Microsoft Price Increases and Important Changes To The Way SMEs Purchase M365 Licensing

Posted on February 23, 2022July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Microsoft Price Increases and Important Changes To The Way SMEs Purchase M365 Licensing

If you’ve been keeping an eye on Microsoft news lately, and there’s been quite a lot of it, you may have read about some key up and coming price changes but may not have heard about the changes in the way SMEs purchase their Microsoft subscriptions. In short, prices are going up and, with it, plan flexibility is… well, less flexible (unless you are happy paying a premium).

Along with the price increases, if SMEs want to continue to have the flexibility to decrease the number of subscriptions they have other than at renewal, they will need to pay more and give up price protection. Also, the option to be able to move to another provider between renewals is about to be curtailed. And last but not least, resellers are now about to become liable for the cost of an annual subscription – which means paying monthly may be about to disappear too for products requiring an annual commitment, as a way to protect themselves from potential bad debt situations.

Take a look at our breakdown of changes with Microsoft pricing and purchase conditions:

Dec 2021 – Microsoft retired their Open Volume Licensing programme primarily used by SMEs;
SMEs now purchase perpetual software licences through Microsoft’s Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) programme;
From early March, this programme will be phased out for what Microsoft are calling their ‘New Commerce Experience’ or NCE.
From March 2022, six key M365 subscriptions will see price increases of approximately:-
- Office 365 E5 (+9%)
- Microsoft 365 E3 (+13%)
- Office 365 E3 (+15%)
- Office 365 E1 (+25%)
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium (+10%)
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic (+20%)
Existing CSP customers will be able to renew their licensing on this programme until July 2022; from mid-March, new customers will have to purchase via NCE;
Both NCE Annual and CSP are 12-month subscriptions with prices locked for that period;
CSP allowed customers to amend subscriptions up or down, even to zero – pro-rated cancelation at any time;
If customers want this flexibility with NCE, there will be a 20% price premium with no price protection;
Reductions with NCE monthly can only be implemented every 30 days (no pro-rated refunds);
Prices for NCE monthly are only locked for one month so could be subject to multiple increases over 12 months;
CSP allowed customers to cancel and move to another direct provider at any time;
NCE Annual cannot be cancelled after 72 hours from order placement so customers will not be able to change an indirect provider until renewal;
Because resellers are now fully liable for the cost of the annual subscription, they may decide not to offer monthly payments for annual commitment products.

Quite the headache, isn’t it? Luckily, there is another way.

At Discount-Licensing, we buy and sell pre-owned, perpetual software licenses for Microsoft products as well as offering new licensing. That means single payment, so a fixed cost with no surprise price hikes – you simply use what you’ve purchased for as long as you like. What you buy is now yours forever, or until you decide to sell it on. Preowned perpetual software licences allow you to fix and control your costs at competitive prices, even when compared against subscription.

Contact us at sales@discount-licensing.com or call us on +44 (0)1283 511524 to find out more on how you can save money with perpetual Microsoft software licenses.

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With Cloud-Based Software, Who Really Saves Money?

Posted on October 21, 2021July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

With Cloud-Based Software, Who Really Saves Money?

In August 2021, Microsoft announced changes to their commercial pricing for Microsoft 365. This is the largest single rise in over a decade and comes on top on other currency related increases recently experienced in the UK.

Download our FREE comparison guide to Microsoft Office 2019 Vs Office 2016!

This latest increase for Microsoft services begs the question of who really saves money when it comes down to cloud-based software. Is it cheaper to own your own software or stay liable to third-party price changes?

Who Really Saves Money?

There’s no denying that Microsoft Office 365 is popular amongst businesses, with the company benefitting from over 300 million commercial paid seats in a decade. Yet it’s arguable that Microsoft gets more out of this arrangement than it’s paying customers.

Although cloud-based software is sold at controlling costs, users are unfortunately left open to unexpected and high prices – as Microsoft’s price change dictates. This this always the downside of renting verses full ownership.

Once you overlook the package deal in place – such as communications, security, and automation services – you come to realise that you’re paying more for innovations that may not concern your business.

For example, the Microsoft 365 price change is a response to its new dial-in capabilities for Microsoft Teams. This allows users to communicate in Teams through phone calls when suffering from a bad internet connection whilst on the move.

The asynchronous collaboration of Microsoft Office components means that users are unexpectedly paying for features that don’t concern them or hold no value.

Additionally, as Microsoft Office continues to grow its integrated solutions with more apps and installations, users need to consider the impact this is having on their hardware storage.

That is, although important documents can be stored in a secondary location, various apps and add-ons can compromise your computer storage. For instance, Microsoft released over 300 new in-app capabilities in 2020 alone. It is also probably fair to say that the majority of users won’t utilise these new features, certainly not straight away, if at all.

With this information in mind, cloud users should turn to alternative forms of software solutions to save money.

How To Save Money On Cloud-Based Software

To prevent unexpected or unwanted fluctuations in software prices, we recommend owning your own software.

Owning your software allows businesses to exercise total control over its costs during its lifecycle. You can properly assess any new features and development so to ensure that these functions meet your exact needs, doesn’t create training issues or conflict with other software you may already be running.

At Discount-Licensing, we sell pre-owned Microsoft Volume software which allows you to grow your business whilst exercising full control over your costs. Pre-owned Microsoft infrastructure is a good way to benefit from brand security and operation procedures whilst lowering your expenditure as a small or medium business.

For more information, get in touch with us on +44 (0)1283 511524 or email Enquiry.UK@discount-Licensing.com.

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What You Need To Know When Selling Your Software

Posted on July 2, 2021July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

What You Need To Know When Selling Your Software

If you have redundant Microsoft software licenses that are sitting around doing nothing for your business, one of the best options available to you is to sell them.

Download our FREE guide to second-hand software!

Doing so allows you to release your invested capital back into your business, presenting you with the opportunity to reinvest that money where it is really needed. Many Discount-Licensing clients redirect the funds raised from selling Microsoft software licenses to mitigate the costs associated with upgrading to newer technologies.

Discount-Licensing purchase fully paid perpetual Microsoft software licenses that originally came onto the market within the UK or European Economic Area, and diligently ensure full compliance with UK and EU laws. You can find out more detailed information on our FAQs page, but here’s all you need to know about selling your Microsoft software.

How Do I Know If I Have Redundant Microsoft Software Licenses?

If your organisation has previously purchased perpetual licenses (also known as ‘On Premise’ licensing) and have either moved on to a newer version or to a subscription/cloud-based model, it is likely you will have redundant licenses available to sell that may still hold a residual value. If you aren’t certain, Discount-Licensing can offer support in identifying any perpetual Microsoft software licenses you have to sell and give an indication of their potential worth. You are under no obligation to sell to us if we offer this support, and all your data will be kept confidential. If our indicative offer is of interest and you would like to go ahead and sell your licences, the process goes like this:

Offer: DL supply an indicative purchase offer listing the licences and explaining the process to follow if the clients wishes to sell.

Acceptance: To accept our offer, the client signs the offer using Adobe sign. This shows their acceptance of the offer, process and T&Cs.

Diligence: The client supplies DL with all evidence of licence ownership. This includes MLS and VLSC access plus agreement documentation when applicable.

Purchase order: If the client is able to satisfy the diligence check we send them an order confirmation detailing the licences to be purchased.

Transfer: The client sends DL an invoice and a signed deletion statement (wording provided by DL) on letterheaded paper confirming that the licenses are no longer in use and have been made unusable.

Payment: Payment is made once all the necessary documentation has been received.

All software licences DL purchase are remarketed to other companies within the UK and EU/EEA. This allows our customers to purchase the software they need, rather than what the vendors push them to buy, allowing them to maximise their own profits. DL purchase a wide variety and age of Microsoft software licences, so if you have disused Microsoft software it’s always worth checking with DL to see if it has potential value. DL do not charge to value your software.

With over 16 years’ experience, Discount-Licensing are one of the longest established pre-owned software resellers, having helped businesses, both large and small, to generate additional revenue from often-overlooked software licensing assets. If you would like more details, please call our office on +44 (0)1283 511524, selecting option 3, or alternatively drop us an email to procurement@discount-licensing.com.

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Brexit Update: Good News For Software Licence Resellers

Posted on May 6, 2021July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Brexit Update: Good News For Software Licence Resellers

The UK officially withdrew from the European Union (EU) on 31st December 2020, triggering a vast array of tax and tariff changes across almost every industry. In the secondary software market, Brexit has caused a little confusion amongst resellers as to whether they face hidden shipping or tax costs. In this article, we’ve put together a helpful overview of the facts.

Q: Will UK-based secondary software suppliers face any hidden costs when invoicing EU customers, or vice versa?

A: No. If both entities are VAT registered, nothing will change. Businesses should continue to treat software licencing as a kind of service, placing it outside the remit of value-added tax (VAT).

For example, if you’re a UK-based supplier of used licences and want to invoice a German, Spanish, or French client, your invoice document should be issued without any VAT added.

Q: Will secondary software suppliers based in the EU face any hidden costs when invoicing business customers in other EU member states?

A: Again, the answer is no. Let’s say, for example, a secondary software supplier owns an entity based in a member state of the EU such as Spain and resells pre-owned licences to a client in another member state such as Germany. The location of supply is where the business will be considered an established entity. In this way, no VAT will need to be added to the sales invoice from the Spanish supplier to the German client.

It is worth noting, however, that the sale must still be recorded on a local EC Sales List and the business customer’s VAT number must be visible on the invoice issued by the Spanish supplier. The invoice legend must also state that the service is subject to reverse charge mechanisms.

Q: Should EU or UK-based suppliers charge VAT when invoicing business customers in the same country?

A: In both cases, suppliers must add VAT in accordance with local guidelines, regardless of the business status of the client.

The Bottom Line

The UK’s withdrawal from the EU on 31st December 2020 has not caused any serious taxation, tariff, or shipping issues for used software suppliers. This is great news for those who were worried about the transition and demonstrates that the pre-owned software industry has so far escaped relatively unscathed from the economic upheaval caused by Brexit.

For more information on buying or selling pre-owned software licences, get in touch with the team at Discount-Licensing today.

Image source: Pixabay

Long Live Perpetual Microsoft Office Licensing!

Posted on March 18, 2021July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Long Live Perpetual Microsoft Office Licensing!

If you’ve been keeping up with industry reports, you might be forgiven for thinking Office 19 is about to disappear altogether. The reality, however, is that perpetual Office licensing (i.e. pay for once then use for as long as you want) isn’t going anywhere just yet, even though Microsoft would happily stop selling it in a heartbeat.

Download our FREE comparison guide to Microsoft Office 2019 Vs Office 2016!

Why Doesn’t Microsoft Like Perpetual Office?

Quite simply because they have a more profitable option they’d like people to use instead – namely Office 365. Office 365 is a subscription service, whereby rather than paying for a software license just once, you pay monthly for the privilege of using it. This is definitely a better option as far as Microsoft is concerned because it turns occasional customers into regular monthly subscribers – but what about the users?

The reality is that owning your software licensing outright still makes much better financial sense, no matter the implementation.

So, Is Perpetual Office Licensing Going To Go Away?

No, certainly not yet. Despite Microsoft heavily promoting Office 365 and not really wanting to sell perpetual Office licensing, it is far too popular to simply stop supporting it and offering it, (though if you speak to one of their resellers, they will probably only want to talk subscription) having already confirmed that the new version due out later this year will be available to own outright.

Why don’t users want to use Office 365? Mainly because it’s actually a lot more expensive in the long run. Subscription models offer a compelling proposition by seeming much more accessibly priced in the short term, and indeed they are. But most users don’t use software for just two months – software becomes a part of the way the business operates and is often in use for years. Over that time period, the subscription cost eclipses the outright purchase price considerably.

Then there’s the ongoing security of the cloud to consider; Microsoft is one of the biggest software providers in the world so is a magnet for data thieves and hackers to constantly attempt to break down their defences. Many business owners prefer the prospect of handling their own data security internally, and on-premises software allows a much easier path to that. Your data and documents are stored on your premises, rather than on a server somewhere you don’t even know.

The Future Is Still Bright For Office

That means Office Standard and Professional Plus, as well as other on-premises software, are still highly popular and will continue to be so for a long time yet to come. Browse the range at Discount Licensing today, to make even more savings against the cost of buying brand new software licences, with costs very favourable compared to many of the subscription plans. A cost comparison between Office 365 and pre-owned licensing is available to download from Discount-Licensing’s website.

Are People Waking Up To The Cloud?

Posted on March 4, 2021July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Are People Waking Up To The Cloud?

There was a time, fairly recently in fact, when the “cloud” was seen as the be-all and end-all of the ways businesses were going to manage their data in the future. As a business owner, you yourself have already had multiple offers to join cloud-based services, offering all manner of supposed benefits.

But is the cloud really all it’s cracked up to be? As time goes on, more and more people seem to be saying no.

Slowing Growth And Changing Outlooks

Amazon, Microsoft, and Google recently released their latest user figures for their cloud-based platforms, AWS and Azure and Google’s cloud-based service. The figures, contrary to projections, actually show growth slowing throughout the various platforms – which could be construed as troubling news given the way cloud use was projected to be exponential.

Why Are People Turning Away From The Cloud?

Does the cloud have its benefits? Of course – every piece of software installation and managed IT service has its benefits – but the issues are arising because the cloud in many ways is proving to not be as useful as the marketing would lead you to suggest.

The first issue is security, and the transfer of your security considerations to your cloud service provider – namely your data security is only ever as good as theirs is. That’s not to infer cloud providers are lacklustre in their security measures, but there is a very considerable leap of trust required which many business owners are shying away from. For many, it offers a much more compelling argument to simply handle their security measures internally.

Another very serious roadblock to the supposed supremacy of the cloud is the concept of ownership – it offers none. All it offers is a potentially endless subscription service, and many business owners are deciding they instead prefer to actually buy and own their software licensing.

Is The Cloud Your Only Option?

No, far from it. At Discount-Licensing we still stock a broad range of affordable software solutions suitable for the needs of every business. Whether you have a specific software requirement or you just want something to make your word processing and spreadsheets easier to complete, you’ll find what you need. You can own it outright across the licence installation limit, and it can offer you considerable savings against new software or monthly cloud subscriptions.

If keeping your software in-house appeals to you, you’re not alone, and you’ll find the software you need at Discount-Licensing.

Image source: Pixabay

Discount Licensing BREXIT Statement 2021

Posted on January 7, 2021July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Discount Licensing BREXIT Statement 2021

Dear Client,

On the 31st December 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) formally left the European Union (EU). A withdrawal agreement (‘Treaty’) was agreed and the following summarises the key facts concerning how that Treaty affects the trade of pre-owned software transactions between the UK and the EU:

1) The Treaty has no historical impact on previous pre-owned software transactions made between the UK and the EU, on or before the 31st December 2020;

2) The Brexit Treaty does not retrospectively have any impact on pre-owned software licences originally ‘put into use’ in the UK on or before the 31st December 2020. Therefore, software licences first ‘put into use’, on or before the 31st December 2020, can still continue to be resold to the EU, on or after the 1st January 2021;

3) Software licences that are first ‘put into use’ in the EU, on or after the 1st January 2021, can still be resold to the UK. During 2020, the UK Government enshrined in law that it will continue to recognise the ‘Exhaustion of Rights’ principle, whereby pre-owned software originally ‘put into use’ within the EU, can flow freely from the EU to the UK:

“Intellectual property rights which were exhausted both in the Union (EU) and in the United Kingdom before the end of the transition period under the conditions provided for by Union law shall remain exhausted both in the Union (EU) and in the United Kingdom” : Article 61 of the “Transition Agreement” [Treaty Series No. 3 (2020) Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community].

4) Whilst a Treaty was agreed, it did not specifically address the trade of pre-owned software ongoing. Therefore, software licences that are first ‘put into use’ in the UK, on or after the 1st January 2021, cannot subsequently be resold to the EU; such software can only be resold to UK clients.

Discount-Licensing warrants that it will only resell pre-owned software to EU clients with software in compliance with UK and EU guidelines, as summarised above. Whilst it is not a legal requirement in order to maintain trade between the UK-EU, we have decided to open a subsidiary company within the EU in case our EU clients prefer to trade with an EU based ‘Discount-Licensing’ entity. In any case, it is our ongoing commitment to continue trading within the UK and the EU to the same high levels of service that our European clients have come to expect from us.

Should you have any questions, please telephone one of our colleagues on +44 (0)1283 511524 or email: info@discount-licensing.com.

Thank you for your continued support.

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Microsoft Proves The Continuing Popularity Of Perpetual Licences

Posted on October 1, 2020July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Microsoft Proves The Continuing Popularity Of Perpetual Licences

Recently Microsoft have confirmed they will be providing a new on-site/perpetual version of their ever-popular Office platform. Given the company has made concerted efforts to push users into a more subscription-based model, what does this announcement mean for the current and future state of perpetual software licences?

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Perpetual Licence Or Subscription – What’s The Difference?

First, to lay the groundwork, a perpetual licence is one that you essentially pay for once and then you own the rights to use that piece of software. So you bought an Office licence, and that would grant you the freedom to install it on a set number of machines, at which point you could use it for the life of the machine. The software becomes an asset that you own with no further fees to pay in the future and potentially be sold off when no longer required.

A subscription (or rented) model, as with anything else, nominally seeks to make things more flexible by allowing you to pay an ongoing monthly fee for your software usage, rather than “buying” the licence. Instead of being a periodical Capex, it becomes on ongoing operational expenditure.

What Does Microsoft’s Announcement Actually Mean?

Microsoft is a company that is not going to release a product for which there is no market. The fact that they have specifically provided a perpetual licence version of the new Office platform means by default that there is a market for it. A market that prefers the prospect of buying the licence and owning that software.

Why Would An Organisation Prefer Perpetual Licensing Over Subscription?

None of this is to say that the subscription model doesn’t have its benefits. If pure costs are a concern for you, you might find it more affordable in the short term to budget a subscription payment. It also means that you can ensure that you’re always going to have access to the latest versions and features of Office.

The issue is that if you intend to use a piece of software long term, you can actually do it more cost-effectively by owning the licence outright. This allows organisations to fix the cost of its software for several years. It’s also worth noting that new software needs to be gotten used to – constantly having new features and layouts to integrate into yours and your employees’ workflow can damage efficiency.

In time there is no doubt that Microsoft wants users on a subscription model. Nevertheless, it’s what the users want that matters, however, and Microsoft must serve those needs. For the time being at least, it seems the perpetual licence model is not going anywhere – and when you think hard about the benefits, it’s no surprise why.

If your organisation would rather own its software, talk to Discount-Licensing. For a single payment at a price comparable or less than the cost of an annual Office subscription, you can purchase a pre-owned perpetual Microsoft Office licence from Discount-Licensing, giving you back control of software expenditure. If you would like to know more about purchasing software assets for less, get in touch with our team.

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Microsoft Sues Another Rogue Software Licence Vendor

Posted on September 22, 2020July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Microsoft Sues Another Rogue Software Licence Vendor

Discount Licensing are pleased to see that Microsoft are continuing to take action against rogue vendors.

In October 2019, Microsoft announced that it would be suing the German company Lizengo for illegally selling Windows and Office licence keys at heavily discounted prices. The keys, which were sold as gift cards through the popular German supermarket chain Edeka, came under suspicion when customers began querying their suspiciously low prices.

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Although Lizengo claimed that the keys were new and legal, the PIDs (Microsoft Product Identifiers) suggested otherwise. It turned out that many of the keys had been released only to the Chinese market, making them illegal to sell in Europe. Other keys were found to be the result of leaked licences from academic institutions, meaning that they could be activated by up to 30 separate users.This is further proof of the widespread nature of licence key fraud and shows just how careful you need to be when purchasing a Microsoft licence. It is worth remembering that Microsoft licence prices tend to be fairly rigid, and if a deal for new licensing seems too good to be true, it probably is. Many people wrongly assume that buying an activation key is the same as buying a licence (the right to use the software), but this is a mistake. Owning a genuine activation key does not automatically mean that you own the licence, thus entitling you to use the software.

For a business, Microsoft has the right to audit you at any time to check the legality of your licences. The financial penalties can be severe, as well as the reputational damage from the negative press (software manufacturers want it known that they will take action so as to discourage others from being non-compliant). In this case, by not doing proper due diligence, the supermarket has potentially exposed themselves to action from the software manufacturer, so it pays to background check any low cost licences, especially if they are being resold. No doubt as part of any settlement, the resellers will need to provide a list of customers who have bought the software as this presents a sales opportunity for the manufacturer. Look out for red flags apart from below market prices such as the absence of a postal address or working phone number. If a company is impossible to contact, it usually means that they have something to hide.

With so much fraud around, you need a licenced seller that you can trust. At Discount Licensing, we perform thorough background checks on all licences we supply to make sure that they are legitimate.

At Discount-Licensing, we specialist in Microsoft Volume Licensing, and the software manufacturer (in this case, Microsoft) records all of their sales. This makes it very easy for us to check the validity of a software licence on the market. All of our licences are 100% legal and fully auditable, so you can rest assured that you won’t find yourself in trouble further down the line when you purchase secondary software licences from us. We also carry robust professional indemnity insurance to give further protection to our customers.

If you have any questions about pre-owned software licences, don’t hesitate to get in touch, or take a look at our blog for more tips on avoiding rogue software traders.

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Looking to Replace Office 2010? (Benefits of Choosing Perpetual Software Licences)

Posted on September 2, 2020July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Looking to Replace Office 2010? (Benefits of Choosing Perpetual Software Licences)

With Microsoft ending extended product support for Office 2010 in October, organisations that are still using this version may believe their only migration path is to the subscription based Office365. Nevertheless, there is a more cost-effective solution that most conventional Microsoft Resellers don’t talk about: pre-owned perpetual licensing. This option can provide a more up-to-date Office suite for only slightly more than an annual Office 365 subscription.

Download our FREE comparison guide to Microsoft Office 2019 Vs Office 2016!

Though Office365 is a powerful tool with lots of great features, most users will only actually use a small percentage of the full capability of the software suite. This will be especially true for organisations who have been generally happy using older Office suites, getting full value from their software investment but are migrating because of concerns about lack of support rather than an operational requirement to move to a newer version. The other problem these organisations face is that by moving to subscription licensing, rather than the periodical capex for software, there will be a rise in the annual operational costs for IT. Yes, the initial costs are less than owning your software, but this expenditure will be repeated year-on-year. If an organisation in the past would use the same Office suite for 5 years or more, moving to a subscription will be a massive increase in costs over the same period. Most of us would agree that over time, as a rule, it is more cost effective to own than rent.

Microsoft still offer perpetual versions (one-time purchase) of the Office suite even if conventional resellers might lead us to believe otherwise. With the basic subscription Microsoft 365 Apps for Business costing around £94.80 per user/per year, on the face of it, the price is attractive against the one-time purchase price of £249.99 for Office Home & Business. However, in less than 3 years, the cost of the subscription exceeds the cost of the one-time payment version so for an organisation that previously used an Office suite for 6 or more years, their expenditure on software is more than doubling. That is also assuming the software manufacturer doesn’t increase their prices during that period. Yes, by renting your software, you always have the most up-to-date version with all the latest features but does this increased spending translate to such an improved bottom line it more than offsets the additional expense? Probably not.

For many businesses, 2020 has been a tough trading year so being able to stay with a software product that users are familiar with for a much lower outlay is very attractive, even if the organisation would prefer to own their asset. This is where pre-owned licensing can offer a real cost-effective alternative. For a lot less than the cost of 2 years subscription to the basic Microsoft 365 package, organisations can own a perpetual copy of Office 2019 from Discount-Licensing. Greater savings can be made by purchasing the excellent Office 2016, which will still be in extended support until October 2025. Finance options are also available if there is a need to spread the cost.

If your organisation is looking to replace its Office Suite, Microsoft will steer you towards one of their subscription offerings, trying to seduce you with all its bells and whistles but will it give enough of the return on investment it needs to, given the increasing annual outlay especially when most users probably only need a fraction of its capability. Pre-owned software from a reputable supplier like Discount-Licensing can offer a cost-effective alternative to rental. Subscription licensing is good for Microsoft’s business but is it good for yours?

Before you Move to Office 365, Sell your Unused Software Licences

Posted on August 12, 2020July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Before you Move to Office 365, Sell your Unused Software Licences

As an IT manager, you are always under pressure to deliver more capability, greater speeds, and less downtime across your network, which means keeping up with the latest technology. But with software manufacturers moving their customers to a subscription model, your latest upgrade often lies in the cloud with products like Office 365, AZURE, or AWS, leaving you with your old on premise licences that you no longer need. In the past, these were money down the drain, but what if you could recoup some of the first year of your new subscription fees by selling your now redundant, old software? With Discount Licensing, you can!

New for Old

Maybe you haven’t had time to give them any further thought, maybe you assumed your old licences were worthless, or maybe you keep old licences around just in case – there are many reasons for holding onto licences you no longer use. Because you can’t physically see them, unlike old boxes that get in the way, it’s easy to forget that you’ve still got them hanging around. But these software licences that you accumulate over the years represent a source of cash that’s going to waste until you get in touch with us! We can conduct free remote audits to establish your full licensing estate so you can see if you do have any that can be sold on; then we give you a great price that will allow you to invest even more in the next generation. Our valuations are completely free and no obligation, and for this tiny amount of work you can make a huge difference to your department’s budget.

Recycle Old Software

The release of newer software editions means the countdown to the End Of Support date gets closer, when new patches and security updates stop being released, and interest in older licences almost totally diminishes. Ensure that you can recoup some of your costs and get in touch to find out how much your old software might be worth. In the current economic climate, we’re sure any additional revenue that can be generated for your business will be gratefully received.

Get in Touch

If you have surplus software and you’d like to recover some of its value to spend on new products, you can fill in our quick and easy form that will help us get back to you with an offer. Alternatively, to get started, call (0)1283 511524 or drop us an email at procurement@discount-licensing.com.

Unused Software Licences In Academia: How You Can Recoup Some Costs

Posted on July 1, 2020July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Unused Software Licences In Academia: How You Can Recoup Some Costs

A large number of academic institutions are in possession of old software licences that they either have forgotten about or presume are not worth anything, but did you know that they could actually be resold back to a vendor for a reasonable price?

If your academic institution is sitting on unused volume licences, this can be a valuable asset that you can sell on to a trustworthy vendor to recoup some of your original costs.

Download our FREE guide to second-hand software!

Common Errors In Software Licence Management

One of the main goals of software licence optimisation and management is to prevent harmful software audits and ensure software licence compliance. The focus of software asset management, and probably rightly so, tends to be on what software is currently in use rather than the total licensing estate that the organisation has acquired over the years. The software in use is only the tip of the iceberg and below the surface, there could be a large amount of licensing that has been discarded as it is no longer needed or it is felt that it holds no value. This is common when institutions replace existing software with new versions, go through changes in staffing numbers or even just simply end up over-ordering.

Many organisations have optimised their licences through improved server consolidation or better processes, still ensuring full compliancy, so licence consumption in some areas is reducing (increased server virtualisation, for instance) and institutions are left with multiple unused licences that could be resold to generate much needed additional revenue. These additional funds could then supplement already tight budgets for future purchases or reduce the financial burden of current ones.

The Benefits Of Selling Unused Software Licences

Selling redundant software licences gives the ability to release capital back into your organisation. As software manufacturers are trying to move academic institutions to a cost structure based on operating costs via subscription rather than capital investment in perpetual licensing, the window of opportunity is closing as these assets continue to depreciate. For instance, an organisation that has moved to Office 365 from Office 2016 Pro Plus may be surprised by the value they can reclaim from their initial investment. Even Office 2013 still holds some value but once a new version is released, interest in these older versions will wane, as will their value. Discount-Licensing can help you with your software management with our free remote audits to identify your full licensing estate. Once you have identified what you need and what you don’t, you can dispose of what’s no longer required, streamline your spending and invest back into your institution.

Get In Touch With Discount Licensing Today

If your institution is sitting on unused licences, get in touch with our friendly team at Discount-Licensing today and we can offer you an all-in-one solution for releasing their value.

To find out how much money you can make from reselling your disused licences, give us a call on +44 (0)1283 511524 or fill in our online form and we can offer you a free audit.

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Beware Rogue Traders – Be Vigilant In The Online Software Licence Marketplace

Posted on June 12, 2020July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Beware Rogue Traders – Be Vigilant In The Online Software Licence Marketplace

Since the UK – and much of Europe – went into lockdown, many businesses have been temporarily closing or seen their revenues impacted. As a result, businesses are being forced to cut costs and to look for new ways to save money.

As software is often business critical, buyers are searching the internet for the best deals but it is important to know what to look for first. There are times when the cheapest option isn’t the best!

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This is certainly true in the technology sector when it is far too easy to be lulled into thinking you’ve found a ‘sweet deal’, only to discover you have actually been ripped off. Software offers that seem ‘too good to be true’ should particularly raise an alarm, as there is a good chance they are a ploy by a rogue trader.

Buying The Rights To Use Software

The internet is awash with cheap software offers, whether it’s directly from a seller’s website or platforms like eBay and other online marketplaces, where vendors can make unverified claims about the legitimacy of the software they’re selling. They’re advertised as genuine software and installation keys, which often they are, but are you receiving a genuine licence to legitimately use the software purchased? Probably not.

This is one way unscrupulous software vendors operate – they offer genuine installation keys for software at a great discount, failing to mention that this isn’t exactly a complete package. Many unsuspecting individuals and even companies are unaware this is not the same as having a licence to use that software.

Best Way To Source Pre-Owned And New Software

To avoid the dodgy software deals from rogue traders, it is important to deal with reputable sellers such as Discount-Licensing, who are transparent and will help you to understand what you are buying. Are you buying new software so you are the first user, or pre-owned – and what type of user licence is it?

Checking The Credentials Of New Software

Rogue vendors will promote offers on software implying or even stating that the item is new but at heavily discounted prices. You need to ask the question “Why would a software manufacturer sell off their software cheaply to these guys who will undercut their mainstream vendors?” Because of digital delivery, software manufacturers or authorised resellers are not sitting on mountains of stock that they need to sell off cheaply to make space. Nor have they much interest in selling older product versions.

Take Microsoft’s Office 2016, for example. If a business needs an older version, Microsoft’s mechanism for this is for the customer to purchase the current version via Volume Licensing, then use downgrade rights to install the previous release. Software manufacturers have far greater control over their product distribution than most businesses, so why devalue their products and undermine their key partners?

Certainly, products like Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) licences do make their way onto the grey market, but new software licences offered at very low prices are far more likely to be pirated copies rather than something a manufacturer would accept as legitimate if audited.

Remember, just because you have a working installation key, this does not mean you have a legal right to use the product.

Pre-Owned Software

In the pre-owned software market, there are good deals to be found. At Discount-Licensing we sell the right to use our software, not just the ability to install it! The law lays down criteria for pre-owned software transfers and trustworthy vendors will themselves offer up this information. Providing this criteria is meet, the software manufacturer must accept the pre-owned software is being used legitimately.

So how can you be sure that the pre-owned software you are looking to purchase is legal and fit for purpose?

Checking The Validity Of Pre-Owned Software

If we look at a manufacturer like Microsoft in whom we specialise at Discount-Licensing, Volume licensing is the safest for the customer to purchase. The reason is that Microsoft keeps records of who purchases these licences so their legitimacy can be confirmed.

This is not to say that pre-owned Retail or OEM software can’t be legally purchased and used; but with those types of licences, it is a lot harder to prove their legitimacy and to be able to meet the manufacturer’s audit requirements. The software you have purchased could be perfectly legal but if you cannot prove that in an audit, there is every chance you will have to repurchase it.

A good pre-owned software supplier should be able to meet the following checklist for every transaction so that they meet the legal requirements:

- The software was first put into use within the UK or EEA (‘original country of use’, not the ‘current country of use’);
- You should be supplied the name of the original Microsoft Customer along with the unique licence agreement numbers that were issued to them. These numbers constitute the right to install and use the software;

- Written confirmation from the original user or their legal representative that the licences have been divested and the software uninstalled from their equipment.

At Discount-Licensing we do high levels of due diligence, tracing the origins of every item we sell, right back to its starting point with Microsoft! That means that we can also show you the same information. If a company refuses to divulge a licence’s owner history, proceed with caution.

GDPR, for instance, is not applicable, as a clear audit trail needs to be established from the original user to the current one to be legally compliant. Without it, a software manufacturer may reject your right to be using the software.

Finding A Trusted Supplier Of Discounted Software

There are a few more clues you can use to find genuine deals on software licences.

Does the seller provide authentic contact details, including a postal address and telephone number? Many rogue traders keep such information under wraps, selling unusable software online with no way for dissatisfied customers to approach them if an issue occurs.

In fact, check the whole website or listing carefully for inflated claims, ambiguous terms and other red flags.

Buying low priced software from ‘fly by night’pop up traders is always a huge risk. Buying from a reputable dealer with a strong track record makes those few extra savings!

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Trading for over 15 years, Discount-Licensing ensures all our licences comply with legislation and we can back that up with full transparency to our customers.

Never worry about purchasing illegal software or failing a Microsoft audit again – if you are looking to save money on software licences for your business please get in touch and we will provide you with a quote.

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3 Benefits Of Buying Pre-owned Microsoft Office 2016 Licences From The Pre-Owned Market

Posted on May 20, 2020July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

3 Benefits Of Buying Pre-owned Microsoft Office 2016 Licences From The Pre-Owned Market

Whether you are looking to upgrade your office suite or simply maintaining compliance the cost of software licensing can be expensive. A conventional Microsoft reseller will automatically tell you that the most cost-effective way to licence your business correctly is to buy Office 365 or Azure and move away from on-premise perpetual licensing to a subscription cloud-based solution.

And at first glance, the move from CAPEX to OPEX spending could seem attractive; however, in the long term, you will always spend much more. To learn more about the cost differences between the two types of licence, see our previous article on the subject here.

Discount-Licensing is an authorised Microsoft reseller who specialises in supplying pre-owned perpetual Microsoft software at heavily discounted prices. An example of this would be Office 2016 Professional which often can be supplied at less than the cost of an annual subscription to Office 365 Pro Plus.

Download our FREE guide to second-hand software!

Here are just a few of the benefits of opting for pre-owned Microsoft Office 2016 volume software (on-premise).

1. Great Prices For Excellent Software

Being able to secure a service that’s essential to your business for a lower cost is an excellent way to keep your budgets under control and ensure that the way you’re licensing software is the most economical and efficient for your business. Pre-owned Microsoft licences can often be purchased at more than 50% cheaper in the pre-owned market than buying through a conventional reseller.

2. Choose The Best Software For You

Choose the best software for your business, not what Microsoft tell you to buy. Using the pre-owned software market and an expert reseller such as you can purchase the software version/edition to suit you. Application, Server and Operating systems are all available pre-owned for the discerning buyer and all at a fraction of the price of the new licences.

3. Work With A Reseller Who Knows Their Stuff

Choosing a pre-owned Microsoft Reseller such as Discount-Licensing to purchase your software licences means that you get to speak to someone who is an expert in Microsoft and the field of reselling ‘pre-owned’ software. This offers you an excellent place to direct queries and questions regarding the software you’re looking to purchase; you’ll get answers from a company who knows what they’re talking about. Discount-Licensing is a Pan European reseller who supplies businesses of all sizes from SMB to Enterprise.

So, if you’re considering purchasing pre-owned Microsoft licences and you’re looking for a reseller who can help you make the best decision for your business, look no further. From legacy versions to the very latest release, we stock a range of Application and Server software to meet all your business requirements. Click here to make an online enquiry or call us on +44 (0)1283 511 524 to speak to our team today. Alternatively, you can send a direct email to sales@discount-licensing.com.

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When Is Capital Expenditure Better Than Operational Expenditure? This Is When.

Posted on May 7, 2020July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

When Is Capital Expenditure Better Than Operational Expenditure? This Is When.

When a 24/7 service provider decided it was time to refresh their Office 2013 Standard, they looked towards the Cloud. Being a subscription, it would be Opex rather than Capex expenditure so would possibly be easier to get approved internally. They had observed that other decision-makers in their industry were making the switch to Microsoft Cloud that led them to think that the Cloud was a more cost-effective option for their 4000 seats.

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They approached a Microsoft reseller, who sold them the Cloud-based Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus licences. The reseller sold the concept that “the Cloud is the future” – the move that “everyone is making” and failing to get on board could mean the business would get “left behind”. The Office 365 ProPlus option was the most comparable to their previous software package, costing £9.80 per user every month.

Currently Cloud-based products differ from on-premise licences in that the former is user-based while the latter is device-based. This means that although the company has just 4,000 seats, they were required to purchase 12,000-user licences since their 24-hour working day involved three separate shifts. There would be three different people using a single PC over a 24-hour period, and now each of them needed their own licence.

At this point you might be thinking that one single payment for a perpetual licence that can be shared makes too much sense to ignore, but the allure of the Cloud is strong, apparently!

This threefold licence increase caused the costs to skyrocket. Paying for 12,000 users at £9.80 each meant a total outlay of £117,600 per month and £1,411,200 per annum as an Opex spend! In short, the actual cost of providing this new IT solution for the workforce was a major increase from their previous setup – a far cry from the aim of gaining a more cost-effective solution.

Within a few months, the increase in IT expenditure began to get noticed by the finance team. As the subscription gave little to no productivity benefits over their previous solution, it was quickly concluded that it was a very expensive way to operate. It was at this point that they approached Discount-Licensing to explore options for reducing costs. Providing an on-premise licence, our team were able to sell Office 2016 Pro Plus for their 4,000 seats that adequately met the needs of the business. Despite being a Capex, each perpetual licence cost less than a single year’s user subscription to the Cloud services.

This is why on-premise perpetual licences can be far more cost-effective than Cloud-based ones, and there are many solutions to choose from so you’ll definitely be able to find exactly what you need. We were able to swiftly find the optimal solution for the customer and save them a huge amount of money versus the outlay for a cloud-based subscription plan. Let us also not forget that as perpetual licensing is an owned asset, there is always the potential to reclaim value at the end of the usage period.

This is just one example that demonstrates why no business should overlook the option of acquiring on-premise perpetual licences. Franchised resellers will tell you that the Cloud is the only way to go, as that is where the manufacturers want to take the market. Why sell a product when you can rent it instead and give yourself a constant revenue stream that you have full control of? Most of us would rather buy than rent in most cases as we see the latter being the more expensive option longer term.

You will also see that many of your competitors are turning to the cloud model for their operations. The important thing is to be realistic about what your business needs. No-one knows better than you how your business operates and what it requires, and you should explore on-premise perpetual licences to find out if there is a simpler, more cost-effective option to meet your needs. Be careful not just to follow the crowd as it may not be the right path for you!

Discount-Licensing is able to assist with your enquiries, and will work hard to find a solution that ticks all your boxes. Contact us today to discuss what your business needs and we’ll point you in the right direction.

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You Don’t HAVE To Make The Jump To The Cloud – Perpetual Software Has A Lot Of Benefits

Posted on January 31, 2020July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

You Don’t HAVE To Make The Jump To The Cloud – Perpetual Software Has A Lot Of Benefits

Purchasing pre-owned software is quick and easy, saving you a significant sum of money. We have many satisfied customers across Europe – in fact, as much as 60% of our business takes place around Europe. Opting for pre-owned perpetual software licensing over cloud-based upgrades means you get permanent access to software for a fraction of the original price.

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These days, more and more businesses are making a move to cloud-based software even though it costs more than any other option and data could be at risk of being compromised. So why?

The answer is a simple one: many businesses don’t realise that they can still opt out of the Cloud. Vendors don’t make it clear that perpetual software licensing is still an option. Microsoft and their distributors will try and push you towards cloud-based subscriptions. Of course they do – that means more money for them, both in terms of the move itself, and the subsequent license fees that you keep paying for as long as you want to use that software. This means that if you ever stop paying for that software, you will need to retrieve all your data or risk losing it all together.

What traditional resellers don’t tell you is that perpetual software hasn’t suddenly dropped out of existence – it’s still around and as accessible as ever. So next time your software supplier tells you “you’ll have to move to the cloud for that” keep in mind that they may have a vested interest in convincing you to make the move, and there may be a perpetual alternative that they’re not telling you about.

Here are just a few reasons why you should stick with perpetual Microsoft volume software licenses.

It’s Cheaper

Perpetual software licenses ask for just one single fee. If you want to move to the cloud, however, you’ll pay a recurring cost every month – essentially paying for the software several times over, in the long run. Similar to how if you hire a car for a few years and then eventually return it, you will not get any money back when you hand the car back. This is because you never owned that car. Not only is it cheaper to buy perpetual licenses, the ownership would be transferred to you and your company and you will be able to recoup some of that value should you choose to eventually stop using it and sell it on to a vendor like Discount Licensing. In the case of cloud-based software, you’ve been paying for something that you will not get to keep – and you will have likely paid extra, “hidden” costs over the years….

Active users of software are assigned a “seat”, each of which costs money. Every time one of your seats becomes inactive – meaning the user no longer uses their own account – you will need to manually disable that seat yourself. This requires you to employ someone to keep an eye on seats – yet another extra cost that comes with cloud-based software. The constant monitoring of active users to avoid charges for services that aren’t being used adds up to a lot of extra money over the years – unless you simply continue to pay for a seat that isn’t being used. Avoid either of these scenarios by choosing a perpetual software licence that you pay for once, and then own forever.

It’s More Secure

However secure the cloud may be, the fact is anyone can access your data if your details fall into their wrong hands. When you choose the cloud, you are storing your data on someone else’s server, entrusting it to someone else. If that server fails, you will not be able to access your data. You can lose any kind of information, from client information to personal information. Perpetual software, on the other hand, can only be accessed by people who have access permission within your organisation. This cuts down the risk of data breach significantly.

You Stay In Control

You have complete control over your software, where it is installed, on which devices within your organisation, and you decide when you upgrade or downgrade. With perpetual licenses, you own the data. but once it’s uploaded to the cloud, who owns the data then? No one is really sure.

Another question you should ask yourself – Is your Cloud Service Provider fully compliant with GDPR? How will you access your data if their server goes down or if you lose connection to the internet?

If you choose a perpetual software license, you will always have access to your data, no matter what.

The Cloud Or Perpetual licences?

When cloud first began people were rightly sceptical. Tech giants claimed it would be the next big thing and the implication that cloud would completely displace perpetual licensing was strong but there is evidence to say that perpetual licensing still has a very strong presence in the market because of its lower overall costs, better security, and control over data.

It may be sensible for organisations to use a hybrid system: part-cloud, part-perpetual. For example, for remote users it may be advantageous to use cloud, but perpetual licenses may be a better choice for those on your team who are rarely mobile, tend to work from your business premises, and don’t need to share many files and folders. Combine the best of both systems for a convenient, tailor-made solution that’s right for you.

Don’t believe the hype over the Cloud. Use perpetual software licenses wherever you can and save a significant amount of money while substantially cutting down on the risks.

We buy, sell, hold and supply a vast range of both current and previous versions of software for a mere fraction of its original price. Whether you need to buy Microsoft perpetual software licenses from us or sell on your unused Microsoft licenses to recoup some of your initial payment, we have you covered, no matter whereabouts in Europe you happen to be. For cheaper software that literally lasts a lifetime, call Discount Licensing today for more information.

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Is Pre-Owned Software “As Good As New”?

Posted on August 28, 2019July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Is Pre-Owned Software “As Good As New”?

Many people liken pre-owned software to second-hand objects, assuming that there will be signs of usage – but this isn’t true. Pre-owned software is as good as new with every fresh install. There are no mechanical aspects and there are no moving parts, so there is no way to “wear out” a piece of software. As long as software is installed on the appropriate hardware, it will be as responsive, usable, and suitable for your business as ever – even if it has been used before.

Download our FREE guide to second-hand software!

More and more businesses are turning to vendors such as Discount-Licensing who sell pre-owned Microsoft volume licences as an alternative to “brand new” software as offered by the traditional LSP, distributor or reseller. Buying from a legitimate pre-owned software reseller is an excellent way to affordably and legally get access to the software versions and editions that your business needs and not necessarily the latest versions as traditional resellers demand that you buy.

Pre-owned software is ideal for supporting a growing team, satisfying a licence shortfall to remain compliant or implementing a hybrid software platform. Pre-owned software allows employees to continue to use software programs which they are familiar with, removing the need to learn new layouts and system changes often introduced with the latest versions, thus maintaining productivity. Pre-owned software helps stretch your IT budgets, freeing up cash for other IT projects that have perhaps been postponed due to other budgetary demands.

Discount-Licensing sources all its software from within the EU/EEA from companies that no longer have a requirement for them. Companies who sell their surplus software licences do so for many reasons including Cloud migration, reduced head count, mergers and acquisition, or having purchased a new licence agreement from a different vendor.

So Why Is Pre-Owned Software Cheaper?

Pre-owned software is cheaper because it has been purchased, installed and put to use by a previous owner within the EU/EEA. Companies that sell their surplus software to Discount-Licensing do so to recoup money back from their initial software investment. That software purchased by Discount-Licensing is often the latest version/edition, so buyers of pre-owned software have an opportunity to obtain very recent versions at a much lower price when compared to brand new licences or alternative cloud offerings.

Using A Trusted Reseller

Discount-Licensing are a registered Microsoft Partner – and a trustworthy reseller of pre-owned Microsoft volume software licences who performs all due diligence to ensure compliancy with the EU Software Directive 2009. It’s important to remember when buying used software to always buy from a reputable seller who understands the licensing and the legalities surrounding the safe purchase and transfer of pre-owned software. Discount-Licensing offer complete transparency with the software that they trade. A full and complete audit trail is essential to remain compliant including full disclosure of software licence numbers, activation keys and original end user information/confirmation.

Discount-Licensing provides sales and purchasing quotations for pre-owned software within 24 hours of enquiry. Alternatively, if you would like further information please call us on +44 1283 511524 to discuss your options. We have offices around Europe and can provide support in multiple languages – get in touch today!

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Will Buying Pre-owned Software Limit What Functions I Have Available?

Posted on May 3, 2019July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Will Buying Pre-owned Software Limit What Functions I Have Available?

If you’re buying new equipment or software for your business, you may have considered pre-owned software as an alternative to buying a brand new software at the full price. After all, that reduction in cost can make expensive Microsoft software more affordable to any business that wants to stretch its IT budget. But when you choose to buy pre-owned software, will your business be limited to what it can do in comparison to buying new? Read on to find out more…

Download our FREE guide to second-hand software!

Why Choose Pre-owned Software?

There are many reasons why you may opt for pre-owned software. This could be down to budget constraints, or it could even be that you need access to older software that’s no longer sold as new. Unlike a car, software doesn’t degrade over time and so there’s no reason why a used/pre-owned software version shouldn’t be a more viable option compared to new.

Will Pre-owned Software Limit My Functionality?

Short answer: no. Software doesn’t lose its functionality depending on how many people have used it or who’s previously owned it. Pre-owned software is now practically identical to buying new, especially if you buy from a reputable source. Your business is provided with a unique set of licence agreement numbers (originally created by Microsoft), media and supporting documentation via Discount-Licensing’s client portal: Secondary Software Licence Centre (SSLC). The only limitation is the number of installations that your company can make, which is also true of new software licence purchases.

Be aware of rouge reseller sites may illegally selling trial installation keys or software that is not for purpose because the software was originally put into use outside Europe – such software may not pass an audit and what originally appeared to be amazing short term savings can turn out to be very costly at time of audit). So, it’s important to be vigilant about what you’re purchasing in order to ensure you’re getting the right pre-owned software product with all the functionality that your company needs.

Does Pre-owned Software Appear ‘Used’?

Short answer: no. In terms of installation and usage of Microsoft software licence, there’s no difference between the pre-owned and new software options. Previously, people thought of pre-owned software as a battered box or used CD-ROM but in a digital era, Discount-Licensing has built a web portal so that the pre-owned software licences, media and supporting documentation is delivered to its customers in the same way that the vendor supplies new software through its new licence portal.

Are you considering pre-owned software for your next purchase? View our full range of pre-owned software today.

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Should You Buy A New Microsoft Licence Or Get Used Software?

Posted on April 19, 2019July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Should You Buy A New Microsoft Licence Or Get Used Software?

When setting out to acquire new software solutions for your business, it can be tempting to save money by opting for used software. You could purchase a fresh licence directly from Microsoft, or you could purchase a second-hand licence from a reseller – perhaps even from eBay! There are advantages and disadvantages to each option, so it is important to be aware of all the facts before making a decision about which way to go. Here we compare the option of buying new against buying second hand – which is right for you?

Mint Condition

Unsurprisingly, when you purchase a fresh new software licence for any Microsoft product, you get something that is shiny and new. But the same is true of a second-hand software product – unlike physical products, Microsoft software licences don’t get worn out over time. There will be no difference in the quality of the product when you buy second-hand as opposed to brand new. With a fully legal used software licence, you will be able to install and use your software just as you would with a new software licence from a conventional software licence reseller. It will work just the same and you will be able to download all the necessary updates without any worries, so your software will be in mint condition.

A Question Of Security

One of the key reasons that people are apprehensive about buying used Microsoft software licences is legal and security. Many businesses still do not realise that buying used software is as legal as buying/selling a house or a car within Europe. Ratified by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2012, so long as the reseller follows the criteria set out by the ECJ, the European Software Directive 2009 permits the resale of intangible software such as Microsoft Volume software licences – it is wrong to assume that buying used software is akin to pirating it. Visit our LEGAL web page to find out more.

Secondly, there is the issue of getting a genuine product. When you purchase a fresh new Microsoft licence directly from a registered / certified reseller, you know that you will be receiving a genuine, legitimate product. You may feel less certain about that with the second-hand option due to the stigma attached to secondary markets. If you buy from a suspicious reseller (companies only reselling licence installation keys only or hiding behind Notary Attestations), you have reason to be concerned. But with a reliable reseller like Discount-Licensing, you are warranted to receive a trustworthy, genuine licence every single time and every transaction is insured – we do not purchase used software for resale without completing thorough background checks that are made in accordance with the 2021 ECJ ruling and Software Directive 2009.

A Question Of Cost

The greatest advantage of buying second-hand is the money you save as pre-owned/used software is normally 50%+ cheaper than a fresh new software licence, and the total cost is more transparent and straightforward than the pricing models of rental / cloud options. You can minimise your software and administration costs by going second-hand and keep everything simple.

In a nutshell, as long as you choose a trustworthy reseller like Discount-Licensing, business stand to benefit more by purchasing used software as opposed to new. You get the same product in mint condition, completely legal with comprehensive proof of ownership; and you get it at a greatly reduced price as well as full access to the ongoing support/updates that a fresh new software licence provides. Pre-owned/used software is a no-brainer for European businesses.

Choose Discount Licensing for help with buying second-hand software today.

Here’s How Easy It Is To Buy Used Microsoft Software

Posted on April 18, 2019July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Here’s How Easy It Is To Buy Used Microsoft Software

With Discount-Licensing, you have a simple and effective way to buy Microsoft software. We sell licences for second-hand software, which means our customers get their own, fully-functional software without having to splash out on a more expensive software product. In terms of installation and usage, there is no disadvantage to buying used software as opposed to the brand new software alternative, except for the risk of being sold fake activation codes from rogue resellers. We offer a marketplace for legitimate, trustworthy licences that are completely legal and above board.

Here’s how easy it is to buy genuine used software for your business:

Step 1: Finding The Right Software

From our Home menu, select the Software Solutions option and click Buy Software. You will then be presented with a list of Microsoft products to build and add to your enquiry cart. When selecting a product, you will then get a list of available versions and editions – for example, if you select Microsoft Office the list will include everything from Office 2003 to Office 2019 versions. Finally, select the edition (Standard/Professional Plus) and the quantity of the licences that your business requires; then click on ‘Add Software to Enquiry Basket’.

Step 2: Submitting Your Enquiry

Once you have built and added all the products that your business requires, click on ‘View Software in Basket’ or hit the enquiry basket icon at the top right hand side of your screen to review your selected pre-owned Microsoft software licences that you require a price for.. Once you have inserted your contact details, submit your enquiry and a member of staff will contact you within 24 hours in order to provide you with a formal quotation. From there, you can make a decision as to whether you wish to proceed with an order.

Step 3: Receiving Your Pre-Owned Microsoft Software Licence(s), Media & Installation Keys

Once you have confirmed your order, your business will be provided with the ‘Parent Program’ and ‘Enrollment’ software licence numbers that were created/supplied by Microsoft for the original Microsoft customer. The supporting legal documentation and installation media is made available through Discount-Licensing’s unique Secondary Software Licence Centre (SSLC), a web portal for pre-owned/used Microsoft software.

It’s that simple. With Discount-Licensing, you get 100% transparency and comprehensive documentation that demonstrates full legal ownership of your chosen software and everything you need to prove it if your company is ever audited. Discount-Licensing can give your business peace of mind when you choose to purchase second-hand/used Microsoft software.

Microsoft struggles against self-inflicted Office 365 IMAP outage

Posted on September 30, 2016July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Microsoft struggles against self-inflicted Office 365 IMAP outage

Seven days is a long time in cloud

Microsoft engineers are struggling to fix a seven-day-old, self-inflicted Office 365 IMAP outage. Find out more here.

Don’t sit on a valuable intangible software asset – Sell it

Posted on December 15, 2015July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Don’t sit on a valuable intangible software asset – Sell it

For businesses that have already (or are planning) to make the transition from on-Premises to the Cloud, valuable perpetual software licence assets may be left behind and discarded.

Our business, Discount-Licensing Ltd, is a specialist in recycling Microsoft volume software licence assets. We would offer to buy and ultimately provide your business with a residual value for your disused perpetual software.

To receive a valuation for your disused software licence assets, please either email your details to procurement@discount-licensing.com, complete our Enquiry Form or else speak to a representative on +44 (0)845 475 5959.

Don’t sit on a valuable intangible software asset – Sell it.

Navigating The Used Software Market

Posted on October 8, 2013July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Navigating The Used Software Market

Savvy European Software Buyers Can Save Up To 50% By Buying And Selling Used Software

After years of wrangling, on July 3, 2012, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared that trading in used software programs was legal in the European Union. This landmark decision reaffirmed that enterprises with excess software license capacity can sell off their unused software assets to resellers who can then offer the used software for sale. Since then, businesses across Europe have taken advantage of this burgeoning market. Find out more here.

Hamburg Court Issues Injunction Against Microsoft

Posted on August 23, 2012July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Hamburg Court Issues Injunction Against Microsoft

Further to last month’s landmark Court Judgement of the CJEU against Oracle (Case C-128/11 – 3 rd July 2012), in which the legalities of second-hand software licensing was re-affirmed, a district court of Hamburg (Germany) has subsequently issued a temporary injunction against Microsoft – Court Reference: 327 O 396/12 (9th August 2012): ITExpresso.de – “Gebrauchtsoftware: Schlappe für Microsoft bei Aufspaltung von Volumenlizenzen“. Find out more here.

‘Usedsoft’ Bankrupt & Business Model Exposed

Posted on February 16, 2012July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

‘Usedsoft’ Bankrupt & Business Model Exposed

Most of the innovators and me-too competitors that have emerged over the past decade have worked in relative harmony with the software vendors in what has become a fragmented secondary software licence industry; an industry, which now incorporates numerous markets defined by the different software vendors (Microsoft, SAP etc), vendor’s products and licence platforms (Volume, OEM, boxed products etc); and each vendor offering different transfer provisions that continuously change. Find out more here.

Microsoft volume licensing website takes festive holiday

Posted on December 15, 2009July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Microsoft volume licensing website takes festive holiday

Microsoft’s volume licensing websites have been offline for over a week while the software giant has been tweaking its service.

Redmond’s eOpen licence and volume licensing service sites have been “down for maintenance” since 7 December.

Microsoft apologised to customers affected by the scheduled outage and said it hoped to bring the service back online tomorrow (16 December).

“The Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center is undergoing maintenance as part of a series of enhancements to improve the licensing management experience for partners and customers,” it said. Find out more here.

Realising The Value Of Software Licences

Posted on March 16, 2006July 15, 2022 by philhdiscountl

Realising The Value Of Software Licences

Noel Unwin explains why software licensing is now recognised as an intangible asset that can yield real financial returns for creditors with little policing from IP’s.

Software what?’…the response echoed throughout the industry when the theory behind this new licensing asset reared its invisible head back in the winter of 2004 – an understandable first reaction to an asset where the hidden heterogeneity between the software and the licence itself had gone hither to unnoticed by insolvency members, private sector businesses and even the software vendors themselves. Find out more here.

Image source: Pixabay

Microsoft Office 2019 frente a Microsoft 365/Office 2021

Posted on March 1, 2005May 30, 2023 by philhdiscountl

Microsoft Office 2019 frente a Microsoft 365/Office 2021

Seguramente todos nos hemos dejado seducir alguna vez por la última versión de cierto producto tecnológico y hemos terminado pagando por funciones que no usamos (sé que mi portátil y mi
teléfono tienen muchas más funciones de las que nunca necesitaré). Lo mismo se aplica al software, en especial a las nuevas versiones de la suite de Microsoft Office. Este software ofrece una amplia gama de herramientas para el cliente, como procesamiento de textos, hojas de cálculo, correo electrónico, gestión de calendarios y creación de publicaciones. Si bien todas estas herramientas están disponibles, según se ha descubierto, el 90 % de los usuarios, en todos los sectores, solo utilizan el 20 % de las funciones (Word, Excel y Outlook) disponibles con la última versión de Cloud 365/Office 2021 [Fuente: «The Pros & Cons of Office 365»: Ramsac].

A medida que los costes siguen incrementándose, las organizaciones buscan ahorrar dinero, mientras que los proveedores de software, como Microsoft, intentan atraer a sus clientes para que abandonen el modelo de «propiedad» de sus licencias de software perpetuas y pasen a su modelo basado en la nube de suscripción «contratada». El proveedor argumentará con las ventajas de Microsoft 365, como estar al día con la última versión, mejorar la colaboración, trabajar desde cualquier lugar con conexión a internet y reducir los gastos iniciales. Sin embargo, para las grandes organizaciones que se ven obligadas a cambiar a la última versión de Microsoft 365 con menores costes iniciales, las ventajas «económicas» del modelo de suscripción en la nube desaparecen en pocos años en comparación con los modelos de licencia perpetua.

Entonces, ¿están las empresas malgastando dinero solo por tener la última versión de Microsoft Office o Microsoft 365? Y si es así, ¿cuánto? La respuesta sencilla es sí: Office 2019 perpetuo de segunda mano es actualmente la solución más rentable en comparación con Office 2021 perpetuo de Microsoft y su suscripción equivalente Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, como demuestra la siguiente comparación de costes. Por si fuera poco, verse obligado a migrar a la última versión de Microsoft 365 también puede suponer un quebradero de cabeza para quienes prefieran continuar con la versión anterior.

Comprar el software perpetuo Office 2019 de segunda mano tiene la ventaja añadida de ser más estable, considerando que usted tiene el control sobre cuándo se aplican las actualizaciones y los parches en lugar de hacerlo a instancias del proveedor. Si su organización utiliza software o aplicaciones a medida, mantenerse al día con las últimas actualizaciones puede suponer una importante dificultad que exige tiempo y genera costes adicionales. Peor aún, una actualización puede incluso generar problemas de compatibilidad o integración, lo que provoca tiempos de inactividad. El uso de una versión perpetua específica de Office ofrece un mayor control interno. Para los empleados más expertos en tecnología, las nuevas funciones pueden no presentar problemas, pero para algunos de sus empleados, estos cambios supondrán un obstáculo, frustraciones y pueden requerir capacitación adicional.

Por lo tanto, la próxima vez que su organización desee renovar o migrar su Microsoft Office (o cualquier otra aplicación o producto basado en servidor de Microsoft), merece la pena considerar las licencias perpetuas de software de Microsoft de segunda mano.

Envíenos su consulta:
enquiry.EU@discount-licensing.com (UE) | enquiry.UK@discount-Licensing.com (Reino Unido)
Llámenos al:
+34 932 715 561 (UE) | +44 (0)1283 511524 (Reino Unido)
Visite nuestro sitio web: Discount-Licensing (cobertura en la UE y el Reino Unido)

Image Source: Unsplash

Microsoft Office 2019 vs Microsoft 365 / Office 2021

Posted on March 1, 2005May 30, 2023 by philhdiscountl

Microsoft Office 2019 vs Microsoft 365 / Office 2021

Nous pouvons sans crainte affirmer que nous avons tous été au moins une fois séduits par la dernière version d’un produit technologique et que nous avons fini par payer pour des fonctionnalités que nous n’utilisons pas (je sais que mon ordinateur portable et mon smartphone possèdent beaucoup plus de fonctions que je n’en aurai jamais besoin). Il en va de même dans l’univers des logiciels, notamment avec les nouvelles versions de la suite Microsoft Office. Ce logiciel propose un large choix d’outils clients performants comme le traitement de texte, les tableurs, la messagerie électronique, la gestion du calendrier et la publication assistée par ordinateur. Cependant, malgré l’existence de toutes ces fonctionnalités, 90 % des utilisateurs, tous secteurs confondus, disent n’utiliser que 20 % des fonctionnalités (Word, Excel et Outlook) proposées dans la dernière version de Cloud 365 / Office 2021 [source : « The Pros & Cons of Office 365 » : Ramsac].

Alors que les coûts continuent d’augmenter, les entreprises cherchent à faire des économies, tandis que les éditeurs de logiciels, comme Microsoft, essaient de détourner leurs clients de l’achat de licences logicielles perpétuelles au profit de leur modèle d’abonnement basé sur le cloud. L’éditeur de logiciels avancera que les avantages de Microsoft 365 comprennent la mise à jour de la dernière version, une meilleure collaboration, la possibilité de travailler n’importe où grâce à une connexion Internet et une réduction des coûts initiaux. Cependant, pour les grandes organisations qui sont obligées de passer à la nouvelle version de Microsoft 365 à un coût initial réduit, les avantages financiers du modèle d’abonnement dans le cloud disparaissent après quelques années, à la différence des modèles de licences perpétuelles.

Les entreprises gaspillent-elles donc leur argent dans le seul but de se procurer la dernière version de Microsoft Office ou Microsoft 365 ? Et si oui, combien ? La réponse simple est « oui ». Une licence perpétuelle d’occasion pour Office 2019 est actuellement la solution la plus rentable par rapport à la licence perpétuelle de Microsoft Office 2021 et son abonnement équivalent Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise comme le prouve la comparaison de coûts suivante. De plus, l’obligation de migrer vers la dernière version de Microsoft 365 peut être un véritable casse-tête pour ceux qui préfèrent continuer avec l’ancienne version.

L’achat d’une licence Office 2019 perpétuelle d’occasion a l’avantage supplémentaire d’offrir une plus grande stabilité, dans la mesure où c’est vous qui contrôlez le calendrier des mises à jour et des correctifs et non le fournisseur. Si votre organisation utilise des logiciels ou des applications personnalisés, les mises à jour incessantes peuvent être un véritable fardeau qui prend du temps et entraîne des coûts supplémentaires. Pire encore, une mise à jour peut parfois créer des problèmes de compatibilité ou d’intégration et entraîner un temps d’arrêt. L’utilisation d’une version perpétuelle spécifique d’Office permet un plus grand contrôle en interne. Les nouvelles fonctionnalités ne posent sûrement pas de problèmes à vos employés les plus calés en technologie, mais ces changements peuvent perturber d’autres employés, entraîner des frustrations et nécessiter une formation complémentaire.

Ainsi, la prochaine fois que votre organisation cherchera à renouveler/migrer votre version de Microsoft Office (ou toute autre application Microsoft ou produit basé sur le serveur), intéressez- vous à l’achat de licences logicielles perpétuelles Microsoft d’occasion.

Nous envoyer une demande :
enquiry.EU@discount-licensing.com (UE) | enquiry.UK@discount-Licensing.com (UK)

Nous appeler :
+34 932 715 561 (UE) | +44 (0)1283 511524 (UK)

Consulter notre site Web : Discount-Licensing (UE et UK)

Image Source: Unsplash

Author: philhdiscountl

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