IT Inventory Management: A Short Guide

IT Inventory Management: A Short Guide

IT Inventory Management: A Short Guide

Your IT inventory makes your working life so much easier, there’s no doubt about it. However, you may not have it quite under control. This is a mistake as it means you’re unlikely to be making the most of it. The good news is that when you use IT inventory management you can control and make the most of your IT assets.

Not everyone knows how to look after their IT inventory, let alone control it. This short guide, however, should help with this.

What’s In Your IT Inventory?

So what exactly is in your IT inventory? The easy answer is: anything that’s related to your computers. In other words, your PCs, laptops, tablets, cables, modems, printers, fax machines (if you still have them), and more. You may be surprised to learn just how many IT assets you have. However, when you do know how many you have you’ll understand exactly why IT inventory management is crucial. 

Have a think about what you have in your IT inventory. Make sure that you include anything that is remotely related to your computers, laptops, and your tablets. When you do, you’ll be able to have better control over everything.

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What is IT Inventory Management?

IT inventory management is all about controlling your IT assets. It’s also all about making the most of these assets. Right now, you may not be making the most of your assets. In addition to this, you may not be sending them for repairs as often as you should. Inventory management solves all of this by allowing you to gain full control over your assets. 

When you use inventory management to its full advantage you can:

  • Manage any faults along with setting up regular maintenance
  • Understand who has access to particular assets
  • Know where your assets are all day, every single day
  • Understand whether your assets are in the correct location 
  • Have more control over your assets than you realised. 

In short, when you manage your IT inventory, you have much more accountability over your assets. You can also print out multiple reports so you can understand how the assets are being used. As long as you opt for management software that allows you to print off reports you’re good to go. Doing so will allow you to get a better insight into how your assets are being used. A direct result of this means that you could use them in such a way that your business benefits.

How Easy Is It To Implement Inventory Management?

The really good news is that it’s easy to implement inventory management. All that you need to do is to choose some software that you like the look of. Just be sure that the software offers you all of the features that you need such as checking assets in and out, the option to use fixed or handheld RFID capabilities, organising assets into collections, and more. 

Once you’ve chosen the software that suits you, it’s time to start implementing its usage. This is easy. Simply attach an RFID tag or barcode to your IT assets. Scan the tags or barcodes as you add them so a profile opens up. Be sure to fill this profile with as much information as you wish. The more you add, the better as it means you can refer to it in the future, should you need to.

As soon as a profile has been created, the software will automatically track your IT assets. So, you will begin to benefit from using the software right away.

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The Benefits Of Controlling Your Assets

Some of the benefits of controlling your assets are: 

  • They’ll be in better condition – This is thanks to you having maintenance schedule reminders set up for all of your assets
  • You’ll have no more ghost assets – You’ll know which assets have been set to one side because they no longer work, allowing you to send them for repairs
  • Assigning assets is easy – You can do this at the touch of a button
  • You can track your assets – This can be done instantly 
  • It’s easy to export and print reports – Ensuring you know how everything is performing 
  • There’ll be more asset-related security It’s all thanks to you knowing where your assets are all of the time and who is using them. 

 

Using IT inventory management to its full advantage allows you to have more control over almost every aspect of each of your assets. This is why more and more people all over the world are now managing their IT inventory. Now it’s time for you to do the same. When you do, you will have the level of control you need over all of your IT assets. 

 

Wish to chat with someone knowledgeable about IT inventory management? Contact us today at team@itemit.com

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IT Asset Management Made Simple

IT Asset Management Made Simple

IT Asset Management Made Simple

Taking control of your IT assets can be tricky. Ideally, you will know where all of your tablets, phones, and laptops are every minute of the day. You will also know which assets are in a poor state of repair. However, having all of this knowledge is hard to come by unless you use IT asset inventory software. When you use software such as this, managing all of your IT assets is made simple. 

Let’s take a look at just why and how asset management software can make a difference.

What An IT Asset Is And How To Create One

When you want to have more control over your assets you need to create an IT asset inventory. You can do this by affixing barcodes or RFID tags to your assets. When you do, you can scan the code or tag to open up a profile on the device you’re using. This profile can be filled with a lot of details about that specific asset. Once you’ve added as much information as you wish about each asset, you have more control over your assets. Just make sure that you use IT asset inventory software that has a good user interface and is frequently updated. When you do, you could find that your asset inventory is easy to use.

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Tracking All Of Your IT Assets

Being able to track all of your assets is important. When you can track everything you will know where it is all day, every day. You can have peace of mind, knowing that your assets are where they should be. This is one of the huge benefits associated with IT asset inventory software. You can see who’s using which laptop, whether all of your tablets have been returned, and which phones need repairing. You can see where a group of assets are or just one or two. You could see whether your new tablets are on their way to your sales team in Middlesbrough. You could see if that damaged laptop is undergoing maintenance, and so on.

Should your businesses have a lot of assets, you could find tracking them easier than you think. Once you have added all your assets to your inventory software you’re good to go. When you can track all of your assets you can see where they are, allowing you to get the reassurance you need.

Booking Much-Needed Assets In Advance

Did you know that depending on the IT asset inventory software you choose you can book assets in? Let’s imagine that your marketing manager needs to use 3 laptops and 4 tablets in a few days. They can book those IT assets so they’re free to use when they’re needed. 

There’s sometimes nothing worse than not being able to use the equipment you need. However, when your marketing manager can book them via the inventory software, all is good. They’ll know that the work they need to carry out is more likely to be completed. They’ll also know that they’re unlikely to have any issues in the future relating to accessing the IT assets they need.

Some inventory software will also let you check assets in and out. So, for example, your marketing manager could check the IT equipment out. This will show you that they’ve collected what they need. The IT equipment can also be checked back in again so you can see they’ve been returned. This just adds a bit of security to everything and helps you to see who has had what. When assets of any kind are checked in and out it ensures those using them are more responsible. For example, you may see fewer accidents occur when your assets are being tracked this way. This is simply because the users will take better care of them.

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Reporting And Managing Problems

IT asset inventory software can be ideal for helping you to tackle problems associated with IT assets. When a computer breaks down or a cable snaps, it can cause issues. You may even find that these damaged assets have not been reported to the maintenance team. Therefore, they will not be repaired. When you use inventory software, however, you can report any problem that crops up. You can simply log into the software and select the asset in question. Then, you can tell your maintenance team about the issue with the asset. As a result, the asset could be repaired sooner rather than later. 

IT asset management does not need to be difficult. All that you need to do is add your IT assets to your chosen software and you’re good to go. It really is that simple and it really can make a big difference to your business. 

Wish to speak with an expert about using IT asset inventory software? Contact us today at team@itemit.com.

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What IT Asset Management Is And Why You Need it

What IT Asset Management Is And Why You Need it

What IT Asset Management Is And Why You Need it

Using an IT asset management system may seem quite alien to some. However, asset management is becoming increasingly popular due to the benefits that it offers. When you manage all of your IT assets, you can have much more control over them. Imagine having more control over your assets and what it could mean for your business. Whether you have 3-4 IT assets or you have 300-400+ IT assets, managing them is the way forward.

What IT Assets Are

The term “IT assets” refers to any asset that is a type of computer or related to computers, such as modems and printers. An IT asset could also be a fax machine (if you still use them) or a power cable. Anything that is remotely related to IT such as your smartphone could be added to your new IT asset management system. 

Did you know that even if you have a few assets that aren’t IT-related you could still add them? In fact, the more assets you add, the merrier. You could add those non IT-related assets to their own group so you can manage them separately. This is the beauty of asset management systems.

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What An IT Asset Management System Is

So, what exactly is one of these very popular management systems? Basically, it’s a really easy way to track all of your assets. It’s a good way for you to see what assets you have and where they are. An asset management system of any kind is one which is located in the cloud and allows you to store data while you track everything. 

You can use your new management system on your smartphone, desktop computer, laptop, and even your tablet, if you wish. The level of flexibility makes asset management very easy to use. 

When you choose to manage your IT assets you could create asset profiles and populate the profiles with information such as the: 

  • Make
  • Model 
  • Serial number
  • Insurance details
  • Warranty details
  • Maintenance/inspection schedule 
  • Date of and price at purchase
  • Instruction manual PDF or link to the manual 
  • And so much more!

 

All that you need to do is to make a start by adding asset tags to your hardware. Once you’ve added a tag to every piece of IT hardware you have, the tracking begins. 

Did you know that you can also track your software? Simply create a digital profile and start tracking that too. This way, you can keep a close eye on your software. 

Whether you track your IT hardware, software, or both, you can have more control and more security. You could see a huge difference in the way that you use your assets. This is all thanks to the data that your new IT asset management system will provide. There’s more information about this in the next section.

Why You Need IT Asset Management In Your Life

Did you know your new IT asset management system creates a report entirely based on the data that the management system itself creates? This report can be customised and exported as and when you please. You could have a lot of information at your fingertips. This information could prove to be vital for your business as you can potentially see it in a new light. 

Additionally, you could have a: 

  • Complete inventory of your hardware and software 
  • The ability to create a unique and detailed user history
  • A system that Improves every asset’s life cycle 
  • The ability to help you to create and stick to maintenance schedules 
  • Improved accountability as you’ll know where assets have been and who’s used them
  • Increased visibility as you can create and gain a lot of information about each asset

This is why more and more businesses are now choosing to manage their IT assets. It makes perfect sense to be able to track and take care of those costly assets that your business uses every single day.

Additional Benefits

When you track your IT assets, depending on the tracking software you choose, you could find that it helps to lower costs. If this was not enough, there’s a real chance that your new management system could help to save you time. This is simply because you can see where your assets are and you can tick boxes quickly and get on with other tasks. A direct result of this means that you could find productivity is boosted. If this was not enough, your new IT asset management system also ensures optimum asset utilisation. There’s a real possibility that you could get more out of your assets as you’ll know how to use them to their best ability. 

You can do all this and more if you start managing your IT assets.

Wish to chat with an expert about using an IT asset management system? Contact us today at team@itemit.com.

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Tips For Managing Your Office Inventory

Tips For Managing Your Office Inventory

Tips For Managing Your Office Inventory

Managing your office inventory may not be as easy as you’d hoped. This is usually because there’s a lot of assets on your inventory list. These assets can include computers, stationery, printers, modems, and even desks and chairs. In fact, your office inventory includes anything that you have and use in your office. With this in mind, you can see why managing an inventory may not be easy. 

The really good news, however, is that using an IT asset management tool can make life in the office easier. Let’s now take a look at why and how this management tool can help.

Use An IT Asset Management Tool

You can have more control over your assets and take better care of them by using an IT asset management tool. A tool such as this can give you full control and ensure that you can get on with your important tasks. 

You could have an easy-to-read user interface that ensures you can navigate your inventory quickly. It could also help you to get even more tasks completed on time. Offices all over the world are now using this type of tool. It helps to take the guesswork out of controlling your assets, such as IT-related assets and more. In fact, when you sign up to use an asset management tool you could find your office is more organised than it’s ever been.

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Delegate Tasks By Assigning Assets

One of the most-loved features of any modern IT asset management tool is the one that allows you to delegate tasks. You could, for example, message a colleague via the tool with “Can you pick up the new computers today and deliver them to site B?”. You could also assign those specific computers to your colleague so only they have the authority to move them.

Not only could this feature help you, it could also help your colleagues. The reason for this is because they’ll know what they need to do and when. They’ll also know what assets to use and what not to use. If this was not enough, your colleague could message you with “job completed”. They could also let you know if there are any issues with picking up the computers. They could do this via the asset management tool, which makes life a little easier.

Set Up A Maintenance Schedule

There’s no doubt about it, you know that when you are at your busiest things start to go wrong. Let’s imagine that a client has asked you to print out 400 instruction manuals. You know that as soon as you have that request something will go wrong with your printers. It’s almost as if these non-sentient assets actually know what’s going on. Thankfully, this issue can potentially be avoided. 

When you use an IT asset management tool you may have the opportunity to set up a maintenance schedule. A schedule such as this allows you to create a maintenance schedule for all of your IT assets and more. So, the printer that likes to break down could be examined at least once a year. During the examination, someone from your maintenance team will pick up on any issues and any potential issues. These issues will be dealt with, ensuring that your printer is less likely to break down. 

You could set up a maintenance schedule for all of your assets ensuring they’re all in a good state of repair.

Know When To Order More Stationery

Knowing when to order more stationery is tricky. However, using an asset management tool can help. You could, for example, scan a pack of pens when you open them and 2 weeks later, a new pack could arrive. In other words, you could tell the tool when to order more stationery and how much. Not only could this save you time, but it also means you’ve always got pens in stock.

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Learn How To Track Everything

One of the very best features of any trusted IT asset management tool is its ability to track assets. You could track your laptops, for example, so you know where they are. If your laptops tend to be used in the field, being able to track them is ideal. Not only can it help to prevent theft, but tracking your laptops automatically means they will be better taken care of. 

When you set up a digital profile for your IT/office assets, you’ll attach an RFID tag to them. These tags, when scanned, will start to track the asset in question. When you can track everything you can see where your assets are in moments. You can tell whether they’re in the right location or on the way. This feature is very useful and can even help you understand whether you have enough laptops, for example, to go around. 

 

Wish to talk with an expert about using an IT asset management tool to help you manage your office inventory? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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How IT Asset Management Is Shaping The Industry

How IT Asset Management Is Shaping The Industry

How IT Asset Management Is Shaping The Industry

These days, we’re all very used to having tech at our fingertips. We can have access to a lot of data and information in no time. Some businesses also work hard to take care of their IT assets so they last longer and work harder. In fact, IT asset inventory management is becoming so popular that it’s shaping the industry. Let’s take a look into just how this is taking place.

 

More Accurate Records

When you make the most of IT asset inventory management tools your records become more accurate. While your records may be quite accurate already, they can become even more so. This is all thanks to the data that is created each time an asset is used. Consequently, your records are more accurate and you may also have more of them. 

Any industry can, therefore, be full of businesses that know how they’re performing in many different ways.

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No Software Or Hardware Required

Thanks to the way that it works, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to download any IT asset inventory management software. The data you need to use an asset inventory inventory could be available in an app. In addition to this, you may also be able to sign into an online portal. The portal in question could give you access to everything you need. This could mean that there’s less need for expensive and unreliable software and hardware. 

You could simply log into an app on your chosen device. Alternatively, you could log into your online portal. Many modern and reliable management tools allow you to download an app to a phone or tablet. Online portals are usually available on desktop computers and laptops. This ensures that you could gain access when you need to. The effect on the industry is that everyone can gain easy access to their chosen asset management tool.

Works With Emerging Technologies

AI could help to ensure that your IT asset inventory management system is more accurate. It could help you to locate your assets more quickly while offering so much more. The world of AI is still somewhat in its infancy. However, if progress continues the way it has, so much more could be offered. Your IT assets could be controlled by a management system that’s run by AI. A consequence of this is that you could sit back and concentrate on other tasks. In the meantime, you can use the very latest in IT inventory management to help with your working day.

Customisable Fields

Did you know that some IT asset inventory management tools allow you to customise fields? You could, for example, add a lot of details about each asset. This includes each asset’s:

  • Brand and model number
  • Serial number(s)
  • Warranty details and insurance information
  • Instruction manual or a link to the PDF
  • Date of and price at purchase
  • Estimated resale value
  • Estimated longevity
  • Photographs so the asset can be identified easily
  • Usual location
  • List of past and current users

When these details have been added to each asset it makes for better identification. In addition to this, adding the above details and perhaps even more makes it very convenient. When details such as these have been added less time could be spent looking for the instruction manual. 

So how does this shape the industry? When this feature is used it ensures that more businesses know more about their assets. It also means that these businesses can potentially grow.

Easier Asset Tracking

Imagine being able to track each of your assets much more easily. This is what most of the latest IT asset inventory management tools offer. You could see where every single one of your assets is all of the time. 

What this potentially means is that you could see whether your assets are in the correct location. If they’re not, you could make sure a colleague sends them on their way and you could check again. 

Easier asset tracking also takes the guesswork out of everything. You can see where your assets are all day, every day. You could even see where a group of assets are, should you wish to. Depending on the asset management tool you choose, you could select which assets you’d like to track. Within a few moments, you could see where they were. 

How does this handy feature help to shape the industry? It means that every business’s assets are more secure. It means that fewer assets may be lost, temporarily misplaced, or stolen. This can only be a good thing as, consequently, fewer funds need to be used to replace the assets. What this in turn means, is businesses are more likely to be successful. Funds that would have been spent replacing stolen assets could be used elsewhere. Businesses are, therefore, much more likely to thrive.

Would you like to speak with an IT asset inventory management expert? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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Computer Inventory Tracking And Its Importance

Computer Inventory Tracking And Its Importance

Computer Inventory Tracking And Its Importance

Your business needs to do what it can to save money and time. Most businesses tend to use at least a few computers to help them with a range of tasks. It’s these computers that help businesses to save both time and money. When you use computer inventory tracking to its advantage it’s possible for you to save even more time and money. 

But what is inventory tracking and how can you make the best use of it? Let’s take a look at this now.

What Exactly Is Inventory Tracking?

It’s likely that you already have some means of tracking your assets. If you don’t yet track any assets, you’re missing out. When you track your assets you’re more likely to know where they are and who is using them. You may even be aware of how often the assets are used. 

These days, fewer and fewer businesses are using spreadsheets to enable them to track everything. This can only be a good thing as spreadsheets are known for being full of errors. The more modern solution involves using some computer inventory software. Software such as this is much more reliable, and it can do so much more than a mere spreadsheet can. 

So, back to the question, what is inventory tracking? Well, when it’s used in conjunction with some modern and reliable software it’s a service that helps to understand your assets. It’s a tool that can help you to understand all of your computers on a completely new level. 

When you track all of your computer inventory using software you can make the most of each asset. This is not some fantasy, it’s reality and many businesses are choosing to make this a reality. Tracking your computer inventory means you’ll have access to a lot of new data. You can harness this data should you wish to and use it for the benefit of your business.

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How Computer Inventory Software Can Save Your Business Time

There’s a real possibility that you could have more time on your hands if you start using computer inventory software. This is realistically possible because:

  • You may no longer need to spend too much time ticking boxes – You can set up your digital profile to ensure that all of these small but time-consuming procedures are dealt with. Your software could automatically deal with the box ticking or help to eliminate it completely. 
  • You can see where all of your assets are all day, every day, and within seconds – As long as you are tracking the location of your assets you can see where they are almost instantly. This can bring you peace of mind. 
  • It’s possible to assign assets to employees in a very short space of time – Simply choose an asset and select an employee, and assign them to it. 
  • You can see who is using which assets – Select the asset in question and see who is using it. As long as you use a check-in/check-out feature it’s possible to track who is using what.
  • You can organise your assets into collections so they can be edited more easily – This can help to make bulk functions easier to manage, ensuring that you save time 

When you use modern and reliable computer inventory software all of the above actions can save your business time. We are all aware that time means money so the mere fact that you can save time means that you could save money.

How Computer Inventory Software Can Save Your Business Money

  • Your assets will be in a better condition thanks to the software’s ability to help you set up a maintenance schedule – Simply set up a schedule for each of your assets and the software will do the rest. Just make sure that when you receive a reminder that you send the asset to maintenance or have maintenance pick it up. When assets are looked after they need replacing a lot less often. 
  • Ghost assets can be eliminated almost immediately – As soon as all of your assets are added to the inventory software ghost assets can be repaired or removed from the system. 
  • It’s possible to create and export reports – The moment that you begin tracking your assets you begin creating data. Some inventory software will allow you to both create and export reports. A result of this means you could see how well your business is doing every single day. 
  • Less assets could be stolen or lost – As long as you track your assets you can see where they are. When you can see where assets are they are less likely to go missing. As a result, you may no longer need to purchase as many replacements.

 

Would you like to chat with an expert about computer inventory software? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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