Podcast
SaaSMe Unfiltered: The SaaS Management Podcast
Hosted by Zylo · EN
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.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Short Break, Big News: What’s Next for SaaSMe Unfiltered
Oct 700:01:41Tap to summarizeBig 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.Chapters00:00 Introduction0:19 SaaSMe Unfiltered Season 5 Update0:39 Ways to Stay Connected
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SaaS Ops in Action: How Insurity Built a System That Works
Sep 2300:28:31Tap to summarizeSaaS 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.Chapters00:00 Introduction to SaaS Operations03:19 Defining SaaS Ops and Its Importance05:35 Building a SaaS Management Program07:31 Cost Savings and Budgeting Strategies10:25 Establishing a SaaS System of Record12:53 Data Integrity and Business Buy-In15:40 Optimizing Renewals and Negotiations17:17 Process for Renewal Preparation19:11 Driving Value at Renewal23:40 Vlad's Dream SaaS Ops Playbook25:44 Lessons for the Future
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How Imagine Learning Operationalized SaaS Change Management
Sep 900:20:19Tap to summarizeHow 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.Chapters00:00 Decentralized SaaS Ownership: A Double-Edged Sword01:12 The Role of Business Transformation in SaaS Management04:20 Ruckus Makers for Good: The Philosophy Behind Change07:20 Integrating Organizational Change Management with SaaS09:41 Establishing a Steering Committee for SaaS Oversight12:28 Initial Focus and Priorities of the Steering Committee13:39 C-Suite Involvement in SaaS Decision-Making14:45 Key Data Points Driving Steering Committee Actions17:07 Game Changers in Decentralized SaaS Management17:38 Building a System of Truth for Effective Change Management
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Inside Hyatt’s Plan for Continuous Software Audit Control
Aug 1900:20:15Tap to summarizeWhen 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.Chapters00:00 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
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Third Time's the Charm: How MGM Finally Cracked SaaS with FinOps
Aug 500:22:02Tap to summarizeAfter 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.Chapters00:00 Introduction to FinOps and SaaS Challenges01:51 Building a Software Management Program at MGM05:46 Tactics, Data, and Prioritization09:00 Implementing a New Software Intake Processes11:48 Standardizing Data with FinOps FOCUS14:39 Understanding the Differences Between Cloud and SaaS17:54 Evolving FinOps Practices for SaaS19:10 Making the Most of the FinOps Community21:09 Closing Thoughts
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Standing Up SaaS Management: A People, Process & Tech Blueprint
Jul 2200:19:16Tap to summarize500+ 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.Chapters00:00 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
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From Chaos to Control: Applying FinOps Thinking to SaaS
Jul 800:31:10Tap to summarizeWhat 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.Chapters00:00 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
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SaaS Renewal Management, Explained
Aug 27, 202400:06:32Tap to summarizeWhen 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.
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SaaS License Management, Explained
Aug 13, 202400:06:07Tap to summarizeLicense waste runs unchecked in most organizations today. In fact, Zylo’s SaaS Management Index shows that on average 49% of licenses are unused each month, adding up to $18M in wasted spend each year. Sure, money speaks. But this risk goes beyond your bottom line, impacting security, operational efficiency, and value across the business. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains the importance of SaaS license management and outlines what an effective strategy looks like and the steps for execution.Have a question you’d like answered on SaaSMe Anything? Submit yours here. Key Takeaways[00:08 - 00:48] Organizations on average waste $18 million in SaaS licenses[00:48 - 02:26] What is SaaS license management[02:26 - 03:20] Decisions you need to make after obtaining usage data[03:20 - 04:34] How to reclaim SaaS licenses[04:34 - 05:05] 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.
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SaaS Inventory Management, Explained
Jul 30, 202400:06:24Tap to summarizeHow many applications do we really have? What apps are being expensed by employees? Are there potential security risks we don’t know about? You’ll get answers to these questions and more by practicing SaaS inventory management. In this episode, Ben Pippenger will explain the ins and outs of what it is, why it matters, and best practices you should follow.Have a question you’d like answered on SaaSMe Anything? Submit yours here. Key Takeaways[00:00 - 00:51] Companies spend three times more on SaaS than they think they do[00:48 - 02:03] What is SaaS inventory management?[00:48 - 02:24] Unlocking the Secrets of SaaS Inventory Management[02:04 - 04:08] AI-powered discovery and strategic portfolio management, three tiers of apps to work through[04:08 - 05:36] Onboarding applications and managing inventory[05:37 - 06:17] Quick winsSaaSMe 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.
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