When you use an asset register app you know what assets you have. However, not every app will allow you to check your laptops, tools, machinery, and anything else in and out. When you use an app that has this feature, it comes with many benefits. Below, you will see a few of them.

When you check assets in and out you can automatically see which member of your team is using what. You can typically find information such as this on your laptop or desktop, as well as on your asset register app. An app such as this can be used on your phone and/or tablet. In any case, logging in may allow you to see who is using which asset. This can be useful if only specific team members are authorised to use particular assets. Anyone who’s unauthorised to use an asset will no doubt have to return it ASAP. However, if you did not have access to such information the unauthorised user could gain undetected access.

From time to time, it might be worth logging into your asset register app and looking at your assets’ status. When you do, it could be very clear which assets have been returned. You’ll know that they have been brought back to the correct location as they would have been checked back in. 

The checking in process is typically an easy one. The user simply has to scan the barcode on the asset and select “check in” or something similar. This feature helps you to understand whether all assets have been returned on time.

When your team members can check assets out and in again, security automatically improves. This is because, as we have already seen, you know which assets are with whom. No longer will you have to wonder who is using the shiny new ride-on lawn mower. You won’t have to guess which team leader has borrowed 10 tablets for the day. It’ll be obvious when a salesperson has checked a vehicle out so they can drive to the chosen destination. 

Security could be less of an issue. Assets of all shapes and sizes are less likely to go missing. As everything is traceable via an online portal or asset register app, users are less likely to lose or steal them. This potentially means that you can spend less money replacing lost or stolen assets.

Depending on which asset register app you use, location tracking may be possible. Should your assets have a barcode or an RFID tag attached to them, tracking could be possible. This means that you could potentially track an asset as soon as it has been checked out. Not only will this help you to ensure that you know where assets are, it will also boost security. 

Additionally, when people know that your assets are tracked they may take better care of them. What this means is that assets are a lot less likely to become damaged. Team members may automatically start to take better care of your assets. As a result, you could spend less on repairs and replacements.

When all of your assets need to be checked in and out, a pattern may start to emerge. You could have a much better idea of how everything is used. This is thanks to the fact that many an asset register app creates data. This data could be exported and turned into a report. The report could show you when an asset is used, where it’s used, the frequency of use, and so much more. 

When you know how your assets behave, as such, you’ll know whether they’re being used efficiently. You may also learn which areas of your business have too few assets (such as laptops), and which have too many. As a result, you could send excess laptops to the areas where they’re needed. It’s information such as this that could prove to be very useful. It’s also information that you may not have had access to if your assets were not checked in or out. 

Would you like to speak with someone who knows all about checking assets in and out while using an asset register app? Contact us today at: team@itemit.com 

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Anyone who runs a small business will tell you that they need to compete with larger corporations. Regardless of the type of business they run, making sure that you have a foothold in the market is hard. However, this is where utilising asset management software can help. When using this type of software, you have more control over your assets. This is thanks to the software’s ability to help you to create an asset register.

When you have an asset register, controlling your assets is easier than you think. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the best way to make the most of your new asset management tool.

One of the first things you need to do is add all of your assets to your register. As soon as you begin using your new asset management software, it will begin to create digital profiles. This occurs every time you scan a barcode. Depending on the software that you use, you could affix either a barcode or an RFID tag to each asset.

Once you have affixed an RFID tag or barcode to each asset it’s time to scan them. Upon scanning a barcode you will see a menu open up for you. This menu is the digital profile. It’s where you can add information about the asset in question. Every asset will have its own profile and that profile will be connected to the barcode or RFID tag.

As soon as a digital profile has been created you can begin to add a few details. It’s these details that can help you to track your assets. Ideally, you will add the asset’s model and make, estimated value, insurance information, and cost at purchase. You may even wish to make a note of the asset’s location such as: Warehouse, main office, sales office, construction site 1, etc. 

Most reliable asset management software will allow you to add as much information as you wish about each asset. You could, for example, add the warranty details, instruction booklet/PDF, a photograph of the asset, and anything else that’s relevant. The more details you add now, the better. If you add a copy of or link to the instruction manual you may appreciate it at a later date should something go wrong.

Maintenance reminders are always useful. Each asset needs to be looked after. Therefore, setting up intermittent reminders is a good idea. Every asset may already have its own schedule so you could adhere to that. Alternatively, you could set up a new one so assets are maintained more often. The choice is yours, either way, keeping your assets in good condition can help them to work more effectively.

A checking in and out feature is a very useful tool. If you want to utilise asset management software in the best possible way, use this feature. It helps you to see who is using your assets and how often they are used. This feature also adds a level of security as it means they’re unlikely to go missing. If an asset is misplaced, you can see who checked it out. You may even be able to see where your missing asset is…

…Most reliable and modern asset tracking software lets you track each asset’s location. When you attach an RFID tag or a barcode to each asset the tracking begins. This is thanks to the use of GPS and all that it has to offer. 

You could see where your assets are all day and all night. You can, for example, tell whether they have finally reached their chosen destination. You could see if they have been taken off site. You can tell which employees have taken a laptop with them so they can work from home. Tracking your assets’ location can add an even bigger layer of security.

Would you like to read exportable reports using data that has been created by your new asset management software? As long as you choose software that has this option, you could create reports that show you exactly how your assets are behaving. With this information, it’s possible to understand your small business in even more detail. 

Utilising software in this way could help you to take your business in a new direction. It could also help you to understand where improvements need to be made. However, you would not be privy to this information if you were unable to create exportable reports. 

Wish to talk with an expert about utilising asset management software? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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Every year or so, you may be required to undertake an IT inventory audit. An audit such as this allows you to see which IT assets you have in stock. It also helps you to identify whether you have any ghost assets along with computers and other equipment that need repairing. 

The issue with an IT inventory audit, as with any type of audit, is that it can be a lot of work. If you still manually count everything and enter it into a book or a spreadsheet, time may take its toll. Audits such as this can take far too long and be more complicated than they necessarily should be. The good news is that you can make life so much easier if you use an IT asset register. 

When you use a register such as this, the process of auditing can be much more effective. Let’s take a look at why and how this is the case.

Setting up an asset register such as this is very easy. All that you need to do is make a digital profile of your IT assets. Go from office to office, site to site, etc. adding each computer, modem, monitor, laptop, tablet, printer, etc. to the register. You can do this by attaching an RFID tag or a QR code to each asset. Once it’s attached, a tag or code can quickly be scanned and a profile will automatically be created. Yes, making an IT asset register really is that simple.

Some people choose to name a computer, such as “Computer 1, office 2”. As every asset needs a name so it can be identified, it makes sense to add one. While some people stop there, others add more information than this. For example, they could add the following details:

Every asset’s:

• Colour, make, and model
• Date of purchase and cost at purchase
• Location
• Insurance details and warranty information
• Policy and procedure details 
• Which software and applications you use
• Your IT infrastructure information 
• Links to instruction manuals or PDF manuals
• Photographs for very quick identification
• Maintenance information and schedules
• And any other relevant information

You can simply add as many details to each digital profile as you wish. Alternatively, you can leave the profiles blank. However, when you add insurance and warranty information you’re making life easier for your future self. Let’s imagine that one of your computers breaks down and it’s beyond repair. Having the warranty and insurance details to hand means that you can gain access to it very quickly. As you can see, it makes sense to add as much information as possible.

An asset register isn’t just a very useful tool, it can make auditing so much easier. As soon as you have added information to the register, you suddenly have a lot of information to hand. This information can include: 

• Your applications and data use
• Your policies and procedures
• Details of your software
• Your stock register 
• The valuation of your stock
• And so much more 

When you have and track all of your IT assets via your asset register, you can see how they behave, when they are used, what you have in stock, and the value of your stock. As soon as you begin to use your asset register you will start to create a lot of data. Depending on the tracking software you choose, you may be able to export the data. If you do, you could potentially have a lot of information to hand. As a result, your audit could be more accurate, and that is never a bad thing. The next paragraph explains why your audits could be more accurate.

When you use an IT asset register to help you undertake an effective IT inventory audit, it automatically becomes more accurate. This is because data will be created instantly, showing your stock register, every asset’s valuation, and so much more. You could even see which policies have been adhered to and which procedures haven’t. 

When you have an accurate audit, you can show the relevant governing bodies that you’re acting as instructed. You can show that you’re operating within essential guidelines and your business is a viable, profitable, and ethical one. It would be very difficult to do this if you simply listed your assets in a book or on a spreadsheet. This is why it makes sense for you to use a digital register. It’s better for those essential audits and your business as a whole. 

Would you like to speak with an IT asset register expert about your inventory audit? Contact us today. You can reach us now at: team@itemit.com.

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These days, we all rely on a wide range of technologies in the workplace. From using modern laptop inventory management to tablets and computers, every workplace already uses a lot of technologies.

But what is it that the future holds for us? What emerging technologies are we likely to see in the future? We’re going to explore this subject shortly. However, before we do, we’ll take a look at some current technologies that have recently made their way into the workplace.

GPS has been around for a while. Drivers almost everywhere use this technology to help them reach their destination. In the workplace, GPS is increasingly used in laptop inventory management to help users locate their laptops. This technology makes for very easy laptop retrieval, in addition to boosting security.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a relatively new technology. The use of RFID tags is increasingly found on laptops and other assets that need to be tracked. This is all part of laptop inventory management and like GPS, it enables users to locate their laptops. However, RFID tags can contact a lot of information about those laptops, such as when they were purchased, who is using the laptop, and so much more. 

RFID tags can be very convenient to use as they can quickly be scanned and any previously added information can be retrieved when required.

In years to come, augmented reality may be commonplace in the workplace. It could be used to help people to search for a machine’s identifying information. It may be used to help maintenance teams understand what’s wrong with a vehicle. Augmented reality could also be used to help you search for a space in your warehouse. 

It’s likely that AR will slowly but surely make its way into the workplace, ensuring that tasks can be completed at a faster rate.

The world of laptop inventory management may change dramatically in the not-too-distant future. This could be thanks to the fact that artificial intelligence is now available almost everywhere. Although this technology is still in its infancy, it appears to have a lot to offer. 

The use of inventory management software in the next few years could be quite different. AI could make it so much easier to locate laptops that have gone astray. Working out which tablets and printers need to be moved to a new location could be simpler. Ensuring only the right people have access to the right assets could be a relative breeze. 

AI could help with the likes of security, location detection, data creation, and so much more. In just a few years’ time, you could find that your inventory management system is almost fully controlled by AI. 

What this means is that you could rely on artificial intelligence to help you to track assets while you get on with other tasks. As a result, your business could become even more efficient and your team could be more productive. This can only be a good thing for all businesses involved.

Using inventory management tools alongside emerging technologies is possible. As long as you use laptop inventory management software that is reliable and frequently updated you’re good to go. You need to use software that will offer you everything that you need now and in the future. When you do, you could find that those repetitive manual tasks are a thing of the past. 

• You could find that you have access to a lot more data about your business
• It’s possible that  laptops and other assets could be much safer at all times
• You may know where all of your assets are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• It’s possible that your business could become more productive
• You may gain a better insight into your customer’s needs 
• It’s possible that you may gain a better insight as to how your assets are used 

All of the above and more could be a part of your workplace’s future if you choose to use emerging technologies to your advantage. Of course, there will undoubtedly be technologies that we have not even thought of yet. However, some exciting ones could be coming into fruition as you read this. 

The world of technology is an exciting one and it’s up to us to wait and see what emerges. Then, if it’s possible, we could make use of those technologies. If we do, it’s likely that the future of IT asset management is going to be even better. 

Would you like to speak with someone knowledgeable about laptop inventory management? Chat with us today. You can contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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In this guide:

1. Start Using Tracking Software
2. Make The Most Of Maintenance Alerts
3. Check Equipment In And Out

In this guide:

1. Start Using Tracking Software
2. Make The Most Of Maintenance Alerts
3. Check Equipment In And Out

Ideally, all of your equipment will work perfectly well all of the time. There will be no breakdowns, there will be no need to find replacement parts. Everything will be in good working order all of the time. It would be wonderful if this was every business’s reality. However, we are all well aware that equipment likes to break down as and when it pleases. The good news is that it is possible to reduce downtime if you use equipment tracking to its full advantage. 

In this article, we’re going to take a look at how you can reduce downtime and exactly how equipment tracking can help with this.

One of the first things you need to do if you really want to reduce downtime is to track everything. This is far simpler than it sounds. If you have machinery, computers or tools that are used in a range of locations or equipment that’s used by different people, it’s worth tracking them. 

All that you need to do is opt for some reliable and easy-to-use equipment tracking software. When you do, you will find that tracking everything is a breeze. Log everything into the software and give your machinery, etc, its own digital profile. You can do this by attaching a QR code or an RFID tag to your machinery, computers, tools, etc. As soon as you have done this, you can scan the tag or code and create that all-important digital profile. 

Every asset’s digital profile can be filled with as much information as you please. You could, for example, add each asset’s name, model number, insurance details, warranty information, cost at the time of purchase, etc. The more information that you add, the better. When you have a lot of information about each asset, it allows you to find what you need very quickly. Therefore, you could save time looking for a computer’s warranty information. It will be right there in your equipment tracking software. This can help to reduce downtime and ensure you get everything back up and running quickly.

Another really good way of reducing downtime is by making the most of maintenance alerts. A lot of tracking software comes with this feature. A maintenance alert will tell the maintenance team that one of your vehicles, for example, is due to be looked over. When an alert is received, the team can collect the vehicle, tool, machinery, etc, and check it for faults. It’s this that can help to reduce downtime. When everything is checked frequently and necessary repairs are made, it means there’s a lot less downtime. As a result, you and your factory/warehouse/store/office, etc. can get on with your work. 

Did you know that you can typically set maintenance alerts at your chosen intervals? For example, your vehicles could be checked once a year. Computers every 6 months, tablets every 18 months, and so on. Reliable equipment tracking software could allow you to pick an interval for all of your assets. This means that you could potentially cut downtime in half. Of course, there will be occasions when things will go wrong irrespective of frequent maintenance. However, this is less likely to occur should you take good care of everything.

Checking your tools, computers, tablets, cars, and anything else in and out can help to reduce downtime. This is because you can see who is using what and where they are using it. Some tracking software allows you to pinpoint exactly where all of your assets are. This can prove to be very useful in terms of security and/or simply retrieving an asset when you need it. 

When you check your assets in and out you can see which assets are undergoing or about to undergo maintenance. When you can see the maintenance status of an asset, you know whether it’s available now or whether you have to wait for it. One of the good things about the check in and out feature is that you may also be able to book an asset. This feature helps to reduce the waiting time for an asset. It also means that you could book the equipment so you can use it once it’s been repaired. 

The ability to check assets in and out can help to reduce downtime. It does this by ensuring that you know which assets are available, and which aren’t. You can also see whether a printer is being repaired or whether it’s about to be replaced. It’s this that can help to save a bit of time every day. 

Would you like to chat with an expert about equipment tracking and reducing downtime? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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