Brandon Smeets joined Canon to replace their Software Asset Manager in 2017. After several years he decided to focus on magic entertainment. Brandon opens the conference with “The Connection Kickoff”. This interactive networking session will break the ice and is the starting point of meaningful connections. The Connection Kickoff is the perfect opportunity to meet fellow security leaders, share your interests, and start expanding your network of peers who can inspire and support you during and beyond the conference. Let’s make the first connection count!

Discover how the National Bank of Belgium approaches the evolving landscape of IT and Software Asset Management (SAM). In this session, Dany Simone, Software Asset Manager, shares practical insights into the day-to-day challenges and best practices of managing complex IT and software environments. Explore how AI-driven tools can transform SAM processes—improving accuracy, cost efficiency, and decision-making. Additionally, learn how compliance requirements and regulatory frameworks are shaping modern SAM strategies, and how organizations can stay ahead of audits and licensing risks. This session offers actionable lessons from one of Belgium’s most regulated and data-driven institutions.

A few years ago, Toyota Motor Europe encountered two challenging situations with software vendors that left an unpleasant aftertaste. This experience led to Toyota Motor Europe to re-evaluate their complete SAM framework. This evaluation included every aspect of the SAM program, including team structure, operational procedures, policy frameworks, and the SAM tool itself. The outcome was to develop a SAM strategy, a reorganization of the team, formalized processes, and the selection of a new SAM tool. With this renewed approach Toyota Motor Europe aims to be compliant, remain in control of software spend, enhance internal visibility and to be better prepared for unexpected audits.

As more and more organizations are moving to as-a-service models, there is often a false sense of safety. Product owners and other key stakeholders often suppose that there is no longer a non-compliance risk and that built-in tools of the software vendor will deliver real-time insights on license consumption. Our session will zoom in on several examples where we have seen a mismatch between built-in measurement tools and contractual use rights, both in overstating consumption as well as understating consumption. We will also provide tips & tricks on how to better manage such scenarios and avoid running into surprises at a later stage.

Do you have full insight into your IT assets? Hidden assets, fragmented data, and unmanaged software aren’t just operational headaches, they’re wasted budget, compliance risk and missed strategic opportunities. Total Asset Visibility (TAV) unifies asset data across IT, operations and finance, turning fragmented IT asset data into real-time insights that you need to drive efficiency, reduce risk and unlock the true operational and financial value of all your assets. In this session you will learn how to: Unify and Trust Your Data – Create a single, audit-ready source of truth across IT, software, and hybrid environments to ensure accuracy, full accountability and compliance  (e.g. with NIS2, DORA). Link Visibility to Value – Leverage asset insights to drive measurable financial and operational impact, optimize spend, and enable smarter ITSM, ITAM and SAM governance. Lead with Insight and Control – Harness complete asset visibility and intelligent automation to reduce risk, improve operational efficiency and convert IT assets into a competitive differentiator. Experience in 3D how Total Asset Visibility (TAV) unifies visibility and control across hybrid, cloud, and on-premises environments to see more, control more, and spend less.

Java licensing remains one of the toughest challenges for IT Asset and Software Asset Management teams. Evolving terms, complex licensing models, and sprawling hybrid estates make compliance a moving target. Yet the biggest blind spot isn’t discovery, it’s knowing what’s actually in use. Without accurate runtime visibility, ITAM teams risk over-licensing idle systems or missing active, unlicensed deployments that drive audit and security exposure. Modern ITAM demands expansive, precise “in-use” data to turn static inventory into actionable insight linking consumption to business value, security, and cost. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now the catalyst for this shift. By applying machine learning to real-time runtime and usage telemetry, AI correlates deployment data with true utilization, detects anomalies, and predicts future demand. Supervised models forecast licensing trends, unsupervised models uncover shadow IT, and generative systems surface optimization and remediation insights in context. In this session, you will learn: How to overcome Java licensing challenges when traditional discovery tools fall short. How to collect and apply accurate “in-use” runtime data for compliance, security, and optimization. How AI-powered ITAM transforms visibility into predictive, intelligence-driven governance and business value.

Facing rising costs and increasing complexity, leading organizations partnered with PREO Software AG to optimize its software licensing and prepare for the cloud. In this session, discover how strategic license management unlocked significant legal savings while ensuring compliance and cloud readiness. Learn firsthand how smart approaches to IT and software asset management can relieve budget pressures, reduce risk, and enable innovation. Gain practical insights and real-world takeaways from this success story to apply within your own organization.

In this session, Danielle Jacobs will share Beltug’s latest insights from ongoing dialogues with CIOs and ICT decision-makers, focusing on key strategic challenges in Software Asset Management (SAM). Topics include: Vendor Management Priorities: Insights from the Beltug Vendor Observatory, where CIOs and vendor managers exchange best practices. Digital Sovereignty: How organisations are tackling reliance on non-EU providers, with joint initiatives such as a practical checklist on sovereignty. Cloud Contract Power Imbalance: Addressing the unequal relationship between cloud providers and customers, A significant regulatory development in this area is the Data Act. Companies need to fully grasp its implications for cloud contracts, especially with the use of the Standard Contractual Clauses from the EU. AI & SAM: Exploring how artificial intelligence intersects with and supports SAM strategies. This session encourages discussion on actionable steps to strengthen digital autonomy and improve vendor relationships.

Unlock Efficiency and Opportunity: The importance of  Contract Management..  Are you looking to boost your bottom line, minimize risk, and maximize collaboration within your partnerships? Then this session on Carrefour Contract Management is for you! What's in it for you? Gain a competitive edge: Understand Carrefour's contract management processes inside and out. Minimize costly errors: Learn how to navigate potential pitfalls and ensure compliance. Optimize contract terms: Discover strategies for negotiating favorable agreements and maximizing value. Strengthen partnerships: Foster better communication and collaboration  through transparent contract management. Streamline processes: Improve efficiency and reduce administrative burdens related to contracts. This session will provide you with actionable insights and practical tools to transform your approach to conclude contracts, leading to increased profitability and stronger, more successful partnerships.

Although mission-critical, in industries like container handling, IT is not the company’s core business. Sounds familiar? Well, please embark on a collaborative and insightful expedition on how to strategically organise IT when it's not your primary focus.Discover how to align internal business needs with external expertise through smart and innovative sourcing, partnership-based vendor management, appropriate contract management, agile applied vendor governance, and layered Software Asset Management (SAM). By integrating SAM, you can ensure your software investments are optimised, compliant, and secure, delivering value across the organisation while reducing risks and unnecessary costs. Let’s moor, set sail and start our exploration on optimising IT operations – including your software assets – when they are not at the heart of your business!

Brandon Smeets welcomes everyone back at the plenary room.

In this keynote, Sonal Gupta, Senior Manager of FinOps & Hosting Service Delivery for Western Europe at Carlsberg, shares Carlsberg’s FinOps journey, highlighting key achievements and explaining how FinOps principles are embedded into the company’s cloud governance model to drive financial accountability, transparency, and operational efficiency across the organization.

Chair Brandon Smeets closes the programme2 and warmly welcomes everyone to the network drinks & appetizers.