IT asset management can do wonders for your company. It can improve security, expedite digital transformation, and accurately forecast IT budgets. As IT asset management adapts to the convergence of hardware and software, vendors are increasingly offering ITAM practices with partners who prioritize vendor revenue over end users. It’s important to keep in mind that enterprise independence should be the top consideration when selecting an ITAM provider.
Independence is the top priority.
RAY ALLEN was founded on the principle that retaining independence leads to a more well-informed enterprise. Creating central data repositories for asset management allows leadership to make better decisions for the future of their enterprise. Rather than encouraging a team to over-purchase software and hardware from a vendor, an ITAM provider should allow the enterprise access to clear usage reports. Providing custom reporting and unbiased information about your operational expenditure allows you to make the best purchasing decisions for your company.
Losing ownership of the IT asset management practice means sacrificing enterprise independence. It’s often difficult or impossible for vendor-supplied ITAM tools to manage competitor data. Even if a vendor tool could manage all hardware and software, would that be the best solution for an enterprise? It’s unlikely, as providing competitor purchasing information to a vendor could jeopardize relationships with other partners. Retaining ownership of all data – from every vendor, partner, and OEM – in one independent spot allows an enterprise leader to draw well-supported insights. Without a central source of truth, companies are left scrambling from tool to tool, translating data and wasting valuable time.
What should OEMs and Partners bring to the table?
At RAY ALLEN, we believe that OEMs and Partners should not own the ITAM process, but instead should commit to improving the process. Partners that offer online asset management tools do provide visibility into customer data. But creating high-cost switching barriers or limiting visibility into customer-owned data only hinders enterprise development. Partners who utilize independent tools as a value addition to the channel will encourage customer loyalty not through coercive tactics, but by providing a valuable contribution to an enterprise’s operations.
Visibility into IT asset management data should also be available to OEMs, who in return should commit to working closely with the enterprise to track asset Move-Add-Change-Delete (MACD) activity. Monitoring MACD changes to enterprise assets benefits both parties; it ensures accurate maintenance coverage for the enterprise while streamlining hardware and software renewals for OEMs upon contract expiration.
Data Independence and the Future of the Enterprise
RAY ALLEN has always prioritized data independence. Allowing clear access to what we call a Single Source of Truth allows enterprises to make decisions about OEM and partner relationships without skewed data. The convergence of enterprise hardware and software usage, as well as the expansion of the Internet of Things, makes independent ITAM more important than ever before.
If your ITAM process relies heavily on a vendor, you’re putting your enterprise at long-term risk. If you choose to change OEMs or partners in the future, your ITAM operations are terminated with a vendor contract, leaving you scrambling to implement brand new processes and decipher unclear data. Utilizing an independent tool allows an enterprise to transform with data guided insights, without unnecessary switching barriers. Ultimately, leadership should prioritize the enterprise’s future success over short-term convenience.
If you’re looking for ITAM practices that maintain your data independence, RAY ALLEN is ready to create solutions that work for your unique enterprise. Learn more here.
Todd Ringleman
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