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The Best Computer Inventory Management Software for 2023
by Josh M. COOIn today's fast-paced business environment, effective inventory management is crucial for the success of any organization. With the advancement of technology, computer inventory management software has become an invaluable tool for businesses to streamline their inventory processes, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. This article will explore the best computer inventory management software options available for 2023. Whether you run a small business or a large enterprise, these software solutions can help you optimize your inventory management and take your business to new heights.
What is Computer Inventory Management Software?
Computer inventory management software is a powerful tool designed to help businesses track, manage, and control their inventory efficiently. It provides a centralized platform to monitor stock levels, track product movements, streamline purchasing processes, and generate insightful reports. This software automates various inventory-related tasks, reducing the need for manual data entry and minimizing errors. With real-time visibility into inventory levels, businesses can make informed decisions, optimize stock levels, prevent stockouts, and improve customer satisfaction.
Best computer inventory management software
Considering these selection criteria, I have compiled a list of tools that excel in identifying, logging, and maintaining computers within a company network.
For more information about these solutions, please refer to the following sections.
SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor is a comprehensive server and application monitoring solution that offers automated inventory management. This tool allows for effortless IT asset discovery and monitoring of over 1200 vendors, applications, servers, and databases through a user-friendly web-based GUI.
Key Features:
- Automatic IT asset discovery
- Dashboard for easy monitoring
- Reporting capabilities
- Application infrastructure dependency mapping
Why do I recommend it?
SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor provides a robust asset documentation system, offering a detailed list of servers and the software packages they host. It continuously monitors server performance by tracking key metrics such as disk space, CPU, memory, and network interfaces. It compares resource utilization against known capacity and alerts users in case of resource shortage. The tool also tracks software interactions, services, and server resources, enabling quick identification of performance issues.
The dashboard allows you to monitor recent configuration changes, hardware additions or removals, and overall environment changes. Additionally, software inventory reports provide comprehensive insights into infrastructure updates, installed updates, resource usage, and unused hardware.
The platform includes application infrastructure dependency mapping, offering a visual display of application dependencies and identifying potential issues across the environment.
Who is it recommended for?
SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor is highly recommended for large businesses with multiple on-premises servers hosting numerous software packages. It is also suitable for mid-sized businesses, although it may offer more inventory monitoring and management functions than smaller businesses require.
Pros:
- Generates a list of network servers
- Creates software inventory for each device
- Monitors server activity and identifies application dependencies
- Tracks resource usage against capacity limits
- Raises alerts for problem detection
Cons:
- Not available as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) package
SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor is an excellent choice for enterprises seeking an automated inventory management tool with comprehensive monitoring capabilities. It is compatible with Windows and pricing starts at $1,813 (£1,377).
Atera is a cloud-based platform that offers a comprehensive set of tools for remote monitoring and management of client systems. Its core monitoring service revolves around maintaining an inventory of equipment at each client site, enabling technicians to effectively track computer inventory.
Key Features:
- Optional network discovery and mapping service
- Automated patch management
- Multi-tenanted architecture for managing multiple client systems
- Performance problem alerts
Why do I recommend it?
Atera is specifically designed for remote monitoring and management of IT assets. The platform allows simultaneous monitoring of multiple sites and offers a multi-tenanted edition for managed service providers, ensuring data separation for each client. It scans each enrolled network, creating a comprehensive inventory of network devices and endpoints, including both hardware and software. The software inventory serves as the foundation for license and patch management. The asset monitoring service constantly checks the status of network devices and endpoints, proactively detecting resource exhaustion or component failure.
Atera's computer inventory services can be enhanced with an add-on network mapping service, which automatically tracks connections between computers and network devices.
Who is it recommended for?
Atera caters to IT departments and managed service providers. Being a cloud-based subscription system, technicians can access the console from anywhere using a standard web browser, even from home. The pricing is per technician per month, providing all the functions enjoyed by large businesses. Therefore, Atera is particularly beneficial for independent support specialists and small managed service providers.
Pros:
- Remote management of multiple sites simultaneously
- Multi-tenanted feature for MSPs
- Automatic detection and recording of all IT assets at a site
- Patch management and software inventory maintenance
- Automated performance monitoring
Cons:
- Additional cost for network topology mapping
As a cloud-based service, Atera offers the convenience of accessing the console through any standard browser, allowing technicians from multiple sites or remote locations to collaborate. It offers three plans that include team and business management tools. Atera also provides integrations with third-party tools, expanding your system monitoring capabilities.
ManageEngine Endpoint Central is an asset management system that effectively tracks both hardware and software. It offers management capabilities for desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and removable storage devices.
Key Features:
- Hardware management
- Software management
- Remote access
- Automated onboarding
Why do we recommend it?
ManageEngine Endpoint Central is an asset management system designed for workstations and servers running Windows, macOS, or Linux. The higher-tier plan also includes management of iOS and Android mobile devices. This comprehensive solution creates hardware and software inventories, and provides automated performance monitoring with alerts. It offers patch management and software license management services. The system also provides technician tools for remote device access. Endpoint Central is available in versions suitable for monitoring a single site or a wide area network (WAN).
The tool's task automation services facilitate OS and configuration standardization, and include a library of software profile templates. This enables the creation of an automated onboarding process that applies an OS image and installs all designated software for a specific user group. The software management system extends to patch management, automatically scanning for updates. You can define maintenance windows in the management console, and the service will queue patches for automatic installation during the next available window.
All editions of Endpoint Central include mobile device management, in addition to computer management. The top-tier plan, UEM, provides consistent monitoring for all device types, while lower versions handle mobile devices with separate processes.
Who is it recommended for?
ManageEngine offers a Free edition that allows monitoring of up to 25 endpoints, making it an attractive choice for small businesses seeking basic functionality. The paid versions are well-suited for mid-sized and large organizations, and there is an edition available for managed service providers. Endpoint Central can be deployed as software running on Windows Server, or accessed as a SaaS platform. The cloud version enables running a geographically dispersed technician team from a single account.
Pros:
- Optional security monitoring add-on
- Unified endpoint management, including iOS and Android devices
- Hardware warranty tracking
- Patch management and software license management
Cons:
- Does not provide network topology mapping
ManageEngine Endpoint Central offers a free version for up to 25 devices, along with three paid plans. The higher two plans support multiple sites. The service is available as a SaaS platform, but you also have the option to download the software onto a Windows Server.
Choosing Computer Inventory management software
When it comes to computer inventory management tools like SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor and Atera offer a seamless experience for monitoring configurations.
However, if you're looking for a lower-cost tool with more limited features, Spiceworks Network Inventory is a reliable and free alternative, especially with its network autodiscovery capabilities. We recommend trying out multiple tools before making a purchase decision to ensure you find the right solution for your environment.
Computer Inventory Management FAQs:
What is computer inventory management?
Computer inventory management is a strategy that involves maintaining a record of computers owned by a business and capturing relevant attributes such as make, model, and operating system version. The inventory serves as a central document store and requires regular updates. It also includes managing software inventories.
How do you digitize inventory?
Digitizing inventory offers several advantages over paper-based systems. Computerized records take up less physical space and are easier to sort through. They are less prone to misplacement, damage, or loss, especially with proper backups in place. Computerized inventory management systems can be integrated with scanners to automate updates and ensure real-time accuracy.
What is the difference between hardware inventory and software inventory?
Hardware inventory pertains to listing and detailing the attributes of each physical computer on a network. It typically includes information about the operating system version. On the other hand, software inventory focuses on documenting all installed software on each computer, including the operating system. Software inventory is valuable for license management, providing an overview of software packages installed within the business. It also supports patch management systems.
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About Josh M. 
COO
0 connections, 0 recommendations, 5 honor points.Joined APSense since, April 7th, 2023, From Texas, United States.
Created on Jul 17th 2023 02:36. Viewed 95 times.
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