When you run a business you need to know that you can take good care of it. One of the easiest ways to do this is to take control of your assets. Using the right office equipment management software can make life so much easier. Incredibly, there are still a lot of businesses that are not managing their equipment properly, if at all. The good news is that such businesses seem to be growing few and far between. 

The latest office equipment management software and indeed any equipment management software for any industry no doubt works well. It has a lot to offer and as we have already seen, can make life easier. But what is going to happen in the future? What equipment management trends and indeed industry trends do we need to watch out for? 

Let’s take a look at some of the trends now.

It’s highly likely that asset life will be prolonged. These days, we are more concerned about throwing away equipment that we no longer need to use. With a desperate need to improve how we treat the environment, equipment may last much longer. Predictive maintenance could help with this side of office equipment management. Additionally, being able to purchase spare parts with ease can help to prolong asset life. This is a trend that seems to have increasing priority.

When you boost inventory tracking, you know where everything is, all of the time. You also know who has your equipment and why. A direct result of this is that less of your inventory is likely to go missing. It also means that you can have even deeper knowledge about your equipment. This may be thanks to AI and machine learning or simply better office equipment management software availability.

More and more people work from home. In addition to this, more people work in an office that is not perhaps in the same city or country as the associated warehouse. The pandemic is likely to have had a large impact on this, however, remote work is still very popular. This is likely to be due to the fact that remote work can be less expensive than other types of work. In any case, the trend may continue long into the future. 

One future office equipment management trend is likely to be related to remote maintenance management. In other words, managing the status of your equipment from elsewhere. This is something that will need to be effective in order to be successful. However, the right tools and the right software now exist to make this possible.

By using predictive maintenance, the safety of equipment, tools, computers, fleets of vehicles, and even buildings can be improved. Health and safety laws are likely to become even more stringent, resulting in a safer workplace for all. With the ability to identify potential hazards and other issues, predictive maintenance could further increase safety in the workplace. This is something that everyone wants, regardless of what type of business they’re in.

If you want to make the most out of office equipment management software, you could use it to reduce downtime. Future trend information suggests that reducing downtime will be of major importance. 

With the use of predictive maintenance, consistently good performance could boost efficiency in all areas and reduce downtime. What this means is that many important targets could be met and exceeded. Additionally, increased efficiency ensures that customers remain happy. Reducing downtime is, therefore, a future trend that almost every business should consider.

It is very likely that AI and machine learning will keep evolving. This continuous evolution may allow for better insights into how your equipment is performing. It may also create reliable predictions which could show you when some equipment is likely to break down. AI and machine learning are already something of a trend in many industries around the globe. However, this trend may continue as technology develops and becomes better at predicting future outcomes. 

There are many future trends that we all need to keep an eye on. Many of these trends already exist, but they haven’t completely developed into something magnificent. There are also likely to be trends that we have no knowledge of yet. As machine learning and AI continues to develop, new and exciting trends that we can only dream of may come to fruition. The best thing for all industry leaders and business owners can do right now is to keep an eye out for such trends. When we do, future trends may catch our attention and allow us to understand our equipment in better ways. This can only be a good thing.

Wish to chat with an expert about office equipment management and trends? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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When you have IT assets, you know that those assets help to keep your business running. After all, you may struggle to go about your daily business-related activities if you do not have computers, laptops, etc. As a result, IT asset inventory management is a necessity. Keeping track of your assets means that you can have more control over them all day, every day. 

But how does IT asset inventory management help in terms of compliance and security? Can it actually help? This is what we’re going to explore now.

When you don’t keep track of your computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, modems, and everything in between, issues can arise. This is because it’s very likely that you will no longer comply with any licence agreements or regulations. You may, therefore, fail to receive security updates, your assets may not work as well as they should and problems can be caused. 

We are all aware of GDPR and how important it is to stay on the right side of data protection regulation. This is where correct IT asset inventory management can come in and help. When you have more control over everything IT-related, those GDPR issues can disappear. What this means is that you can continue to run your business knowing that you’re completely compliant. 

Staying compliant is good, so let’s take a close look as to how IT asset management can help with this.

When you track your IT assets effectively, you know where they are at all times. Most high quality asset management software allows you to track each of your assets all day, every day. When you do this, you can reassure all-important regulatory bodies that every piece of client information is being kept secure. You can show that you have full control over your tablets, your computers, your USB drives, your laptops, and everything else that’s IT-related. 

Imagine not knowing where your IT assets are and whether they are being stored securely. There is always a chance that the wrong person could get hold of your client’s confidential information. This is something that everyone wants to avoid and it’s something that you can avoid if you take the appropriate action. Using IT management software that allows you to track the location of all of your assets, all of your client’s data will be much more secure. 

When you know that everything is nice and secure, you also know that data breaches are a lot less likely to occur.

These days, most people know that keeping your software up-to-date can help to keep hackers out. This is where using the best IT asset inventory management tools can make a difference. Knowing that all of your software is as secure as it can be, those worrying vulnerabilities won’t exist. There are also less likely to be issues with hardware. This means your data and your customer’s data are more likely to stay safe at all times. 

Failing to update your software is a mistake. Hackers may take advantage of software that is vulnerable, meaning that important data could fall into the wrong hands.  This is something that you need to avoid, and you can by making sure you update your software. 

Having peace of mind is a wonderful thing, and keeping on top of security issues can help with this.

Not having the correct licences isn’t ideal. When you use IT asset inventory management to its full advantage, however, all of your licences can be kept up to date. You can, for example, set reminders so that you know exactly when you update every single licence that you have. Of course, not every licence will need to be updated at the same time. This is where setting up reminders can help. 

The most modern asset management software will allow you to control your asset’s location and send some very important reminders. You could, for example, set reminders for a month before each licence needs to be renewed. When you do, you could apply for the new licence in time and check it off the list when it arrives. 

You may no longer have to pay those high late licence charges. You can even manage how much you spend on each licence based on your real software-related needs. As a result, there’s a real possibility for you to save money. This is something that every business out there strives to do. 

As you can see, IT asset inventory management software has a real and important role in the world of compliance and security. However, it’s not a role that every business recognises. When the role is recognised, it’s one that can potentially help most businesses in a wide variety of ways. 

Wish to chat with someone who knows about IT asset inventory management and compliance and security? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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Even though we live in the computer age, there are still businesses that have not yet switched to using asset tracking software. Some of these businesses may not have a lot of assets, others may have countless. Some businesses may still rely on spreadsheets, others could be quite disorganised. Whatever the case may be, it’s time to make the switch. Here’s why:

Making the switch to asset tracking is a very good idea. When you do, you will be able to control all of your assets in new ways. You will be able to see who is using what assets, whether they have recently undergone maintenance, and who is waiting to use the asset.

One of the more important features of asset tracking is that you can do just that, track your assets. With the use of an RFID tag or a barcode, you can see where your assets are all day, every day. So, if you wish to see where some or all of your assets are at 11am, you can. You can track your assets from:

• Your laptop
• Your phone
• Your desktop computer
• Your tablet

As long as you are connected to the internet, you can track your assets. You can track your assets:

• At home at 11am
• On the bus at 8am
• On the train at 1am
• On a plane at 3am 
• In your hotel room at midday

With the ability to track your assets no matter where you are (or what time it is), you can have more control over them. You can also see how often they’re used, where they’re used, and whether they need to be repaired. Later on in this article, we will take a look at the additional benefits of making the switch.

Making the switch to asset tracking software is relatively easy. You need to affix an RFID tag or a barcode to each of your assets. Don’t worry, these are usually provided to you when you sign up for the software. 

Now, all that you need to do is to log into the tracking software and scan every barcode or RFID tag. When you do, you will see that a digital profile has been created. Once created, the profile will allow you to add as much or as little information about each asset as you wish. 

You could, for example, add the following information: 

• The asset’s name, model and make
• The asset’s warranty and insurance details
• The asset’s date of purchase and price
• The asset’s maintenance history 
• The asset’s life expectancy
• A photograph of the asset for quick identification
• Any other information that you wish to add 

You could make the switch today and start adding your assets to your new asset register. Do one room/warehouse/yard/office, etc at a time so make it easy on yourself. you’ll soon have an asset register that works for you.

Some of the benefits of making the switch to asset tracking include: 

• You can have much more control over your assets all day, every day
• Your assets will instantly become more secure 
• You can see who is using which asset at any time of the day or night 
• You can track your assets with ease 
• You can potentially eliminate ghost assets 
• You can create a maintenance record for every asset so they stay in good working order 
• It’s easy to update a lot of assets all at once 
• You can check assets in and out 
• Public profiles can be created for more transparency 
• Creating and exporting reports allows you to access important data 
• You can access the tracking software no matter where you

Did you know that having more control over all of your assets allows you to see your business from a new perspective? You can have a lot of information to hand, some of which you may never have had access to before. With this information/data, you can potentially steer your business in a new direction.

You’ve no doubt heard the phrase “There’s no time like the present”. It’s a phrase that rings true right now. If you’re considering making the switch, do it now. You will start to reap the rewards that come with using software that tracks your assets. It’s also likely that you’ll find it has more benefits than you ever realised. More and more businesses are now using software that tracks their assets, and you can too. Come out of the dark ages and use software that can realistically benefit your business. 

Wish to chat with someone knowledgeable about asset tracking software? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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Most of us are aware that new technologies are being developed all of the time. With this, comes the realisation that the workplace is changing. How we go about our daily work life tasks can change in such a short space of time. 

But how will managing your asset register change over time? Will emerging technologies influence IT asset management? Let’s take a look.

Before we actually look at some emerging technologies, let’s look at those which are currently being used. 

• GPS – In the world of IT asset management, being able to track your assets is crucial. GPS can help with this. It’s also ideal for those who wish to track vehicles and equipment used outside the office. 
• RFID tracking – Radio Frequency Identification tracking is often used by small businesses to track assets. It can be very useful as it allows each asset to have an individual barcode. This means it relatively easy to track specific assets 

Now let’s take a look at some emerging technologies.

We have all heard about artificial intelligence and even how it could take over the world. However, AI can only do what it has been programmed to do. So, it’s unlikely that a tool that helps to make your IT asset management app run smoother will be looking for world domination. 

The good news and the realistic news is that AI can help in the workplace. For example, you could gain some insights into how your assets are performing and how they are being used. You may even get some updates on each asset’s maintenance status. 

Just think, if one of your trusted machines is undergoing maintenance you could receive updates as to how things are going. Knowing that maintenance may only take a few more days means you could have a clearer idea of when orders will be fulfilled. 

It’s AI-derived information such as this that could help you to make better decisions about how to go about your day-to-day tasks.

In the world of IT asset management, QR codes could prove to be very useful. Scanning the code with a smartphone results in a lot of details appearing on the screen. If you have a lot of similar assets you can scan and see which asset is in front of you and get a lot of information about it. The information will need to have already been added to the asset’s profile, of course. However, this is usually very easy. 

One of the benefits of using QR codes to help you track your assets is that they can be scanned on a smartphone. This is a device that most people already have, which makes QR codes so much easier to access. 

QR codes have already proven to be helpful if you have a lot of assets that need to be checked in and out regularly.

Many people now use augmented reality (AR) to help make the games that they play more realistic. Some online stores also use AR, allowing the customer to see if a table they’re considering buying will look good in their home. 

Augmented reality can also prove to be very helpful in the workplace. Users may be able to visualise asset locations and features. This could be beneficial if you need to find an asset but you’re not exactly sure where it is. 

Being able to visualise features can also be very useful if you need to learn something about an asset. Alternatively, the ability to differentiate one asset from the other via AR could prove helpful. As a result, you could find that IT asset management is easier than you think. For example, if you want to give one team laptops that use specific software you can see which laptops are using that software. Within a matter of moments, you could have the answers you need.

The very quick answer is “Yes it can”. As more and more technologies emerge it’s highly likely that your current IT asset management software will change and develop. Therefore, some of the technologies that we’re only just learning about (AI, for example), are likely to be built into asset register software. Therefore, managing an asset register could potentially be easier than ever before. This means that you could have more control over your assets, and know more about them and where they are than you can currently imagine. 

Creators of IT asset management software are likely to work in earnest to make sure that you always have something powerful and useful to help you track all kinds of assets in the workplace. 

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

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