What Is a Software Quality Assurance Plan?
Software quality assurance plans are available from many software manufacturers for an additional fee when purchasing the rights to use the software. They are intended to make sure you get the most out of your technology investment, providing many additional benefits and "perks" to make your installation, use and maintenance of the software even better.
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Save Time
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Many software quality assurance plans are sold as packaged services and come complete with the installation expertise of a certified software consultant. Many software manufacturers will pre-packaged plans in one, three, five or even 10-day services, depending on the size of the deployment required. Obviously, a business that is looking to add software on 50 desktops will take more than a few days, in most cases. These services leave the end user's Information Technology (IT) Department to deal with typical every-day computer issues and not on the potential massive deployment the company is under taking.
Save Money
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One of the biggest benefits of software quality assurance plans is the ability to spread out payments. Software manufacturers typically will require payment all up front for the purchase of new software licenses, which can take its toll on an individual's or business' budget. However, assurance plans have the option of spreading out payments over two, or even three, years, allowing the end user to have better predictability over its technology budget in the coming years.
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Increase Productivity
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Many costs that keep individuals and businesses from enjoying the latest technology are the extra costs. Upgrading to the newest versions of software on a continual basis can take its toll. Software quality assurance plans take that issue off the table and allow individuals and businesses to always have the latest technology at their fingertips so that productivity is never hindered. Assurance plans often come with new version rights and allow the end user to upgrade to the newest software versions at no extra cost and at a time most suitable to the end user.
Enhance Training
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With the latest software versions come the need for more training for end users and IT staff. Software assurance plans will provide discounted or even free training modules and courses so that users and staff have the ability to stay ahead of the curve. This also increases productivity and saves money.
Extra Support
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Software quality assurance plans provide individuals and businesses enhanced technical guidance through 24-hour access to phone support, live chat and online tutorials that cover all aspects of troubleshooting. End users without software quality assurance plans have limited access to the support they need, and if the breakdown is business critical, the problem sometimes requires extra costs for additional phone support or the funds necessary to get technicians on-site.
Costs
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Software quality assurance plans typically are priced in relation to the software they are being sold with. As of 2009, Microsoft Corporation charged an additional 25 percent on top of the cost of the software for server solutions and 29 percent for desktop and operating system solutions. Other manufacturers may charge as high as 40 or 50 percent above the cost of the software licenses. Many programs, however, do not require additional software costs for upgrading, only requiring that the assurance plan be renewed for another term. This can save the end user even more money.
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