Intelligent Application Usage & License Optimization via Recast Agent

We regularly receive internal requests to provide detailed insights into how often and by whom specific applications are being used. This is crucial not only for accurate license management but also to determine whether software is still relevant or actively used. An installed application alone doesn’t indicate real usage, and organizations are increasingly seeking visibility into actual application activity to guide procurement, licensing, and cleanup efforts.

I propose enhancing the Recast Agent with advanced usage monitoring capabilities to track active Windows usage (runtime), enabling insights such as:

• How often and for how long applications are used

• On how many devices an application is installed but not used

• Usage at the user level, where privacy-compliant

• Identification of unused or underutilized applications

This functionality aligns closely with the goals of modern Software Asset Management (SAM), and would enable Recast to become a more complete and proactive SAM solution by offering:

Automated Identification & Inventory Management

• Discovery & Inventory: Automatically identify and catalog all installed software across the network, offering a comprehensive software asset view.

• Asset Metadata: Track version, vendor, and license details per device.

• Inventory Accuracy: Maintain a reliable, up-to-date inventory, reducing manual effort.

License Management

• License Tracking: Monitor how many licenses have been purchased, used, and are still available.

• Compliance Monitoring: Ensure software usage aligns with licensing agreements, helping avoid over- or under-licensing.

• License Optimization: Identify unused or underutilized licenses to allow reallocation and cost savings.

Real-Time Usage Monitoring

• Active Usage Visibility: Provide real-time insights into which applications are being used, by whom, and for how long.

• Usage Trend Analysis: Analyze patterns to support forecasting, cleanup, and smarter software investment decisions.

By integrating these capabilities into the Recast Agent, Recast would offer customers deeper control, smarter license usage, and measurable cost optimization without needing to rely on third-party SAM tools.