Asset and Inventory Management

[Soulfish]

Looking at asset and inventory management and was just wondering how everyone here does it? I've read lots of threads and done lots of searches on the subject, but I'm interested to see if there are any solutions people are using that I haven't considered or if people have any opinions on what we're looking at.

Essentially we're looking for a full asset management system for everything including IT equipment. One that we're liking the look of is Asset Management Software and Asset Tracking, but unfortunately its not cheap. Our director of finance has used AssetGuard in the past and likes it.

Whatever system we use we'd like it to be able to read in barcode data from some form of scanner (the parago system uses ipods/iphones to do this) to either create new assets or update asset information while out and about the site. We really don't want to use an excel spreadsheet and unfortunately due to a million and one other tasks as the moment dont have time to build/develop our own system.

So what does everyone else use? Any good systems, and any we should stay away from?

[Soulfish]

No one does any form of asset and inventory management?

[glennda]

All our camera's and stuff which we loan out are done through eclipse.net as the library had it and a spare scanner! then we use GLPI for everything else - which i presume you can use a barcode with as it all does is appear as a keyboard doesn't it?

Plus we use fog which collects the data off the machines using the client and reports it back to the server - after every new update i extract the inventory and then change to fit the glpi import and import it directly into the mysql database (i heard this was easier then configuring thrid party plugins for all that sort of stuff!)

[bossman]

@soulfish:

This may be of interest to you : Purchase Asset Management Software.

Doesn't have the network scanning tool but does have barcode scanning built in and this is what i am using this year along with asset tags which will make the whole process a little less daunting.

Bought my barcode scanner off amazon for £30.00 and it will be used this summer when I do a full IT audit.

[timbo343]

Soulfish, we just use an access database but we only have about 540 machines, plus we only note down anything over a set amount (guidance provided through county). Have you thought about spiceworks, that can work well in your favour too. We also have a excel sheet with all the machines on and the locations with what licensed software is installed on them and then the image database is an access database which tells the technicians what they need to install in the relevant rooms and all works well.

[rh91uk]

John, how about FMS on a laptop over Wifi with a barcode scanner? That's what I am planning to do .....

[Soulfish]

We're not using FMS, so that's out. @bossman - that looks ideal. I'll have to download the trial

[plexer]

We use the asset management portion of op smartdesk.

[jayemm]

We use the Asset Management part of Sitehelpdesk, Help Desk Software, web browser based software solutions. This integrates with the fault logging, release management of this product too.

I have seen other places use WASP, excel spreadsheets, access databases and I have seen that KeepKidsSafe the company behind a first day absence contact system have made one too.

[Soulfish]

Thanks all. Getting in contact with a few of the suggested companies for pricing. I'll let you know who we end up going with and why

[vikpaw]

We use the asset management portion of op smartdesk.

That's what i was going to suggest. The new asset management which is being launched at the moment promises to be awesome, and a tidy price considering it comes with a funky helpdesk.

I can't think of anything better than when a IT helpdesk request comes in, and the system automatically populates the hardware in use at that location.

Worth considering i think jon

[ccp]

We are looking at Kaseya to take control of all our assets and helpdesk system.

[tj2419]

John, how about FMS on a laptop over Wifi with a barcode scanner? That's what I am planning to do .....

Are you talking about Equipment Register in SIMS? Have you used it before? Can you use a barcode scanner with it? Cheers

[MicrodigitUK]

I use GLPI works realy well. Also about to start using it as a ICT support ticket system.

[timbo343]

@Soulfish have a look at the DELL KACE Thingy :P