AssetExplorer can be a very useful tool if planned and implemented properly
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
ManageEngine AssetExplorer is being used to track what major computer equipment is in production for the entire organization, store information on vendors the organization work with and have contracts with, and to inform us of when a contract/subscription is about to expire and has to be renewed. Lastly, we use it for the purchase order module as the core component for the procurement process within the organization that helps us track spending and compare prices between vendors who stock similar items.
Pros
- Purchase Order Module is done reasonably well in order to build an intelligence database on vendors.
- The network scan is useful to get up and running on getting existing equipment and software into the database.
- Notifications concerning when subscriptions or contracts expire.
- Vendor Database - Being able to keep track of all vendor information and uploading documentation such as contracts which can be found easily.
Cons
- The reports in the purchase order module can definitely improve. I found it difficult to get the correct money spent for the criteria/filters entered. Some of the output looked erroneous and the query system wasn't the easiest to master.
- The network scans can produce some information overload, especially if you do a full network scan. Maybe adjustments in the presentation of the software to guide users to do a more focused network scan for specific items at a time.
Likelihood to Recommend
The purchase order module can be very useful if you put a process in place. It is miles ahead of using a spreadsheet or something simple to do purchase orders and track spending.
It can be good to keep track of equipment and software you have in house. However it is imperative you have dedicated staff and processes in place to maximize the utility of the software else it can become a white elephant if not implemented properly as it is a complex piece of software that does many things.
