DNV centralizes software asset management to strengthen global compliance

Autonomy and scale created a complex software environment

DNV's five business areas need applications suited to different technical, regulatory and commercial requirements. They share group-wide IT resources while retaining freedom to select the software that supports their individual operations. That autonomy benefits specialist teams, but it can also fragment visibility. Business areas may procure comparable products separately or negotiate with the same supplier without a consolidated view of demand. Requests can move from a business need to a preferred product before architectural fit, cybersecurity, identity and access requirements, licensing terms and available alternatives are assessed consistently.

DNV's IT and procurement teams were already managing software assets and licensing obligations. The opportunity was to raise the maturity of that work by centralizing oversight within Global Shared Services, establishing common processes and creating a dependable service that guides each request through the required commercial, technical and compliance checks. For DNV, ensuring that software use matches contractual entitlements is both a financial and reputational priority.

Building an operational SAM function with SoftwareOne

DNV began the project with SoftwareOne in October 2025, building on a long-standing relationship and previous work with licensing specialists across major publishers including Microsoft and Oracle. The first phase of the SAM managed service was completed in April 2026 and focused on creating the foundations of a centralized function.

SoftwareOne worked with DNV to put the SAM tooling, governance framework, processes and operational roles in place. Rather than treating technology as the entire solution, the teams designed an end-to-end operating model that connects IT, procurement and the business areas throughout the software lifecycle.

The resulting workflow turns a software request into a managed service process. Requests enter a shared queue and follow a standardized sequence of checks. Depending on the application, these can include clarification of the business need, comparison with existing capabilities, licensing and commercial review, cybersecurity and architectural assessments, and consideration of identity and access management or single sign-on. This gives DNV a repeatable way to examine the full implications of a purchase before signing a contract.

SoftwareOne consultants work as an extension of DNV's team, helping the new function move from design into day-to-day delivery while DNV recruits and develops its permanent internal SAM organization.

Software licensing agreements can run to hundreds of pages, differ by jurisdiction and publisher, and attach detailed conditions to deployment, access and use. DNV recognized that occasional attention at renewal was not enough. The organization needed dedicated people with the domain knowledge to manage those obligations continuously.

SoftwareOne provides that specialist dimension while supporting the practical management of software assets and the second phase of the initiative. New applications are expected to pass through the centralized SAM process, while existing applications and contracts are progressively brought under the same model. With a large installed base, onboarding will take time. SoftwareOne is supporting live operations and helping DNV refine the processes as the team learns from incoming requests.

The objective is not to remove each business area's ability to choose the specialist software it needs. It is to make sure that those choices are evaluated consistently and managed throughout their lifecycle with better information, clearer ownership and appropriate safeguards.