automate it asset management with mobile applications
TRANSCRIPT
Automate IT Asset Management Processes with Mobile Applications
Mobile Reach
• The Who, Why, and What around Mobile ITAM
• Some Mobile ITAM Use Cases and Examples
• Calculating the Value and determining ROI for Mobile ITAM
• Making choices in your Mobile ITAM solution
• Ensuring an optimal implementation and ongoing success
Agenda
Best Practices for ITAM strive to:
Ø Reduce IT-‐related costs, save money Ø Gain better control of IT assets Ø Reduce Risk Ø Increase accountability of IT assets Ø Improve performance of IT assets Ø Improved productivity of IT assets
Mobile ITAM solutions address:
Ø Improving efficiency and productivity of ITAM workforce Ø Gathering more accurate information in a more timely fashion Ø Providing real-‐time access to trustworthy data Ø Enabling well-‐informed decision-‐making
ITAM Best Practices
Ø Receiving Dock staff
Ø Equipment Installers
Ø Daily Asset Management (MAC, Shipping, etc)
Ø Field Service staff (break/fix incidents, replacing equipment)
Ø Warehouse/Building Inventory Personnel
Ø System managers, monitoring status
Who is the mobile ITAM Workforce?
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Mobile ITAM
Asset Receive
RF ID
INTERNETCellular Carrier
WiFi
Sync Cradle
CMDBWiFi
Cradle Connection
WiFi
LAN Connection
LAN
Cellular
RFID
Dashboards
Bulk / Mass Move
Physical Inventory
Asset Repository
LAN
LAN
Business Benefits
Improved worker efficiency
Ability to capture more complete and more accurate information
Generating a more accurate and robust IT asset repository
Allowing for better ITAM decisions AND higher productivity
} Effective ITAM depends on trustworthy information • Asset locations, statuses, owners, disposition, etc • Better decisions require more and better data
} Better data requires more accurate data capture • Automate data capture as much as possible • Provide tools for users to capture information once, at point of
action
} ITAM workers are often mobile • Receiving, moving, installing, updating equipment, tracking, etc
Mobile ITAM is key to an effective overall ITAM strategy!
Why implement Mobile ITAM?
Ø Receive and tag assets Ø Create asset records Ø Track/assign equipment
Ø Manage inventory in warehouses
Ø Manage Incidents & Work Orders
Ø Issue and Deliver equipment
Ø Perform physical Inventory
Ø Perform cycle counting of bulk inventory
Ø Implement Field Service operations
Ø Inspect / Maintain equipment in the field
Ø Transfer equipment with Electronic Signature
Some Mobile ITAM Use Cases
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Ø Tasks: • Installing Equipment • Managing individual and group moves / relocations
• Tracking ownership of equipment • Keeping the asset database up to date
Ø Process: • Pull up existing asset record • Make changes to record • Save record
Install / Move / Add / Change
Ø Receive Serialized Fixed Assets as they enter the environment
1. Associate received item with outstanding PO
2. Assign unique Asset ID to each trackable piece of equipment received
3. Tag the asset with Asset ID 4. Create asset records in the CMDB (or
other IT Asset database)
Receiving Assets
Ø Tasks: • Tracking Trouble Tickets • Assigning / Re-‐assigning tickets • Fixing/Replacing broken equipment
• Updating work orders, incidents, and associated asset records
Ø Process: • Find / open /create Incident ticket, work order
• Populate information • Save ticket / work order
Incidents and Work Orders
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Dispose / Decommission
Ø Set status and status reason
Ø Quick Scan each asset
• Asset tag
• And/or serial number
Ø ITAM workflow updates
each unique asset record
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Physical Inventory
Ø Select location to perform
inventory
Ø Scan all items in that
location
Ø Reconciliation occurs at the
database/CMDB
Ø Remember that mobile solutions are process improvements
Ø Consider the current inefficiencies in your ITAM processes
Ø Estimate or identify the process improvements expected or achieved with Mobile ITAM
Ø Calculate the value of those improvements
Mobile ITAM improves your existing ITAM processes to create a better functioning ITAM operation
Valuing Mobile ITAM
1. Identify mobile ITAM users
2. Map out existing processes • Identify inefficiencies, duplication of effort, data capture problems, etc • Associate a cost to all of these problems & inefficiencies
3. Map out new processes • Remove or reduce inefficiencies • Improve data capture accuracy and completeness
4. Monetize the results • Identify time savings à convert to $$ • Identify data and accuracy improvements à convert to $$
Calculating Mobile ITAM ROI
Ø What Mobile Device(s) to Use?
Ø Barcode and/or RFID?
Ø Point solution or mobile platform?
Ø Build or Buy?
Implementation Choices…
Ø Mobile Device choice • Form factor
• Company policy / standards • Wireless capability
• Ruggedness
• Price • Barcode or RFID scanning
What Mobile Device to Use?
Ø Barcode • Relatively inexpensive • Point and shoot scanning • Easy to identify an individual asset / tag • Best for performing tasks for specific assets • Tedious for reading a group of asset tags
Ø RFID • Relatively expensive • Line of sight not required for scanning • Very quickly read a whole group of RFID tags • Passive versus Active • Challenges in reading specific tags or ensuring a complete reading
Barcode and/or RFID?
Ø Point Solution • Solves one specific problem • Integrates to one specific application • Is often packaged in with your ITAM product • Usually “easier” to acquire and pinpoint features
Ø Platform • Better overall mobility features • More flexible to address future needs • Scalable to other areas of your organization • Usually more valuable, if you find the right fit
Point Solution or Platform?
Ø Buy • You want to take advantage of mobility experts • You do not have mobile software dev expertise • You have a deadline or compressed timeline • Your environment is highly dynamic
Ø Build • You have, or can easily get, mobile experts/developers • You have very specific and unusual requirements • You have a homogeneous environment • You expect to retain the solution (and developer!) for a
significant amount of time
Build or Buy?
Ø Prioritize your Needs first, Wants second
Ø Balance Needs of today with Needs of tomorrow
Ø Put measurements and success criteria in place
Ø Plan out a Phased implementation
Ø Learn from both your successes and failures
Recipe for Long-‐term Success!
Ø Mobile ITAM is all about process improvement • What inefficiencies or problems can be resolved with a
mobile solution? • Prioritize the solutions based on relative value • Focus on functionality first, sizzle second
Ø Mobile Solutions change the way you work • Don’t forget about the people factor • Involve the end-‐users when designing the solution • Simplicity in the user interface / experience is KEY
Focusing on Needs
• Is your chosen mobile ITAM Solution: Ø Easy to configure and administer?
Ø Simple and Intuitive to your mobile users?
Ø Well-‐integrated with your existing tools and programs?
Ø Able to meet or exceed your improvement expectations?
Ø Easily scalable to meet your future requirements?
If so, then you are well on your way to a successful implementation and deployment!
Ensure Ongoing Success
• Mobile ITAM Solutions allow you to achieve process improvements and best practice goals
• Mobile ITAM Solutions change the way your workers do their jobs and must be planned out carefully
• An effective Mobile ITAM Solution will improve workforce efficiency, database integrity, and IT asset accountability
• A good Mobile ITAM Solution will provide ROI in less than six months
Summary
