speckytecky Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I keep (or try to keep up to date) an Excel spreadsheet of IT kit in the School. The Bursar want's a comprehensive database of all kit in the school built including IT but also other kit. What do other schools use to do this with? I'm not getting lumbered with adding all the other kit on by the way!!
rich_tech Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) When I started here it was Seton Assetguard, which was pretty horrible as it was basically just an msaccess database with a front end and it was quite cumbersome program wise, now we use spiceworks though, it has a dedicated virtual machine and trawls the network for devices and records their information. I add in anything manually thats not readily scannable on the network, such as cameras, tablets, whiteboards, I cant see why you cant make it inclusive of other items like televisions and such, its quite easily adaptable. It also does require a fair bit of fine tuning I will say, to turn off about 75% of its "helpful scanning features" to make it run better. Edited January 13, 2014 by rich_tech 1
unixman_again Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I've always used an OpenOffice spreadsheet. It's proven technology, having worked well in 5 different jobs so far. 1
sparkeh Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Spiceworks. Will automatically gather info for network connected devices and allows you add any custom items. You can give logins for other staff to add their own bits, eg the caretaker to add furniture etc. 2
localzuk Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 We use Asset Trac. Its not *too* bad, but is effectively just a fancy spreadsheet with a Windows Mobile 6.5 app that works with it for mobile scanning. We've had a few issues with that app though, so I'm not convinced by it. Asset Management - Asset Identification, Audits and Asset tracking software Spiceworks is great but nearly entirely useless for asset management from a finance point of view (so, including things like depreciation). 1
Valyyn Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 We used to use an access database for IT-only things, but about a year ago it was decided to have one big inventory for everything. After a bit of shopping round, we settled on School Asset Manager | The only complete asset management solution for education and are pleased with it. It uses QR codes and a mobile app (available on iTunes and the Google store at the moment) to add things and it's very quick and easy. You also have options for including things like photos or videos, plus it can track depreciation etc. too. I've no idea how it stacks up against others pricewise as I wasn't involved in that part of it, but it is a nice system 2
Gigabyte Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 We use Wasp Mobile Asset, a barcode based asset system. I've used plenty of different systems over the years and this is easily the best. The combination of barcode asset tags and a hand held scanner means no more fiddling with bits of paper. 1
speckytecky Posted January 13, 2014 Author Posted January 13, 2014 Thanks for that. Sent them an e-mail enquiry - no phone number given by me, within about 3 minutes I had a fairly hard sell telephone call. Way out of our price league anyhow as they make no differentiation between a school with 70 students - same price as if we had 1700! We used to use an access database for IT-only things, but about a year ago it was decided to have one big inventory for everything. After a bit of shopping round, we settled on School Asset Manager | The only complete asset management solution for education and are pleased with it. It uses QR codes and a mobile app (available on iTunes and the Google store at the moment) to add things and it's very quick and easy. You also have options for including things like photos or videos, plus it can track depreciation etc. too. I've no idea how it stacks up against others pricewise as I wasn't involved in that part of it, but it is a nice system
Oaktech Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Parago, Parago, Parago. We have trialled Wasp, Spiceworks, our own access database and Real Asset and without a doubt Parago is the most comprehensive, easiest to set up and most useful. We have almost every item in the school in it, including minibuses and the genie lift! 1
Nimon Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 I'm in a similar position to the OP - The school has a very creaky asset management spreadsheet updated by hand. I'd quite like to drag it out of the 1980's and maybe use RFID tags (so the little darlings can't deface a QR/Barcode). Another consideration is our school is very leery of subscription and would prefer a "buy once, only pay more for updates" approach.
Oaktech Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 I'm in a similar position to the OP - The school has a very creaky asset management spreadsheet updated by hand. I'd quite like to drag it out of the 1980's and maybe use RFID tags (so the little darlings can't deface a QR/Barcode). Another consideration is our school is very leery of subscription and would prefer a "buy once, only pay more for updates" approach. Then your option is pretty much just Real Asset manager as a buy once, comprehensive solution. 1
Nimon Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Then your option is pretty much just Real Asset manager as a buy once, comprehensive solution. Do you happen to know what the ballpark cost of that would be? I'm poking about their site now but I don't fancy asking for a quote right away and spend the next decade fending off a sales person Thanks for the steer though, it does look suitable (price dependent)
edutech4schools Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 I use Google forms which is free and keeps things simple.
Oaktech Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) Our last quote was £2500 in 2012, but we had a complex 3 academy setup with barcode labels, and handheld barcode scanners and a 10 editor licence, so it is likely to be cheaper for a standard school Edited January 16, 2014 by Oaktech
RichCowell Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 +1 for School Asset Manager - we used to try to maintain a spreadsheet but it was a nightmare... We had a demo of it a few years ago but it was too expensive, but they dropped their prices last year so we saw it again and went for it... It's handy just being able to make changes or additions from several devices anywhere... Happy to talk through it if you've got questions...
Satvir Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 At my old school we used Selectamark. You stick the stencil on your item, use a coloured compound to paint over the holes and then remove the stencil. We had our's with the school name, the post code and a sequential number. This number then refers back to a spreadsheet where you can have whatever information you want e.g. model number, serial number, room, floor, teacher, purchased from, price paid, warranty information etc. Quick and easy way to see the item number and refer back to the spreadsheet when moving equipment around school. With the compound, you can permanently security mark light plastics, dark plastics, aluminium (iPads, iMacs), glass etc. Great product at a great price and also has the added benefit of a visible deterrent from thieves as everything is security marked. I have tried using sharp implements to try and scratch off the stuff and it is very difficult and leaves a huge mess where you have tried to scrape it away. I have now purchased it at my new school and will be doing the same thing again. 1
GeekyPete Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) G-SmartAssets here, Asset Tracking, Asset Management Software, Stock Control Software | Barcoding Cloud based I think it was less that £100. Asset reports are very easy. Bulk upload available though a bit fiddly. So you can use your net tool to find out what it can and add the rest. Or upload your existing spreadsheet. We needed to add monitors, software, warranty and support agreements (Yes, remember these are assets too!), projectors, scanners, printers, Digital signage, infrastructure actives, UPS, KVM server room solutions, IWB, voting systems, Smart tables, Flasma, Laptop trolleys, tablets and more. All with the original cost, Date of purchase etc. More importantly the location too. Your network discovery tools just don't do the job. A good start but no more. You can also delegate access. So the SBM could have read only access of everything or you could give the Science dept the option to manage their own kit so if they move stuff they can update the register. You can also schedule Proactive and Preventative Maintenence tasks (Cleaning Projector filters every 1/2 term say) and it will track the tasks and you can pull off a maintenence history of any peice of kit. You can attach documents to assets. That could be the proof of purchase for a warranty or a Transfer of Waste note for WEEE disposal and it will also track what you decommission too. The only advice I would give is like any Database, think carefully about the structure before you start uploading assets. Particularly what fields to include for the assets and your location heirachy. Data Intergrity is everything. The good thing is if you are farming out the data capture this is made easier as once you have input a particular asset, (projector/epson/EX82) those will appear from a drop down list for subsequent entries. If you have a few people updating it, no problem. No sharing violations or checking out the spreadsheet for version management. Edited January 16, 2014 by GeekyPete 1
SchoolAssetManager Posted February 4, 2014 Posted February 4, 2014 Hi Rick, Thank you for your positive input regarding our product. Please feel free to push any responses that you get back to me if you need to, and indeed any questions that you may have! Thankyou, Dave
tj2419 Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 Hi We are currently comparing school asset manager and Parago. Both have strengths and weaknesses so struggling to make a decision. For people that use school asset manager. 1. How do you complete audits? Parago has a really nice feature on there app where you tick them off then get a report of any missing assets. As far as I can see SAM only gives you a list. 2. Do you like the location view? As far as I can see it's just the folder like view. For people that use Parago. 1. Do you hit the limit on the image upload? 500mb Thanks
hyb80 Posted March 23, 2014 Posted March 23, 2014 + School Asset Manager , just moved to it from asset i . QR code stickers and a mobile app so you don't need a 3rd party zapper. The reporting are excellent.
Jwzg Posted March 23, 2014 Posted March 23, 2014 school asset manager all the way I would like to get this in the US.
kevin_lane Posted March 23, 2014 Posted March 23, 2014 We currently use manige engine which also acts as a service desk
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