Don't Double Pay for Software

Internet Week once reported that "Companies that know
what software they're using and where they're using it can
make the best deals for licensing by avoiding redundancy.
For example, some firms pay fees twice because a
department doesn't know that corporate has already paid
for a company wide license." Of course, the same applies
to other products and services where an organization has
some purchasing functions centralized and others
decentralized. Unless adequate communication and controls
are established, the branch location or plant may purchase
items that have been negotiated under a blanket agreement
by the headquarters of the organization. Although a higher
price may or may not be paid by the local location, the
purchase may not be properly counted to fulfill the national
contract agreement.