EZasset's Blog!

That’s what it takes for a business of any size and value to make asset and inventory management work. Everyone has to be on the same page, exactly on the same page. As in same letter, of the same word of the same sentence. If one person does something different then the rest, or enters data in a different way: it all falls apart. And when it falls apart it costs money.

Lots of money.

There’s a saying “anyone who says something is foolproof underestimates a fool.” That is true, but to put it in a much nicer light: What makes sense for one, is complete nonsense to another.

For example: A laser jet printer. One individual enters it as LJ 2525, thinking that in no way could anyone mistake LJ for anything but Laser Jet. Of course, LJ could refer to anything from long johns to Leonard Jackson! But Laser Jet is a generally agreed upon term defining a certain type of copier.

The hardest goal of any inventory assessment is to get everyone on the same page. But once that happens, things run so smoothly it is ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous.

The challenge for any and all IT asset managers then is to get everyone on board with the changes.

Here’s what it takes:

Two way communication! Involve as many people as possible in order to communicate to everyone what is going to happen.

Never follow an IT inventory with budget cuts or lay offs. Think of the negative associations that one brings with it!

Involve the Influencers. Get those individuals who influence others on board with you. If they buy into inventory management, then the entire office will. How great would that be!?!?

Explain often the benefits. In fact explain everything as often as possible to the company. Make yourselves indispensable in the office.

Send out your most sociable employees. The last thing you need is anti-social Alex, in a fit of Mountain Dew fueled fury, to complete negate what credibility you had earned. Bottom line: If you can swing it, hire on some incredibly personable temps.

Put your foot down. This is important to the companies bottom line. Pick a few fights, and win them. As Machiavelli said if it comes to it: “It is better to be feared than loved.” At least other employees will know not to mess with you when it comes to IT assets!

Put in place a simple, self explanatory, and easy to use management system. Why make it impossible for other employees to request, order, track, etc their assets? That just makes the IT department even less popular!

So there you go! Put these into place immediately and rock out!