Review of the top AV asset management software options
With the advancements in technology, audio visual systems have become an integral part of many organizations. Be it for conferencing, events or internal communications, installing ceiling speakers and other AV equipment enables seamless audio visual experiences. However, with the growing size and complexity of modern AV systems, manual methods of tracking equipment locations and maintenance is not feasible. This is where AV asset management software comes into play. In this blog post, we will review some of the top AV asset management software options along with their key features and benefits.
Snipe-IT
Snipe-IT is one of the most popular open source AV asset management solutions available. Some key features of Snipe-IT include:
Asset tracking: Track all AV equipment including projectors, speakers, microphones etc. and maintain records of purchase details, warranty, location, assigned users etc.
Check-in/check-out: Staff can check equipment in and out for maintenance or deployment. This ensures accountability for expensive hardware.
Barcoding: Snipe-IT supports barcoding of equipment for easy identification and tracking. Barcodes can be scanned during check-in/check-out.
Reporting: Detailed reports on equipment usage, check-in/check-out history, depreciation and more can be generated. This aids in audits and decision making.
Customizable fields: Additional fields can be customized as per the organization's needs for tracking unique asset details.
Role based access: Granular role based access controls are available to restrict access as per user roles like administrators, technicians etc.
mobile app: A free mobile app is available for iOS and Android to allow accessing asset management features on the go.
Being open source, Snipe-IT is free to use and highly customizable. However, it requires self-hosting and technical expertise for installation and maintenance.
Asset Panda
Asset Panda is a leading SaaS based AV asset management solution targeted towards medium to large scale deployments. Some of its key features include:
Intuitive dashboard: The customizable dashboard provides snapshot of key metrics like equipment check-ins/outs, upcoming maintenances, purchase orders etc.
Barcode scanning: Support for barcode/QR code scanning for quick check-in/outs using mobile devices.
Asset hierarchy: Assets can be arranged in location based user configurable hierarchy for better organization.
Lifecycle management: Track equipment from purchase to deployment to maintenance to disposal with automated reminders.
Custom forms: Forms for work orders, purchase requests etc. can be customized as per workflows.
Reportingcenter: Detailed reports on equipment usage, costs, suppliers and more to analyze ROI.
Mobile app: Strong mobile app for iOS and Android enables field staff to manage assets on the go.
API access: REST API enables integration with third party systems like finance, HR etc.
Being SaaS based, Asset Panda handles all infrastructure, updates and support at an affordable monthly/annual subscription cost.
Assetigo
Assetigo is another powerful SaaS based option for advanced AV asset lifecycle management. Some of its key capabilities are:
RFID/NFC support: Supports active and passive RFID/NFC tags for automatic equipment identification and tracking.
Geotagging: GPS coordinates of equipment location can be captured and mapped for easy physical locating.
Calendars: Supports synchronization with google, office 365 etc. for reservation of rooms and equipment.
Helpdesk: Integrated helpdesk module for logging service requests, tracking issues and generating reports.
Purchase automation: Automated workflows for purchase requisition, approval and PO generation.
Equipment specifications: Detailed specs, manuals and documents can be attached to equipment records.
Usage Analytics: Analytics dashboard provides insights into equipment usage patterns, idle assets etc.
RTLS integration: Offers tight integration with leading RTLS solutions for real-time equipment location tracking.
Custom workflows: End to end customizable workflows from planning to retiring assets.
Assetigo offers powerful analytics capabilities along with robust integrations for advanced AV asset optimization.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while open source solution like Snipe-IT provide high customizability at no cost, SaaS based solutions like Asset Panda and Assetigo offer complete management of the infrastructure at an affordable subscription fee. Selection depends on the organization size, budget, integration requirements and lifecycle management needs. Proper AV asset management not only ensures accountability but also enables data driven decision making for installing ceiling speakers and optimization of expensive audio visual resources.
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