But asset management has far broader implications for a company than simply identifying workstations that may need to be upgraded. It's a key tool for aligning IT with strategic enterprise goals. Financial managers can manage procurement more efficiently in an environment of ever-shortening PC life cycles. They also can control and accurately forecast leasing costs by tracking expiration dates and modifications to equipment.
Similar control is possible for software licenses.
Some companies turn to asset-management tools when they try to improve the efficiency of their help desk. Reengineering the help desk is a major initiative at Household Technology and Services, the Prospect Heights, Ill., IT division of consumer finance company Household International. And asset management is a critical part of that effort, says Rick Erickson, the division's director. Since Household already has a substantial investment in Computer Associates' Unicenter TNG, it plans to add the TNG Asset Management Option. Asset management is a critical part of that because we need to know when that person calls in what their real situation is.