Out with the old and in with the new, Spring is finally here! Spring means a lot of things. New life, small cute animals, the smell of blossom on the trees and, of course, spring cleaning. Spring cleaning means an effective asset inventory management system is needed to make sure everything is in it’s right place.

Now, there are two types of people when it comes to Spring cleaning. Those who relish it, and those who do not. Whether you’re someone who runs around the home with glee, singing like Snow White and buffing out your old cabinets, or if you’re more like Grumpy and only want to tidy because you have to, we have a few tips, tricks, and methods to help you out.

Therefore, if you need cleaning ideas to get rid of all the mess and get your home neat and tidy, you’ve come to the right place.

Method One: The Classic

Well, ok, we’ll start with the obvious one. When you’re Spring cleaning you may not have a method, as such. So, in a way, the classic way of cleaning up is madness with method to it.

This is the method where you start off going room to room, then you start finding more and more interesting objects and spiralling down memory lane. Maybe you’ll even call in a loved one and ask them if they remember what you’re holding treasured in your hands, to which they’ll invariably grunt and shrug.

Obviously your things are important to you, so the classic method to avoid ending your Spring clean in Summer is to categorise your loved objects and come back to looking at them and reminiscing when you’re finished. You’ll probably find you don’t actually care about them as much as you did when you were cleaning.

Another trick to this method of going from room to room and just tidying, is to start off with the most boring rooms in the house. If you’re going to get distracted by your possessions, then start in the kitchen. Pots and pans are far less interesting than childhood toys.

You may be more tempted to get distracted the more you clean, but if you’re going to get distracted it’s better to happen when half your home has been cleaned rather than *walks into room* “Ooh”. Therefore, the best way to tackle this Magpie Syndrome is to start off bored, that way, it can only get better.

With asset inventory management, you can take as long as you want and set items as a priority. This means when you’re asset tracking your home you’ll know exactly what to tidy up first and what to leave. What’s more, you can tag your favourite items with rfid or QR code asset tags, so you know exactly what to come back to when you’re done and where it is.

Method Two: The Konmari Method

This method is for the hardcore cleaners.

Marie Kondo has been hailed as the Queen of the Spring Clean. Of course, while this means that her methods of cleaning work, it also means that they’re not for the faint of heart.

Only there’s more to it than that. Kondo’s method is respectful to the items and objects getting thrown out. So it’s not like that ex that you weren’t too sure about and then savagely dumped over text.

The main premise is “does the object you hold in your hands spark joy?” If it does, then keep it. If it doesn’t, then throw it out. Thank the things you’re throwing out for their service to you. Thank the home for letting you clean it. And thank the items that bring you joy.

You can then categorise things by size, and by a variety of folding methods that Kondo displays online. It’s also recommended that you add things to clear boxes and sort by how often you use something. Love pasta? Put the colander closer to the front of the cupboard.

Asset inventory management makes categorising your belongings quick and easy, meaning that you’ll know what does and doesn’t spark joy in no time at all.

Method Three: Time Keeping Method

It is said that Immanual Kant’s routines were so rigid, you could set the Cathedral Clock off him. If this sounds like you, and if you like time and routine, then this is the method for you.

It’s quite simple, really. Set alarms that correspond to jobs. Clean certain things at certain times and stick to it.

For example, wash the pots at 14:00, then move onto the pans at 14:10. Depending on how many pots and pans you have, of course. Don’t wash one pot for ten minutes.

One of the great things about this method too, is that you don’t have to finish everything in one day. Go room by room, alarm by alarm. As long as when it goes off, you move onto the next thing, then you have your to do list set up perfectly.

So set alarms and reminders! Link rooms to your asset inventory management app so that you know what to start doing and when to end doing it to the exact moment you need to.

Method Four: The Lazy Way

This way is the most attractive for the lazies. It’s simple, just throw everything that’s going to get thrown out onto the floor and leave everything else neatly where it belongs.

There is one difficult part, though. You mustn’t just leave it on the floor. You actually have to throw it out.

When this is done, however, and this is the clever part, there’s less to tidy! It’s not recommended you throw everything out so that you don’t have to tidy up, so keep it within reason, but with less things to handle, there’s less to do.

Tracking your Treasures and your Trash with asset inventory management

So where does itemit come in? Everyone is different, and everyone will favour a different way of Spring cleaning, but all of itemit’s features can help you in your quest for a cleaner home no matter your style.

First of all, you can separate your treasures from your trash. Categorise using qr code tags or rfid tags with our unique pre printed asset labels. You can do this after you’ve thrown the trash out, or so you know what not to throw out.

When you’ve tagged your assets, whether with asset tags or just by taking a picture, you can put them into collections. Whether the collection is trophies, socks, trash, items “to be cleaned” or items that have been cleaned, you can get more out of your spring clean.

You can even categorise by “sparks joy” or “doesn’t spark joy” so that you can throw out the old in an instant and bring in the new.

If you’re going for the time method, you can add reminders to assets so that you know what needs to be cleaned and when. Or, you can even track rooms as if they’re assets, and add dates of which room you want to clean and when.

Tracking rooms is also helpful in the sense that you can mark them as done when they’re finally looking like you can live in them.

Finally, you can add information about your assets so that you either spend less time reminiscing, or so that the time you do spend reminiscing is much, much sweeter.

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

Contents insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but this doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good thing to think about making the most out of. What about all of your covered assets, though. How do you keep a close eye on them and make sure they’re transparent to insurance companies? If you start tracking them, a simple insurance asset register will be created by itemit that you can use however you need.

There’s a range of insurances you can get when you’re covering your belongings. Contents insurance is a type of home insurance, rather than all risks insurance, however, meaning that the type of cover you’ll be getting with with your contents insurance means only personal belongings inside your home are covered.

So, with your contents insurance you are getting cover over your belongings in case of loss, theft, or damage. This means things are easier to replace if things break. If something happens and you’ve chosen the right cover, it may end up cheaper to have and use the insurance. You also have peace of mind that should something happen, you’re covered.

There must be a way to get more out of your contents insurance, however. Something to complement it. Because you don’t want a legal battle or to be contested on whether you owned items in the case of theft, loss or damage.

itemit can help make everything run a bit more smoothly, should the worst happen.

What are your assets?

Your assets in this case will be what your contents insurance covers. Above is an example of an insurance asset register created automatically by itemit in the app.

Depending on your type of cover, therefore, your assets can be anything from your furniture to your valuables.

Your type of cover can change how you handle your assets. For example, with accidental damage cover, the process to compensate damaged items will be different to if valuable items are stolen. There are different things to show evidence for.

2015 statistics in the Crime Survey for England and Wales show that Jewellery or watches are the most commonly stolen items. How you track them and cover them will be different to how you track a sofa, due to the size and type of the asset, also.

How asset management can help

So how can tracking and asset management software help?

With asset inventory management, you can identify your assets with asset tags, whether these are rfid tags or qr code tags, and put each in a unique profile.

A collection of these profiles will then mean that you have an asset register.

With profiles and and an asset register, what you can do with both an individual item and a collection of items is more than just keeping a collection of receipts in a drawer, slowly deteriorating.

For a start, you can link and add information to each unique profile. This can include digital receipts emailed after purchase, or scanned PDFs of paper receipts, it can include warranties to prove that an item isn’t supposed to have broken, it can even include instruction manuals to prove responsible use.

Tracking with your pre printed asset labels will mean that you can also find out what’s missing in no time. Should the worst happen and everything has been scanned into its unique profile, you can simply rescan items and find out what has and hasn’t been recently seen. For example, if there is a theft, you can find what has and hasn’t been stolen in a faster and therefore less stressful manner.

Pre printed asset labels can also serve as a proof of location. If something has been stolen, with location tracking it can be proven that the last known location of that asset was inside the house.

These asset labels can also act as a theft deterrent, as all of ours say “tracked by itemit”, meaning tracked assets are less likely to be stolen.

Make the most out of itemit for your insurance asset register

So, how can you use itemit itself as insuretech?

All of the ways mentioned before are some of our asset management tools, but there are also more specific uses when it comes to insurance.

As mentioned, using our pre printed asset tags is not only an inexpensive solution to track the locations of your assets, but it can also mean that your valuables are less likely to get stolen.

Our asset tags come in all different shapes, sizes and materials also, which means that how you track your larger assets can be different to how you track your smaller assets, which is helpful in terms of insurance due to the range of contents you wish to cover.

Not only this, but you can simply export all data from an online insurance asset register to show the information an insurance provider will need.

Exporting will show the last scan, last seen location, who scanned the item, the description of the item, added documents and information such as receipts, and more. This means that not only can there be a simple way to show proof of purchase and/or ownership, but also proof the item has been displaced or broken.

How else can you cover your home?

Not only can itemit help in terms of house insurance or contents cover, but it can also help with the day to day running of a house.

For example, landlords can use itemit as an asset inventory tool. Tenants can then quickly and easily report an asset as broken rather than jumping through hoops to get information across.

itemit is great for transparency in terms of what assets are doing and where they are.

Get tracking!

So get started and your insurance asset register will be ready in no time!

Not only can itemit complement your contents insurance, but it can also help you keep a closer eye on what’s where and when.

itemit is the simple asset management software that’s easy to use and that can help keep your peace of mind.

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

Spreadsheets are limited.

There’s a lot more to it than this, but when it comes to simple asset management solutions, spreadsheets are hardly usable.

Whether you’re trying to create a fixed asset register, or if you’re trying to implement simple asset tracking, spreadsheets, or Excel, is not the direction you should be going in.

Spreadsheets have limited asset management features, much less than even the most simple asset management software. In what ways? Find out below with eleven reasons why spreadsheets are less effective than free asset tracking software, such as itemit..

1. Spreadsheets are difficult to maintain on-the-go

To get the most out of a spreadsheet, something is needed: a desktop or a laptop.

Imagine if you’re onsite, how difficult it would be to fetch your spreadsheets up on your phone for some property management.

Small boxes. Difficult to type in. Difficult to see.

Yet we’ll all have a smartphone stashed somewhere. Needing to update assets onsite makes everything a lot easier too, rather than noting down the necessary changes and bringing them to a computer.

With an asset management app, this isn’t even a problem. Simply open the app and update at will onsite.

2. Asset records aren’t linked to the physical assets

This creates an instant difficulty.

Imagine your fixed asset register on a spreadsheet, “CCTV cameras: x3”. Which is which?

You can add serial numbers, you can add columns and columns and rows and rows on your spreadsheet, you can take up an incredible amount of time trying to distinguish multiple identical assets.

Or, you can use asset management software.

With itemit, you can instantly add photographs, a unique serial number is created just for that singular asset, and you can even use unique asset tags.

Stick your asset tags onto your assets, whether they’re QR asset tags or RFID tags, then you simply need to scan them into your asset management system with your smartphone or an RFID reader.

How much do RFID asset tags cost? The answer is: it depends on size, use, read range, etc. You can find out more here.

3. It’s difficult for multiple users to access and contribute to a spreadsheet

This is a common office problem: Too many people on the same spreadsheet.

Even if the changes are being tracked, multiple users editing your sheets gets messy, confusing, and chaotic. Then there’s the risk of accidental deletion!

For example, what if two people are trying to update an asset simultaneously? What you get is a conflict of interests and a waste of time. With asset inventory management, the process is streamlined.

4. Multiple spreadsheets? No easy solution!

Creative asset management software means that you no longer need multiple spreadsheets.

There might be one spreadsheet with absolutely everything on it, there might be one with pages and pages of assets or information, or there might be multiple, all linked together and then linked to maintenance records, photos, user manuals. How is this efficient?

With asset register software, everything can be organised and in the right place. Easy.

5. No confidence when handing records over to other stakeholders

Imagine if instead of exchanging email after email to delay having to show your asset records, you could just open your phone and share with ease and comfort?

Sharing your asset records can be a real problem… If you’re using spreadsheets. If there are incomplete, inaccessible, or inaccurate records on your spreadsheets it might not be easy to just hand them over to a customer or stakeholder. If you’re using asset management software tools, however, then this becomes easy.

Save yourself the stress. Use asset management software!

6. Asset records are not updated instantly. Errors or outdated information are possible!

A big time-waster and a big potential for errors is that if you’re using a spreadsheet, maintenance teams will update asset records when they return to base.

How is this practical? Information might be lost, especially if it’s noted down either on a phone or on a notepad.

Use asset maintenance management software and update your assets instantly. No more wasted time and no more errors.

7. No real time view of assets and their status

Spreadsheets aren’t live.

How can you know the asset data is valuable, effective, accurate, and up to date? Time without updates increases the chance of errors.

With even the most simple, free asset management software you can update your assets and view them in real time. You can see where the locations are and when maintenance is scheduled.

8. Only one-way communication

This builds on the previous points. With spreadsheets you’re not communicating with your assets.

Your assets can’t send you automatic emails when maintenance is needed, they can’t tell you when they’re lost, they can’t tell you who was using them last. All the information on a spreadsheet is added by the user.

With asset management software, however, your assets can communicate with you in a proactive and productive way.

9. No accountability. Who changed what and when? Who knows!

When there are lots of users adding a lot of data it’s almost impossible to keep track of who put what and where.

There’s no accountability of who has created an error on the sheet which makes it much more difficult and time consuming to rectify.

As well as this, if an asset is lost it’ll take a lot longer to track with a spreadsheet. If you know who misplaced the asset with a more functional asset management system, you can find it a lot more quickly.

If every interaction is recorded, like it can be with asset tracking software, an audit trail is created and there is accountability.

10. No attachment features!

It’s possible to add pages and pages to spreadsheets involving external links to attempt to make it easier to attach relevant information and vital documents.

With an asset management app, however, it’s possible to simply attach records such as user manuals, photos, inspection sheets, receipts, warranties with ease.

That’s all there is to it, it’s really that simple!

11. Excel wasn’t designed for asset management!

This is the simplest and most compelling reason you should stop using spreadsheets for asset management. They weren’t built for it!

Excel is for analysis. It is not for tracking and maintaining assets.

There are no features in spreadsheets that can help you manage your assets, meaning that you have to create all the information yourself and add it. This means there might be features and capabilities you’re missing out on!

Not only this, but there’s the problem of smartphones as well. Excel was built for office use and not for on-the-go asset updating or management on your phone.

Asset management apps, however, are built for on-the-go usage!

Asset management software is the solution!

Hopefully by now the limitations of using spreadsheets to manage your assets is clear. From how you add the information to how limited the information is.

Luckily, there is an inexpensive asset tracking solution: itemit!

Find out more about who we are: here, and if you sign up for a free trial below, you can even receive free QR tags to see for yourself!

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

The screaming fans. The blaring speakers. The amps vibrating. Being in a band, whether it’s an indie rock band or a metal band, can give life meaning. Music can give your life meaning.

So maybe three years down the line you’ve made it. You can hear the festival crowds. You look to your drummer, your bassist, your guitarist. You can see the microphone onstage. You take the leap and everyone goes wild.

Now, though, is time for the graft. Playing in pubs and on the street on a Friday night. A singer trying to make it, fighting and loving their craft. Waiting for the next tour or at home writing for their next gig.

Whether you’re onstage in front of thousands or if you’re playing in garages and underground clubs, knowing where your equipment, instruments, and music is at all times is very important, and so is knowing what state it’s all in. Asset management systems can help.

The background work

Bands don’t just turn up to concerts and perform. Maybe if you’re a jazz band there’ll be some improv onstage, but generally, there’ll be rehearsals, practice, time to write songs and space for a few creative differences too.

The road to fame is difficult. It’s paved with disappointment sometimes. Looking around and seeing people buying into fame. Looking down at the song you’ve spent hours on and wondering if it’s good enough. That’s the graft. That’s the leap of faith.

Music is a leap of faith. It can be a leap of faith that takes one moment or years. Maybe, just maybe you’ll be in the right place at the right time. Maybe you’ll get heard by the right person. Or maybe you’ll have to struggle and fight for your place in the hall of fame.

Why take every risk then? If there’s anything you can do to make sure everything is where it needs to be, why wouldn’t you?

This is where itemit, the simple asset management software comes in.

Tracking your equipment

So let’s start at the beginning of the concert.

Maybe you’ve chosen to track the writing of the music itself, it’s possible to track your notes! But one thing’s for certain, you’ll want to track your equipment.

While you’re setting up, the nerves and the hours and hours of practise will be on your mind. You can get out your phone, open the asset management app and check that you’ve left all of your music in the correct places for peace of mind for a start. This’ll only slightly tackle the nerves, however.

If you want to be certain that everything that needs to be onstage is sitting where it’s supposed to be, though, itemit is the answer! Simply open the app and see that the location has been updated to onstage!

This is great for packing away as well. Don’t leave pieces of kit behind when you’re on tour. Stocktake in your van with asset inventory management. You can even use asset tagging to make this even easier! Use our unique asset tags, whether they’re QR codes or RFID tags, but stocktaking is much easier with RFID.

You can even know which of your groupies is in charge of what tech, just so there’s absolutely no confusion as to who has to pack away what!

Tracking your instruments

Now for the important thing. Using your creative asset management software to track your instruments.

Making music can be easier with your asset management tools. Less time setting up and tuning, more time jamming!

microphones

You can link all of your instruments to leads and amps and speakers, but getting it right is probably most important for microphones.

It can feel shameful to have the build up, to start owning the nerves, to bound onstage ready to yell “Good evening *insert place here*!” Only to be met with either silence or feedback.

This issue is easily avoided with cheap, simple asset management software. You can link up your microphones with the correct speakers and the correct wires.

Using different mics for different songs? You can even link these mics to your songs or your backing singers.

guitars

One of the fun ones. Know your stratocasters from your telecasters with asset inventory maintenance.

There are a lot of different ways to track guitars, but with asset maintenance management software, such as our app, you can track when the last time you tuned your guitar was.

Link your guitar to your capos, your amps, your leads, your loop pedals. Make sure it’s all plugged in onstage so that when you’re waving to the screaming fans, all you have to do is pick up and shred those solos.

This all goes for bass guitars as well, track them for your tour, and when you’re packing up, know your baby is safe and sound in the van without double, triple, and quadruple checking.

Now you can know she’s onstage waiting for you while you’re backstage, so sit back and have another drink.

Want a more futuristic look? Add a QR tag to the body. Want to keep it simple? Get a smaller asset tag. It’s just that simple.

drums

This one’s more complicated, but still made simple with our asset management software.

Track each of the drums individually and then link them all together. This way, you can know which ones have and which haven’t been tuned or tightened.

Link the set to setlists, so you know exactly which drums you need onstage for when you’re playing hard and sweating to your crowd.

Now you can even transport them in different vans, making things quicker and easier. Instead of one by one adding a drum to the back of the van, separate them and know they’re all in the right place with a simple check of the app.

Plug in and play

So you’ve tracked your tech. You’ve added your instruments. Now what?

Bring the band together.

Link everything together so that you know where it all is at all times. Set up rehearsals and concerts alike in a matter of moments

All there is left to do… Is play!

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started