IT Asset Management Software Comparison: The 5 Most-Used Systems
Originally published by The Capterra IT Management Blog
Everyone wants to be popular.
Just ask Galinda. Out of the kindness of her heart, she offered unsolicited advice and a makeover to unpopular roommate Elphaba, future Wicked Witch of the West.
But despite all of Galinda’s tips and tricks for flirting and flouncing, Elphaba never quite fit the frothy pink mold of her roommate.
Something that works for you doesn’t always work for another, and this is also true when it comes to IT asset management (ITAM) software. Sure, an ITAM solution may promise to be your all-in-one everything answer, but after installation, you, like Elphaba, may find it doesn’t fit. You need something more than popular. You need it to work.
So what to do when you have little time to find the right solution?
Not to worry. Below, I’ve compared the five most used ITAM software solutions so that you can find the right fit for your business, not someone else’s.
CA IT Asset Manager
By far one of the most-used ITAM solutions with 1.8 million users, CA Technologies’CA IT Asset Manager is a clear, comprehensive favorite in the ITAM software space, offering cost structure optimization, software licensing management, and automated review approval and fulfillment.
Pros
CA IT Asset Manager includes a variety of management features, but a true highlight of this solution is its ability to help optimize cost structure and maximize the value of your IT assets. Apart from determining how much you’re paying in both hardware and software fees, CA IT Asset Manager also helps you avoid unnecessary purchases through its software asset management component, where you can plan your software licensing needs. This solution also boasts unified self-service, a modern user experience so you can “view IT assets, request new assets and services, collaborate with other users and resolve issues, all in a single place.” Other features include contract management and vendor management, so you can better understand your vendor relationships and contract’s terms to avoid penalties.
Cons
According to Gartner, this tool’s “lack of complex licensing models will be a limitation” for larger organizations.
Cost
Unfortunately, CA IT Asset Manager doesn’t publicly share pricing, though you can call or email for a price quote.
AssetExplorer
ManageEngine comes in with a solid one million users for their AssetExplorersoftware, which tracks and manages workstations or network devices, software license compliance, and the lifecycle of a purchase order. Notable clients include Toshiba and the Weather Channel.
Pros
Including standard ITAM software functionality, AssetExplorer also features a configuration management database (CMDB), which works as an “effective decision making tool” through its role in impact analysis and root cause determination. AssetExplorer’s CMBD also is capable of supporting a large IT structure, where interrelations between configuration items (CIs) can be maintained. In addition to its CMDB, AssetExplorer operates in 29 different languages and has 24 hour, five day/week live technical support.
Cons
While the inclusion of its CMDB feature is helpful, it lacks a self-service portal and doesn’t include many budgeting or forecasting features, which are helpful in tracking cost and determining which assets could be reallocated. ManageEngine Asset Explorer supports only Windows, Linux, or Mac devices, and doesn’t yet have a mobile app for iOS or Android users.
Cost
AssetExplorer begins at $795 for 250 assets and tops out at $9,995 for 10,000 assets. Businesses with more than 10,000 assets can purchase an additional 1,000 assets for $995. There is no limit on the number of technicians.
In addition, this solution comes in three different editions (and a risk-free trial) so you can choose what level (and what price) is right for you and your business.
Remedy Asset Management
At 300,000 users, BMC’s Remedy Asset Management is a great visually engaging option for ITAM software. It is designed so that with a quick glance you can understand how your assets are being used, reported, and measured.
Pros
As well as standard asset tracking and software compliance, this solution enables you to track asset depreciation over time, and identify contract infringements and purchasing opportunities. Remedy is mobile-friendly and fully-supported on iOS, Android, and HTML5 as well as being available as SaaS or on-premise. This BMC product also automatically presents you with relevant incidents, problems, articles, assets, and services to save time.
Cons
Remedy Asset Management’s software license entitlement functionality needs expansion, according to Gartner.
Cost
Remedy Asset Management doesn’t share pricing publicly, but you can contact their sales team for a price quote. A free trial is also available.
Assets
InvGate’s Assets hosts 198,200 users thanks to their 100% web-based design, enabling access from any device to this ITAM suite. Customers include Burger King, Starbucks, Nike, and Toyota.
Pros
In addition to Asset’s remote desktop, this software offers multi-platform support (Windows, Mac, Linux, and more) with a drill-down design for ease-of-access and implementation that takes less than four hours. This suite software solution also includes inventory tracking, network discovery, software metering, and change management, as well as advanced reporting with a fully customizable system to generate reports when you need them.
Cons
Unfortunately the system doesn’t yet monitor cloud-based assets, but with the more and more businesses utilizing cloud computing, this may happen in the near future.
Cost
InvGate doesn’t share pricing publicly, but does offer a price quote in exchange for your contact information on their website. A free trial is also available.
Asset Management
At 40,000 users, ServiceNow’s Asset Management rounds out these popular ITAM solutions with its accessibility through iPad, iPhone, Android, and mobile web app. While unnamed, customers include two-thirds of the world’s biggest banks.
Pros
Asset Management allows you to control asset distribution through a role-based service catalog, which centralizes your requests. As well as a CMDB where you can access business and configuration information, you can also monitor key performance indicator (KPI) trends through ServiceNow’s Performance Analytics component. The CMDB and ITAM repository remain separate for more flexibility, though both applications remain on the same platform, enabling you to create relationships between assets and CIs for synchronization.
Asset Management also operates in a multitude of languages, such as Chinese (traditional), French, German, and Spanish.
Cons
According to Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for IT Service Support Management Tools, ServiceNow customers “find it difficult to negotiate favorable contractual terms.” In particular, “customers that initially had deep discounts…are finding that those discounts are not honored for subsequent renewals.” On-premises customers also “pay the same as SaaS customers, even though they cover the hosting directly and do not benefit from automatic upgrades.”
Cost
Asset Mangement starts at $100/IT process user/month with volume discounts available. You can also access a free trial.
Thoughts?
Did I miss any key benefits or disadvantages to these solutions above? What’s your favorite ITAM solution to use? Let me know in the comments below.
