SaaSMe Unfiltered: The SaaS Management Podcast

Zylo
  • 5.0 (18)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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, procurement, and FinOps professionals knee-deep in SaaS every single day. SaaS superheroes just like you. For free resources to help you on your SaaS Management journey, visit zylo.com.

  1. Short Break, Big News: What’s Next for SaaSMe Unfiltered

    10/07/2025 · BONUS

    Short Break, Big News: What’s Next for SaaSMe Unfiltered

    Big things are happening behind the scenes at SaaSMe Unfiltered! In this short update, Cory Wheeler shares why the podcast is taking a brief break, and what you can look forward to when we return this fall. Learn how to stay connected so you're the first to know when new episodes drop. Chapters 00:00 Introduction0:19 SaaSMe Unfiltered Season 5 Update0:39 Ways to Stay Connected

    2 min
  2. SaaS Ops in Action: How Insurity Built a System That Works

    09/23/2025

    SaaS Ops in Action: How Insurity Built a System That Works

    SaaS sprawl doesn’t fix itself—smart operations do. Vlad Tsapko, VP of Business Operations at Insurity, breaks down how his team built a functional, data-driven SaaS Management program that reduces waste and supports business growth. In this episode, you’ll hear why SaaS Ops is essential for managing big software spend, how data integrity supports smarter decisions, and why continuous improvement keeps the program effective over time. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to SaaS Operations 03:19 Defining SaaS Ops and Its Importance 05:35 Building a SaaS Management Program 07:31 Cost Savings and Budgeting Strategies 10:25 Establishing a SaaS System of Record 12:53 Data Integrity and Business Buy-In 15:40 Optimizing Renewals and Negotiations 17:17 Process for Renewal Preparation 19:11 Driving Value at Renewal 23:40 Vlad's Dream SaaS Ops Playbook 25:44 Lessons for the Future

    29 min
  3. How Imagine Learning Operationalized SaaS Change Management

    09/09/2025

    How Imagine Learning Operationalized SaaS Change Management

    How do you bring order to SaaS sprawl without killing innovation? Aaron Bass, IT Operations Analyst at Imagine Learning, shares how the Business Transformation team became “ruckus makers for good,” driving structure, clarity, and true change management in a fast-growing, post-M&A environment. In this episode, you’ll learn how to build a steering committee that actually works, why visibility and ownership matter more than control, and what it takes to make decentralized SaaS Management sustainable. Chapters 00:00 Decentralized SaaS Ownership: A Double-Edged Sword 01:12 The Role of Business Transformation in SaaS Management 04:20 Ruckus Makers for Good: The Philosophy Behind Change 07:20 Integrating Organizational Change Management with SaaS 09:41 Establishing a Steering Committee for SaaS Oversight 12:28 Initial Focus and Priorities of the Steering Committee 13:39 C-Suite Involvement in SaaS Decision-Making 14:45 Key Data Points Driving Steering Committee Actions 17:07 Game Changers in Decentralized SaaS Management 17:38 Building a System of Truth for Effective Change Management

    20 min
  4. Inside Hyatt’s Plan for Continuous Software Audit Control

    08/19/2025

    Inside Hyatt’s Plan for Continuous Software Audit Control

    When an audit flagged opportunities in Hyatt’s software management program, Jennifer Clark used that as a launchpad to rethink SaaS governance from the ground up. Jennifer, Global IT Asset Manager at Hyatt Corporation, shares how consolidating data, understanding ownership, and embedding compliance into daily workflows turned audit preparedness into an always-on discipline. In this episode, you’ll learn how to streamline your audit processes, build collaboration between security and asset management, and make governance a shared responsibility across the organization. Chapters 00:00 The Catalyst for Change: Audit Findings03:07 Building a Proactive SaaS Management Mindset06:16 Navigating the Audit Landscape: On-Prem vs. SaaS08:59 Establishing a Comprehensive Application Inventory11:52 Collaboration and Governance in SaaS Management14:42 Key Performance Indicators for SaaS Management17:15 Strategic Steps for Effective SaaS Management

    20 min
  5. Third Time's the Charm: How MGM Finally Cracked SaaS with FinOps

    08/05/2025

    Third Time's the Charm: How MGM Finally Cracked SaaS with FinOps

    After several attempts to launch a successful SaaS Management program, TJ Johnson recognized that the FinOps approach needed to shift. As Lead Architect for Platform Economics at MGM Resorts International, he shares how starting with visibility—before diving into optimization—helped his team finally gain traction. In this episode, you’ll learn the mindset change that made the difference, how to pick the right starting point, and what it really takes to make FinOps work for SaaS. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to FinOps and SaaS Challenges 01:51 Building a Software Management Program at MGM 05:46 Tactics, Data, and Prioritization 09:00 Implementing a New Software Intake Processes 11:48 Standardizing Data with FinOps FOCUS 14:39 Understanding the Differences Between Cloud and SaaS 17:54 Evolving FinOps Practices for SaaS 19:10 Making the Most of the FinOps Community 21:09 Closing Thoughts

    22 min
  6. Standing Up SaaS Management: A People, Process & Tech Blueprint

    07/22/2025

    Standing Up SaaS Management: A People, Process & Tech Blueprint

    500+ applications. Stitched-together spreadsheets. No clear owners. That’s what Ksenia Kouchnirenko inherited when she joined Verkada as VP of Enterprise Operations & Technology. In this episode, she shares how she stood up a SaaS Management program from scratch to bring visibility, accountability, and strategy to software decisions. You’ll learn what it takes to start your own program, align stakeholders across IT and Procurement, and avoid early-phase pitfalls. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to SaaS Management01:30 Identifying Gaps in SaaS Management03:34 The Role of Procurement in SaaS Management05:49 Defining the Value of SaaS Management08:21 Importance of Visibility in SaaS Management09:38 People, Process, and Technology Framework11:34 The Role of Automation in SaaS Management13:45 Lessons Learned from Previous SaaS Management Experiences16:16 Advice for IT Leaders on SaaS Management

    19 min
  7. From Chaos to Control: Applying FinOps Thinking to SaaS

    07/08/2025

    From Chaos to Control: Applying FinOps Thinking to SaaS

    What happens when a cloud FinOps expert takes on the unruly world of SaaS? Ridge Fussell, Senior Manager of FinOps at The Home Depot, reveals the surprising complexity behind managing SaaS at scale—and why it's nothing like managing cloud. In this episode, learn why SaaS Management requires a different mindset and the first step you need to take to gain control and drive value. Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:32 Understanding SaaS vs. Cloud Management07:44 The Home Depot's Partnership Approach to Change Management09:30 Identifying Gaps in SaaS Visibility15:34 Crawl, Walk, Run: Building a SaaS Management Program21:48 How to Get Started: Don't Try to Boil the Ocean

    31 min
  8. SaaS Renewal Management, Explained

    08/27/2024

    SaaS Renewal Management, Explained

    When does Smartsheet renew? Are we getting a fair price for Zoom? Do we really need 100 enterprise licenses? Each SaaS renewal requires time to prepare so you can answer these questions – and more. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains SaaS renewal management and the ideal process you should follow to confidently tackle software renewals at scale. Have a question you’d like answered on SaaSMe Anything? Submit yours here.  Key Takeaways: [00:09 - 00:46] Helping with renewals[00:46 - 01:36] What is SaaS renewal management?[01:36 - 02:34] What is the ideal renewal process?[02:34 - 03:11] 120 days applies to most applications but there are exceptions[03:11 - 03:48] Determining quantity of licenses[03:48 - 04:27] Benchmark comparisons[04:27 - 04:59] Adding the agreement to your system of record[05:00 - 05:34] RecapSaaSMe 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 here.

    7 min
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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, procurement, and FinOps professionals knee-deep in SaaS every single day. SaaS superheroes just like you. For free resources to help you on your SaaS Management journey, visit zylo.com.

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