Dell has agreed to acquire ASAP Software for $340m.

ASAP develops software for IT asset management, focusing on managing software licensing, purchasing, renewals and compliance.

The tool provides a high level overview of the software used in a company, allowing customers to negotiate volume contracts and reduce the number of suppliers if warranted. It also monitors compliance with licence agreements to prevent inadvertent piracy.

Prior to the acquisition, the firm was a subsidiary of Corporate Express, a supplier of office products. The company employs a staff of 600 people in Europe and North America.

Dell expects that the acquisition will help it meet the increasing demand from firms and institutions wanting help with software management.