What is an Asset Management System?

What is an asset management system? In the simplest, most straightforward terms, it’s any process a company or organization uses to keep track of the equipment and inventory vital to the day-to-day operation of their business.

The Asset Management Council is a nonprofit organization that provides information and guidance on asset management across multiple industries and roles in its native Australia and overseas. They define an asset management system as “a set of complex processes and interactions to plan and control asset-related activities.”

There are many standards and certifications for asset tracking, including ISO 55001, an asset management system standard, “the main objective of which is to help organizations manage the lifecycle of assets more effectively,” according to the certification body PECB.

Implementing the ISO 55001 standard, PECB states, can help companies and organizations control their daily activities, achieve higher returns with their assets, reduce costs and mitigate risk. Additionally, establishing the standard raises the bar on performance and effectiveness, and its benefits apply to any fixed asset in any organization in any industry.

What is The Purpose of an Asset Management System?

These days, a significant percentage of companies are doing more with less – requiring staff to take on a higher volume of work without adding headcount.

The urgent matters and assorted fires that occur over a day or week push asset management further down the list of priorities. The purpose of an asset management system, or asset system, is to help companies keep track of fixed assets like IT equipment, industrial or manufacturing resources, vehicles, and other tools related to an organization's ability to run operations and earn profit.

Perhaps the strongest argument for an asset management system is to imagine what operations would be like without one.

Without an accurate, real-time, organized system for tracking assets, a company has little recourse when items inevitably are lost or stolen. It's far more challenging to track preventive maintenance on equipment – that is, if the company is even scheduling that service. Depreciation calculations may contain errors and result in costly fees or other penalties at tax time.

What should be a simple task – identifying the location of an item – requires phone calls or sifting through paperwork. Records are often scattered throughout the office or lost altogether. Budgets decrease while managers must resort to guesswork about their needs.

An asset management system eliminates guesswork and enables organizations to account for their fixed assets – from anywhere and at any time.

Ultimately, this means their balance sheets match up with their records, and ghost assets (assets that have been lost or stolen and for which the company is still paying insurance) no longer drain the bottom line. Companies that don't effectively manage their assets typically lose considerable amounts of time and money before they begin to seek a better solution.

What is Asset Management Software?

Techopedia defines asset management software as “a dedicated application which is used to record and track an asset throughout its lifecycle, from procurement to disposal. It provides an organization with information like where certain assets are located, who is using them, how they are being utilized and details about the asset.”

Asset management software consolidates all critical tasks associated with tagging and tracking into a single platform accessible in many cases through web and mobile apps. The software may address several asset management types, including fixed, enterprise, infrastructure, public, IT, and digital asset management.

Asset management system software streamlines what could be a daunting task.

What are The Benefits of Using Asset Management Solutions?

Through its robust functionality and accuracy, the software provides organizations peace of mind and eliminates frustration. Asset management system software is a vital tool for today's businesses. The software should be powerful but simple to use and customizable. After all, no two companies are the same. Your asset management software should be able to adjust to your needs, not the other way around.

The benefits of an asset management system include everything mentioned above, plus:

• The ability to track and manage an asset’s entire lifecycle, from initial acquisition to periodic maintenance to phase-out from inventory
• Improved compliance through accurate and comprehensive recordkeeping and easy-to-compile reports
• The ability to monitor asset use and make improvements if necessary
• The ability to keep up with preventive maintenance and routine inspections, therefore preventing expensive repairs and security risks from poorly maintained equipment
• The ability to maximize equipment lifecycles, therefore staving off early replacements
• The ability to ensure that assets are fulfilling their necessary function
• Greater transparency in asset management, leading to increased accuracy and accountability
• Reduced waste and increased profitability
• The potential for enhanced brand reputation (due to reduced risk related to asset ownership, increased efficiency and effectiveness, and improved profitability)

An asset management system makes it far easier for organizations to schedule and adhere to routine audits, which provide an accurate and real-time picture of the fixed assets in their respective inventories. A typical fixed asset audit may contain details like purchase date, serial number, manufacturer, model, lifecycle cost including maintenance and repair, present value, number of each type of fixed asset, locations, and estimated lifespans.

Not only do audits provide a picture of the present, but they also help companies prepare for the future. Based on facts, they can make decisions about the assets they will need in the coming year. Subsequently, they can avoid under or over-stocking assets and manage their resources responsibly.

A cloud-based approach to asset management offers several distinct advantages, like:

• Data protection: Data stored in the cloud remains intact even if the unexpected happens – for example, weather incidents or malware on your network.
• Flexibility: Some asset/inventory management products limit the data fields users may enter. Customizable cloud-based systems provide the customization and flexibility every organization needs to meet its unique demands.
• Scalability: Not every asset management software product will accommodate your organization as it grows. Cloud-based software, however, is completely scalable and designed to grow with you.
• Integrations: Some cloud-based software products facilitate easy system integration and give you complete visibility into your fixed assets and inventory, keeping your operations running smoothly.

Remote asset management is the future wave in the IT asset management industry. According to research firm Markets and Markets, “The remote asset management market size is projected to grow from $16.5 billion in 2020 to $32.6 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.6 percent during the forecast period.”

How to Find The Best Asset Management Software for Your Needs

While asset management systems should help companies and organizations cut costs, not every system offers equal benefits. Freeware asset management software may appear attractive at first glance, but it may present unwanted issues for your organization. In many cases, freeware asset management software is a free version of a previous software program. Using outdated software can be more trouble than it's worth. Freeware is often also limited in terms of the level of customization available. What you get is what you get.

Additionally, freeware may contain ads or bugs, which software companies sometimes have to add to offer their software at no charge. Freeware may also be difficult to use, and perhaps most importantly, you're unlikely to have the luxury of tech support. Any issues you encounter are yours to fix.

Your best bet is to find a cloud-based asset management system with robust features, scalability, flexibility and customization, and an intuitive interface. The great news is that you can get all those items on your wish list at a cost-effective price.

Asset Panda's Asset Tracking Software

With Asset Panda's free Android and iOS apps that sync with the cloud, you can access such data as check-in/check-out, maintenance and repair schedules, and history. You can pinpoint an asset's last scanned location, who should have it, and its complete history within seconds.

And our built-in barcode scanner eliminates the need to purchase additional equipment that requires maintenance and replacement. And Asset Panda entitles you to an unlimited number of users so that you can bring your entire team on board.

The tool is completely customizable, enabling you to create your own fields, labels, notifications, actions, electronic signature requirements, and reports. You also may tie your work orders to assets logged into the Asset Panda tool. Pull up, review and share the information your accounting and compliance team needs, ensuring that your data is accurate and up to date. You'll get the entire lifecycle of every one of your vital assets in the palm of your hand.

Give Asset Panda's asset management software a try with a free 14-day trial (no credit card required)! You’ll receive full access to user guides, video tutorials, free mobile apps, and call-in and live chat support from our fantastic support team.