Stop Guessing. Start Mastering Smartsheet USM.
Smartsheet's User Subscription Model is complex and dynamic. Unmanaged, it leads to surprise costs and increased administration. It's time to achieve Operational Certainty.
The Hidden Costs of USM Complexity
User actions can trigger license upgrades, knowing all of these user actions is a key element in managing USM with confidence.
Dynamic, Unseen Upgrades
Any user can be upgraded to a paid license through their actions. SysAdmins are no longer the sole control over licensing users, making proactive management essential.
Frequent Policy Evolution
Smartsheet's USM rules are not static. They change. Relying on outdated knowledge is a direct path to unexpected "True-Up" bills.
Manual, Time-Consuming Downgrades
While upgrades are automatic and dynamic, downgrades are a manual, administrative task. Without active management, costs only go up.
Documentation Fatigue
With over 30 static documents, help articles, videos, and PDFs, finding accurate USM information is a chore. Mastering USM is a single, dynamic guide for unmatched depth and accuracy.
The Solution
Your Blueprint for Seamless Management
The Mastering USM Guide & Glossary is the definitive, continuously updated reference for every critical USM operation. We've done the deep-dive analysis so you can manage with confidence.
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Comprehensive Function Coverage
- Detailed, step-by-step guides for all key processes: User Creation, Upgrades (including all iMLA/eMLA triggers), Downgrades, and Removals.
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Actionable Reporting Intelligence
- Learn to leverage the Smartsheet Seat Type Report and others to transform raw data into actionable insights for optimization and compliance.
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Deep Architectural Understanding
- Master the powerful, and often hidden, licensing impacts of Smartsheet Groups, User Attributes, and the "True-Up" process itself. Learn the design and licensing impact of the Indirect Sheet Access architecture.
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Continuous Updates
- Gain unlimited access to a living document. We update the guide swiftly after every Smartsheet USM modification, so you're always current.
Key Features
What You Get with Mastering USM
Mastering USM provides a comprehensive suite of features designed to equip you with unmatched knowledge of the licensing model in operation.
In-Depth User Type & Permission Analysis
Gain a granular understanding of every Smartsheet user type (Licensed, Non-Licensed, Provisional Member, Viewer, Guest) and their precise permissions and capabilities under the USM. This includes detailed breakdowns of how different roles interact with assets and trigger licensing changes.
Comprehensive USM Function Documentation
Access detailed documentation for all unique USM functions, including user creation, upgrades (iMLA/eMLA triggers), downgrades, and removals. Understand both the requirements and the exact results of each action, ensuring predictable outcomes.
Actionable Reporting & Audit Insights
Learn how to effectively leverage Smartsheet reports such as the Seat Type Report, Alternate Sheet Access Report, User List Report, and Login History Report. Transform raw data into actionable intelligence for compliance, cost optimization, and proactive management.
Strategic Group & Asset Management Guidance
Understand the architectural impacts of Smartsheet Groups and learn best practices for managing sharing permissions and "Unmanaged Assets." This feature provides the knowledge to prevent unintended license upgrades through collaborative actions.
"Operational Certainty" Framework
Beyond just documentation, Mastering USM provides a dynamic methodology and framework for achieving "Operational Certainty." This means a predictable, efficient, Smartsheet operation, knowledgeable of every USM licensing action.
Continuously Updated Reference
The guide is a living document, constantly updated to reflect the latest Smartsheet USM modifications. Your purchase grants you unlimited access to the most current and accurate information, ensuring your knowledge is never outdated.
USM Two Element Upgrade Decoded
Smartsheet modified USM from upgrading Viewers and Guests instantly when Shared to by another User. The new USM Upgrade model adds an additional element known as a "Qualifying Action" to be taken by the Viewer or Guest before being upgraded. Mastering USM contains over 50 pages detailing every possible scenario that would result in a user upgrade, including a number of undocumented "Qualifying Actions" - Operational Certainty.
USM Plan Transition Seat Type 90 Day Activity Audit
Smartsheet modified the USM logic used when transitioning an existing LCM Plan to audit the activity of all non-licensed plan users over the last 90 days. This modification adds complexity in interpreting the results of the USM Seat Types assigned. Mastering USM details this logic in detail across all seven USM Seat Types - Operational Certainty.
Innovative Delivery
Mastering USM has been designed to securely deliver dynamically updated online content online at scale to all customers. Several Google G Suite services and Smartsheet services deliver Mastering USM. Customers automatically receive a weekly summary update of all Mastering USM updates.
A Fundamentally New Model
Understanding the profound differences between the new User Subscription Model (USM) and the Legacy Collaborator Model (LCM) is the first step to regaining control. USM introduces more user types and new rules for functionality.
| Feature | Legacy Collaborator Model (LCM) | User Subscription Model (USM) |
|---|---|---|
| Edit Functionality | All seat types can View & Edit. | Some End User Actions Can Trigger Licensing |
| Licensing Process | SysAdmin directly upgrades users. | Some End Users Actions or SysAdmin Manual Action Trigger Licensing |
| Plan Membership | Member of a single internal plan. | One to Many Internal & External Plans |
Guidance Tailored For Your Role
Whether you're managing users, groups, or assets, Mastering USM provides the specific knowledge you need to perform your duties effectively and without causing unintended licensing costs.
Unlock Tangible, Lasting Benefits
Investing in Mastering USM is an investment in clarity, control, and confidence. It translates directly into measurable returns for your organization.
Operational Certainty
From the moment you start, you'll gain full control over licensing costs and user management, eliminating surprises and guesswork.
Empowered Decision-Making
With a deep understanding of USM, you can make informed, data-driven decisions about your Smartsheet deployment and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get quick answers to the most common questions about Mastering USM.
What Does Registering for Mastering USM Provide?
+I understand the Mastering USM Guide solution is delivered dynamically via online Google Slide and Google Doc documents. If I do not have a Google Account associated with my work email address used to purchase Mastering USM will I be able to access the content?
+What is the Key Benefit of Mastering USM?
+What Smartsheet USM functions does Mastering USM support?
+What Type of Smartsheet Plans does Mastering USM Support?
+What Smartsheet Regions does Mastering USM Support?
+What language(s) does Mastering USM Support?
+Who are the target users that would benefit the most from Mastering USM?
+Does Mastering USM fully support the two most popular modes of operation used by almost all customers; Decentralized and Centralized?
+Stop The Guesswork. Start The Control.
Your path to mastering Smartsheet USM and achieving operational certainty is just a click away.