Dell has agreed to acquire US-based ASAP Software in a move to meet demand from large customers for tools and services that help manage their software assets.

Under the agreement, Dell will pay around $US340 million for ASAP, which sells products for managing software licensing, purchasing, renewals, and compliance.

The deal would help the US computer maker enhance its offerings to large companies and government organisations with tools they could use to manage their IT systems and monitor usage in an effort to reduce costs and complexity, Dell said.

ASAP employes about 600 people, with sales offices in North America and Europe. Dell expects to close the acquisition in the third quarter, subject to regulatory approvals.

ASAP's tools include a module for monitoring software usage. The products helps IT managers to track how often applications are used and determine whether money is being well spent on licenses and maintenance services.

Another tool provides detailed reports of a company's systems and software applications, including license compliance notices. The software views the configuration of PCs and servers, and also takes an inventory of all the IT systems used across an organisation.