Hands off my assets: 6 asset management packages tested

Track-It

 Asset management
Track It! is sold in three flavours, Single User, Standard (which run on MS Access), and Enterprise (which is MS SQL/Oracle based). We only reviewed the Standard Edition. Track-It uses a set of integrated modules and add-ons designed to manage and control your IT assets. Modules include Help Desk, Purchasing, Inventory/Auditing, Library, Training, and a Graphics and Reporting module. Track-It is very strong in the help desk area allowing for users to log their own service requests and search the solutions database to review the progress on their request without having to tie up the support staff. Field technicians can also have access to all the Track-It modules by making use of the full Web based versions.

Setting up the inventory was fairly straightforward: we had to install client software on each of our clients. You can also use logon scripts and disks to audit assets.

Track-It also includes a suite of about 100 predefined reports and Crystal Reports 9.0 to allow report customisation or new report generation.

There are also a large number of other modules available:

  • Agent (Alert), which allows auto notification
  • Receive that allows Help Desk work orders to be submitted via free form e-mail
  • Sync that allows technicians with PDAs to open, edit, update, and close work orders and sync up to Track It using MS Outlook
  • Web provides you will Web access to all Track It modules
  • Self Service which allows end users to submit help desk work orders over the Web, check the status of their work orders, and interrogate Track It's knowledgebase
  • Self Service Plus uses SST technology to automatically generate a work order if a solution to a customer query is not found
  • Remote Control allows Track It help desk technicians to take over remote PCs to troubleshoot them
  • Deploy which allows you to distribute software to Windows-based PCs throughout your entire organisation

All the components that make up Track-It are tightly integrated which makes it more cost effective. From featuring a basic inventory for both hardware and software, Track-It also features a library, which can be used to monitor what assets have been borrowed out and when they are due back.

There is also a training component where you can set up courses whether they be in-house training or external as well as assign courses to users. Then there's a help desk module that tracks outstanding requests for services such problems and installations.

Product Track-It
Price $1835 for 5 Users, 100 nodes and Crystal Reports
Vendor Intuit/Pacen
Phone 02 9816 1294
Web www.pacen.com.au
 
Interoperability
Good hardware and software support.
Futureproofing ½
Tightly integrated product, but limited in terms of expansion.
ROI
Works out relatively inexpensive as per node.
Service ½
Telephone, e-mail, and Web support. Specialist and administrator training, onsite installation and onsite support.
Rating

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Talkback 4 comments

  1. Geez you guys, do you think you could have included appropriate candidates for this topic? Where is Marimba, Landesk, Paradigm, Tivoli? The fact that these were not included make this inaccurate! Anonymous -- 15/04/04

    Geez you guys, do you think you could have included appropriate candidates for this topic? Where is Marimba, Landesk, Paradigm, Tivoli?
    The fact that these were not included make this inaccurate!

  2. Guess Mike in previous comment does not see the difference in IT asset management and device management. Bigger issue in the items listed is these are all legacy software solutions. Difficult to integrate, upgrade headaches and very intrusive to your en Anonymous -- 18/08/04

    Guess Mike in previous comment does not see the difference in IT asset management and device management. Bigger issue in the items listed is these are all legacy software solutions. Difficult to integrate, upgrade headaches and very intrusive to your environment. Look at products that will grow and support you in the future and link easily to enterprise systems. Look at incontroltechnology.com

  3. other options Stuart McDonell -- 10/11/05

    Some others to think about include Centennial and Opsware. This doesn't end the list by any means. BMC-Marimba and Tivoli do ITAM also. The Opsware solution ATE (originating in Tangram) was the leader for desktop inventory. It supports all major platforms and allows Lifecycle management. Ask vendors to do a proof of concept, some won't. A proven track record of integrating to similar systems to your own is also important. Regards.

  4. Sofware Asset Management Review Petar -- 15/03/07

    We have 2 software packages BAM (Biomedical Asset Management) and NAMES (naval asset management ).
    We would like to be reviewed. How can we have you review our software?

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