that can be tailored to meet your unique requirements and preferences.
  • Ease of use: You want a platform that is intuitive and easy to navigate, reducing training time and increasing adoption rates.
  • Integration: Your DAP or asset management system should integrate seamlessly with your existing software and systems, ensuring there is no disruption to workflow.
  • Security: Protecting your organization’s information and data should be a top priority. Choose a platform that provides state-of-the-art security features and adheres to the latest regulations.
  • Support options: Ensure your chosen platform provides reliable and easily accessible technical support, helping you resolve any issues or concerns quickly.

By keeping these factors in mind, you can choose the right asset management system or digital adoption platform that best suits the needs of your organization, streamlining your processes, and improving overall productivity.

The future of digital adoption and asset management software

WalkMe Discovery is the future of asset management and digital adoption. This powerful SaaS visibility solution provides businesses with a comprehensive portfolio management tool that offers full visibility into all the web apps in their tech stack. 

WalkMe Discovery

Discovery goes beyond basic login data and application analytics, allowing companies to compare real click-by-click software usage to adoption trends, and identify the gaps between their software spend and employee adoption.

WalkMe Discovery empowers businesses to optimize their software usage, pay only for what they need, and ensure they are getting the most value from their software investments. With this purpose-built platform for driving software adoption, companies can easily identify problems and take immediate action to solve them.

In short, WalkMe Discovery provides both the identification of the problem and the tools to solve it, making it a game-changer in the world of asset management and digital adoption.

Ori Herrmann
By Ori Herrmann
Ori is a Content & Creative Manager at WalkMe, where he excels in brand messaging and implementing effective content strategies. With a degree in Graphic Communication Management and experience in B2C content marketing & creative management, he helps WalkMe connect with its audience, fostering meaningful engagement.