Accenture has recently completed its first transactions with the use of a distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based application that delivers enhanced enterprise software asset management capabilities. The new application uses Digital Asset’s smart contract language, DAML, to model and enforce software license events throughout their lifecycle, from origination to purchase, which simplifies tracking, usage and audit functions.
The patent-pending capability was developed by the Accenture Operations team using the Digital Asset (DA) Platform and fits seamlessly with its existing best-in-class software asset management (SAM) capabilities. DA uses distributed ledgers to execute complex, multi-party business processes in a cryptographically secure environment. This collaboration has expanded DA’s reach beyond its production work with the world’s largest financial institutions. New functionality and capabilities will be added to the platform in its next release.
Improper software usage or failure to comply with the license use rights can be costly to businesses and can negatively impact brand and reputation. Accenture’s software management capability will enable organisations to reduce these risks and have better transparency to the distribution and utilisation of licenses.
Last month, the company launched what it called a ‘game-changing’ solution that allows communication between multiple blockchain platforms. According to the group, a prototype has shown it possible for various platforms, such as Bitcoin, Hyperledger Fabric, R3 Corda and Quorum, to be securely integrated with one another. That could solve long-held interoperability problems between a growing number of platforms, regarded as a “critical challenge” to the broad adoption and investment in blockchain technology, with companies concerned about picking the ‘wrong’ system.
Accenture quickly filed two patents in relation to the technology preceding the announcement. Interoperability node included embedded business logic that contains pre-agreed business standards, policies and guidelines by which various DLT platforms have agreed to work. Integration is achieved by the transfer of tokenised assets on two platforms, or “by allowing mapping of data to different blocks that exist between two different platforms at the same time, with reference data kept in constant sync”.
