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AI has incredible potential to drive value for your business, but it can be easy to get lost in the hype. With so many SaaS vendors now offering AI-powered features and products, how do you break through the noise? In this episode, Ben Pippenger shares the five essential questions you need to ask your current and prospective SaaS vendors about AI so you get the right tools that drive the right outcomes for your organization.Have a question you’d like answered on SaaSMe Anything? Submit yours <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd46q9-lJRA1ZCGCmegXCXrGqSCXonMpZhQubNKEd_SWllLmw/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;Key Takeaways<ul><li>[00:07&nbsp;-&nbsp;00:54] Asking the right questions about AI</li><li>[00:54&nbsp;-&nbsp;01:13] Five table-stake questions to ask SaaS vendors about their AI-powered solutions</li><li>[03:57&nbsp;-&nbsp;04:20] Thinking through questions about AI adoption</li></ul>SaaSMe Anything is the bi-weekly podcast that brings clarity to the chaos of SaaS, hosted by your resident SaaS expert and Zylo co-founder Ben Pippenger. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpipp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

In this episode, Ben Pippenger shares five essential questions you need to ask your current and prospective SaaS vendors about AI so you get the right tools that drive the right outcomes for your organization.

What Questions Should I Ask My SaaS Vendors About AI?

AI has incredible potential to drive value for your business, but it can be easy to get lost in the hype. With so many SaaS vendors now offering AI-powered features and products, how do you break through the noise? In this episode, Ben Pippenger shares the five essential questions you need to ask your current and prospective SaaS vendors about AI so you get the right tools that drive the right outcomes for your organization.

Lloyd and Harry. Buzz and Woody. Romy and Michele. We all love a great dynamic duo. But, what about IT and Procurement? According to Steve McKenzie, the IT Supplier Management Lead at Zoetis, IT and Procurement are the dream team of SaaS Management. In this episode, learn why this partnership is so critical to the enterprise, how to overcome common obstacles to collaboration, and the pivotal role data plays in fostering strategic alliances.Key Takeaways<ul><li>[01:20&nbsp;-&nbsp;02:34] Speaking the same language between Procurement and IT</li><li>[02:35&nbsp;-&nbsp;05:45] How aligning the procurement and IT relationship has benefitted Steve and his team at Zoetis</li><li>[10:18&nbsp;-&nbsp;12:40] Partner reactions and surprise when seeing renewal data from Zylo</li><li>[13:50&nbsp;-&nbsp;17:59] Managing AI internally at Zoetis, taking AI by the horns</li><li>[18:01&nbsp;-&nbsp;19:49] Two types of tools, AI and current gen, making an investment in the future</li><li>[19:50&nbsp;-&nbsp;24:04] Doing things better with SaaS management at Zoetis, doing your job well and showing value, addressing pain points</li><li>[24:07&nbsp;-&nbsp;26:12] Steve's favorite apps</li></ul>About Steve McKenzieSteve McKenzie is the IT Supplier Management Lead at Zoetis, the largest global animal health company.&nbsp;He has over 10 years of procurement and sourcing experience, with notable stops at KPMG and JP Morgan. Connect with Steve on <a href="www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmckenziejr" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.Want more great SaaS Management stories and content? Subscribe to our newsletter: <a href="https://zylo.com/newsletter-sign-up/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://zylo.com/newsletter-sign-up/</a>

Steve McKenzie is the IT Supplier Management Lead at Zoetis, the largest global animal health company.  He has over 10 years of procurement and sourcing experience, with notable stops at KPMG and JP Morgan. 

Steve McKenzie

IT Supplier Management Lead at Zoetis

In this episode, learn why the IT-Procurement partnership is so critical to enterprise SaaS Management and how to work together to drive business impact.

Building a Strong Partnership Between IT & Procurement, the SaaS Management Dream Team with Steve McKenzie (Zoetis)

Lloyd and Harry. Buzz and Woody. Romy and Michele. We all love a great dynamic duo. But, what about IT and Procurement? According to Steve McKenzie, the IT Supplier Management Lead at Zoetis, IT and Procurement are the dream team of SaaS Management. In this episode, learn why this partnership is so critical to the enterprise, how to overcome common obstacles to collaboration, and the pivotal role data plays in fostering strategic alliances.

Securing buy-in from your executive team is the most important ingredient for a successful SaaS Management program. No one knows this better than Siroui Mushegian, CIO at Barracuda Networks. In this episode, discover Mushegian's approach to securing executive buy-in for SaaS Management, and how it's helping drive application rationalization, security, and innovation in the enterprise.Key Takeaways<ul><li>[01:31-6:05] Making SaaS Management a strategic priority</li><li>[8:03-10:42] Siroui’s simple 9-box strategy&nbsp;</li><li>[10:46-16:24] The “what’s in it for me” story and stakeholder interviews for application rationalization</li><li>[20:57-21:38] Barracuda’s security playbook in partnership with CISO Riaz Lakhani</li><li>[25:53-27:59] Funding new programs with tight budgets</li></ul>About Siroui MushegianSiroui Mushegian is the CIO at Barracuda Networks, the worldwide leader in Email Protection, Application Protection, Network Security, and Data Protection Solutions. She has nearly 30 years of IT leadership experience, previously at notable enterprises like the NBA, Ralph Lauren, and Time Warner. To-date, Mushegian has helped build and implement two SaaS Management programs. Connect with Siroui on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/siroui-mushegian" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.Want more great SaaS Management stories and content? Subscribe to our newsletter: <a href="https://zylo.com/newsletter-sign-up/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://zylo.com/newsletter-sign-up/</a>

In this episode, discover how to secure executive buy-in for SaaS Management, and how it helps drive application rationalization, security, and innovation in the enterprise.

Securing Executive Buy-In for SaaS Management in the Enterprise with Siroui Mushegian (Barracuda Networks)

Securing Executive Buy-In for SaaS Management in the Enterprise with Siroui Mushegian

Securing buy-in from your executive team is the most important ingredient for a successful SaaS Management program. No one knows this better than Siroui Mushegian, CIO at Barracuda Networks. In this episode, discover Mushegian's approach to securing executive buy-in for SaaS Management, and how it's helping drive application rationalization, security, and innovation in the enterprise.

When you don't know everything about a software application – or that it exists in the first place – it’s impossible to effectively manage renewals, optimize licenses, and implement governance. Today, leading organizations are flipping the script, using a SaaS Management platform (SMP) as their system of record to gain centralized visibility into every application. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains how you can prioritize and onboard apps into an SMP – and how to keep it up-to-date for the long-haul.&nbsp;Have a question you’d like answered on SaaSMe Anything? Submit yours <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd46q9-lJRA1ZCGCmegXCXrGqSCXonMpZhQubNKEd_SWllLmw/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;Key Takeaways<ul><li>[00:07&nbsp;-&nbsp;01:12] Setting up a SaaS system of record in three steps</li><li>[01:10&nbsp;-&nbsp;02:03] The discovery process —&nbsp;the average organization has 269 applications, and using financial data to find app costs</li><li>[02:03&nbsp;-&nbsp;02:35] On to onboarding</li><li>[02:33&nbsp;-&nbsp;03:23] Prioritizing apps that are onboarded</li><li>[03:23&nbsp;-&nbsp;04:26] A checklist to follow, alignment with owners</li><li>[04:26&nbsp;-&nbsp;06:06] Gathering data and connecting partner sites to gather data</li></ul>SaaSMe Anything is the bi-weekly podcast that brings clarity to the chaos of SaaS, hosted by your resident SaaS expert and Zylo co-founder Ben Pippenger. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpipp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

In this episode, learn how you can prioritize and onboard apps into a SaaS Management Platform – and how to keep it up-to-date for the long-haul. 

How Do I Set Up & Maintain A SaaS System of Record?

When you don't know everything about a software application – or that it exists in the first place – it’s impossible to effectively manage renewals, optimize licenses, and implement governance. Today, leading organizations are flipping the script, using a SaaS Management platform (SMP) as their system of record to gain centralized visibility into every application. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains how you can prioritize and onboard apps into an SMP – and how to keep it up-to-date for the long-haul. 

With hundreds of SaaS renewals a year, each with their own complexities, Procurement has its work cut out for them. But that didn't stop Brittney Linville, a tenacious and growth-minded U.S. Army veteran and procurement leader. In fact, she has not only built three procurement organizations from the ground up, but she created the gold standard for how to do it. From ditching spreadsheets and building strategic partnerships to streamlining procurement processes, Brittney dishes on how she executed at high velocity.Key Takeaways<ol><li>Building Strategic Partnerships: Brittney Linville emphasizes the importance of building relationships with key stakeholders, such as CIOs and CTOs, to understand their needs and align procurement strategies with organizational goals.</li><li>Elevating Procurement: Linville discusses how she elevated the role of procurement to become a strategic partner by focusing on understanding the technology landscape, including SaaS, and aligning procurement processes with business objectives.</li><li>High-Velocity Procurement: Despite being a team of one, Linville successfully managed hundreds of renewals by building a collaborative approach, leveraging technology integrations, and streamlining processes to increase efficiency.</li><li>Tech Stack Optimization: Linville's tech stack included tools like Coupa for guided buying flows, Ironclad for contract lifecycle management, and Zylo for SaaS management. She emphasizes the importance of selecting tools that streamline processes and enhance user experience.</li><li>Making Procurement Easier: Linville's approach focused on simplifying procurement processes to make them more user-friendly and efficient, reducing friction and encouraging compliance while minimizing the risk of shadow IT.</li><li>Personal and Business Favorites: Linville's favorite personal SaaS application is Canva for its user-friendly design capabilities, while her preferred business app is Ironclad for its innovation in contract lifecycle management.</li></ol>

Brittney Linville

Strategic Account Executive at Zylo

From ditching spreadsheets and building strategic partnerships to streamlining SaaS procurement processes, Brittney Linville dishes on how she executed at high velocity.


From Spreadsheets to Success: A Guide to High-Velocity SaaS Procurement with Brittney Linville (Zylo)

From Spreadsheets to Success: A Guide to High-Velocity SaaS Procurement with Brittney Linville

With hundreds of SaaS renewals a year, each with their own complexities, Procurement has its work cut out for them. But that didn't stop Brittney Linville, a tenacious and growth-minded U.S. Army veteran and procurement leader. In fact, she has not only built three procurement organizations from the ground up, but she created the gold standard for how to do it. From ditching spreadsheets and building strategic partnerships to streamlining procurement processes, Brittney dishes on how she executed at high velocity.


A majority of IT leaders have prioritized security in 2024, yet the number of SaaS apps behind single sign-on is abysmal. As an IT or security leader, this is your sign to secure more of your applications with SSO. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains why single sign-on is critical to reducing risk and shares practical insights to create and implement your organization's SSO roadmap.Have a question you’d like answered on SaaSMe Anything? Submit yours <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd46q9-lJRA1ZCGCmegXCXrGqSCXonMpZhQubNKEd_SWllLmw/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;Key Takeaways:<ul><li>[00:07&nbsp;-&nbsp;00:45] Reducing security risks is a top concern in 2024</li><li>[00:45&nbsp;-&nbsp;01:15] The definition of SSO (single sign on)</li><li>[01:15&nbsp;-&nbsp;01:53] Minimizing phishing and security threats, an IBM data breach example</li><li>[01:53&nbsp;-&nbsp;02:31] Visibility into your entire SaaS inventory</li><li>[02:57&nbsp;-&nbsp;04:04] Technically and financially possible to enable SSO</li></ul>SaaSMe Anything is the bi-weekly podcast that brings clarity to the chaos of SaaS, hosted by your resident SaaS expert and Zylo co-founder Ben Pippenger. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpipp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains why single sign-on is critical to reducing risk and shares practical insights to create and implement your organization's SSO roadmap.

How Do I Secure More SaaS Apps Behind SSO?

A majority of IT leaders have prioritized security in 2024, yet the number of SaaS apps behind single sign-on is abysmal. As an IT or security leader, this is your sign to secure more of your applications with SSO. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains why single sign-on is critical to reducing risk and shares practical insights to create and implement your organization's SSO roadmap.

Double your insights and control with a combined SaaS Management Platform and Software Asset Management strategy. SAM tools excel at on-premises management, but SMPs uncover the invisible: longtail SaaS apps, shadow IT, and hidden risks. In this episode, Jason Owens, Sr. Director, Global ITAM at Salesforce, reveals the magic of using both an SMP and SAM tool – unparalleled visibility, cost optimization, and streamlined management you get using them together.&nbsp;Key Takeaways<ul><li>[03:05&nbsp;-&nbsp;05:41] Redefining roles of software asset managers in digital transformation</li><li>[06:04&nbsp;-&nbsp;08:15] The evolution and impact of software asset management</li><li>[08:16&nbsp;-&nbsp;10:21] Two different personas in SaaS today, thoughts on audits, renewals, license positions and more</li><li>[10:26&nbsp;-&nbsp;13:28] The value challenge in software licenses</li><li>[14:08&nbsp;-&nbsp;15:47] Navigating the value of SaaS management in enterprise-level software</li><li>[15:50&nbsp;-&nbsp;17:33] Having both a traditional SAM solution and SaaS management solution</li><li>[18:33&nbsp;-&nbsp;21:09] The strategic shift to proactive SaaS management at Salesforce</li><li>[21:10&nbsp;-&nbsp;23:59] Measuring utilization and sprawl at Salesforce</li><li>[24:03&nbsp;-&nbsp;26:46] Managing SaaS strategy for onboarding companies year over year</li><li>[26:51&nbsp;-&nbsp;30:37] Harnessing AI for transformational asset management</li></ul>

Jason Owens

Senior Director, Global ITAM at Salesforce

In this episode, Jason Owens, Sr. Director, Global ITAM at Salesforce, reveals the magic of using both an SMP and SAM tool – unparalleled visibility, cost optimization, and streamlined management you get using them together. 

Multiplying the Power of Software Management Using an SMP and SAM Tool with Jason Owens (Salesforce)

Multiplying the Power of Software Management with an SMP and SAM Tool

Double your insights and control with a combined SaaS Management Platform and Software Asset Management strategy. SAM tools excel at on-premises management, but SMPs uncover the invisible: longtail SaaS apps, shadow IT, and hidden risks. In this episode, Jason Owens, Sr. Director, Global ITAM at Salesforce, reveals the magic of using both an SMP and SAM tool – unparalleled visibility, cost optimization, and streamlined management you get using them together. 

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SaaS has taken over the world – and your organization. Skyrocketing innovation. Empowering workforces. Embracing flexibility. The future of software is here. But with it comes new challenges.SaaSMe Unfiltered brings you uncensored, real-life advice on what it takes to conquer SaaS management and optimization. For the IT, software asset management, and procurement professionals knee-deep in SaaS every single day. SaaS superheroes just like you.SaaSMe Anything brings clarity to the chaos of SaaS, where Zylo Co-founder Ben Pippenger breaks down your burning questions about SaaS and how to manage it.Brought to you weekly by Zylo, the industry leader in SaaS Management and experts that help organizations of all sizes manage, measure, and maximize the value of their SaaS.For free resources to help you on your SaaS management journey, visit <a href="https://zylo.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">zylo.com</a>.

What Questions Should I Ask My SaaS Vendors About AI?

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Ben Pippenger

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