Definition
Shelfware
Software an organisation has paid for but does not use, whether unused seats or whole subscriptions nobody owns.
Shelfware is software an organisation is paying for but not using. It ranges from a handful of unused seats on an otherwise active tool to entire subscriptions that renew year after year with no active users.
Shelfware is one of the easiest costs to cut, because removing it has no operational impact. The hard part is finding it, which is where an accurate register and clear ownership help.
Related terms
- Billing cycleHow often a subscription is charged, monthly, quarterly or annually, which sets both when the cash leaves and the multiplier needed to compare tools.
- Annualised costA tool's cost expressed as a yearly figure, so monthly and annual subscriptions can be compared and totalled on one basis.
- Total cost of ownership (TCO)The full cost of a piece of software over its life, including support, implementation, and admin, not just the headline price.