Definition

shelfware

Shelfware is slang for software that a company buys because of a perceived need or demand but never uses; hence, it sits on the shelf.

A company might end up with shelfware if they fail to consider whether the software is backwards compatible and capable of working with legacy applications. If a company purchases software they find they cannot use, some vendors will accept returns or exchanges.

See also: COTS, MOTS, GOTS and NOTS, vaporware, scareware

Related glossary terms: Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO), smart label, Logistics Execution System (LES), Global Available-to-Promise , mySAP

Contributor(s): Todd Morrison

This was last updated in October 2011

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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