SoftwareOne case study

University of Salamanca: Enhancing licensing efficiency with SoftwareOne

The University of Salamanca optimizes the use of IBM SPSS for the entire academic community with SoftwareOne's (formerly Crayon) administrative and technical management.

Established in 1218, the 'Scholas Salamanticae' laid the foundation for what is now the prestigious University of Salamanca. Today, this education institution boasts approximately 30,000 enrolled students and spans across nine campuses in Salamanca, Ávila, Zamora, Béjar, and Villamayor. These campuses host a diverse array of academic disciplines, comprising 17 faculties and nine higher schools, alongside numerous research centers, collectively defining the university's rich academic landscape.

The university's IT Services play a pivotal role in providing students, teaching staff, and researchers with essential software tailored to their academic pursuits. One of these is IBM SPSS, a powerful statistical software platform known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. From data preparation and management to intricate analysis and reporting, IBM SPSS empowers users to delve deep into their research endeavors with precision and efficiency.

Client: University of Salamanca
Industry: Education
Services: Publisher Advisory Services
Country: Spain

With SoftwareOne, we can be sure that our community is using the most appropriate licenses and versions of IBM SPSS. In addition, thanks to their consultancy, we have access to many more licenses than before and at a lower cost.

Mª Ángeles Alonso Pierna
Head of Computer Rooms, USAL Computer Services

Evolution of IBM SPSS integration at the University of Salamanca

Since 2007, the University of Salamanca (USAL) has offered IBM SPSS as a universal tool catering to the diverse statistical needs of its academic community for both research and teaching purposes. Positioned as a bridge between theoretical classroom concepts and practical application, IBM SPSS has become integral across various disciplines, including Biology, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Sciences. Its intuitive interface and advanced features receive high praise from the academics, facilitating seamless navigation through complex data analyses. Notably, IBM SPSS's compatibility with programming languages like R or Python, seamlessly integrated within its syntax window, further enhances its accessibility, sparing users the challenge of mastering additional technical skills.

Streamlining IBM SPSS renewal to meet USAL's admin and technical requirements

As IBM SPSS became increasingly popular among teaching, research staff, and students, it created challenges for the IT department. They had to manage not only the software's maintenance and technical support but also the complex process of acquiring and licensing directly from the provider.

In 2017, when USAL sought to renew its IBM SPSS resources through a public tender, its main goal was to streamline and optimize administrative and technical processes. This was crucial to ensure that students, teaching staff, and researchers could access and use the software effectively.

Optimizing IBM SPSS management with SoftwareOne

Selecting SoftwareOne's proposal, specialists in software licensing and management, proved instrumental in meeting the University's requirements. Leveraging SoftwareOne's specialized IBM SPSS team, the University gained access to the IBM SPSS Campus Edition package, facilitating its educational needs through school-wide licensing. Additionally, SoftwareOne assumed responsibility for the entire administrative process, enabling the University to tailor licenses to its specific needs while overseeing activation and updates.

Moreover, SoftwareOne's direct technical support extended to both the University's IT department and end users, serving as a central point for resolving software-related issues. Their assistance played a pivotal role in configuring the Lazarillo portal, a platform managed by USAL Computer Services, to provide comprehensive documentation for streamlined installation across a different operating system. This support framework not only facilitated software deployment but also ensured prompt resolution of any incidents, enhancing the overall user experience.

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Expanding access across the university

As a result of the partnership with SoftwareOne, USAL has significantly expanded its licensing capacity. The University's allocation has increased from managing 200 concurrent licenses to a robust infrastructure of 400 active concurrent licenses. Additionally, USAL now boasts 3,000 authorized personal licenses for the IBM SPSS Campus Edition Premium Package, alongside an additional 200 concurrent licenses for IBM SPSS Amos.

The direct access facilities that we have to this solution at the university and its close support provide a very important brand image for the institution. It's something that always surprises me when I teach courses outside of it.

Juan José Igartua

Professor of Audiovisual and Advertising, USAL

Key benefits of partnering with SoftwareOne:

Ability to support a high number of basic and advanced incidents (approx. 3,000 tickets per year) with SoftwareOne services, assigning other valuable tasks to IT staff.
Access to more licenses and more cost savings with SoftwareOne's report-based consulting.
The installation and use guides of the solution speed up the research and learning process, preventing technical failures from having a negative impact on the effort to understand statistical concepts.
Transversal access to the programme through the computers of the Computer Rooms and Teaching Rooms of the centers, and any device with network licenses to be able to work outside the university facilities.
Increase in USAL's reputation thanks to its commitment to democratizing the use of IBM SPSS throughout its community.