Asset Management

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What is 'good' Asset Management?

Asset Management is the management of physical assets (their selection, maintenance, inspection and renewal). Asset Management is the art and science of making the right decisions and optimizing these processes.

The different asset classes are stocks, bonds, real-estate and commodities.

Infrastructure owners have used ‘Asset Management’ to describe the caring for, making best use of, physical plant, infrastructure and facilities. (Interpretation of British Standard Specification PAS-55)

PAS-55 highlights the need for performance-accountable asset-business focus. Asset Management system is how an organization delivers its business goals with a clear picture of how and why business intentions are converted to ground reality.

PAS 55 defines Asset Management as “Systematic & coordinated activities and practices through which an organization optimally manages its physical assets and their associated performance, risks and expenditures over their lifecycles for the purpose of achieving its organizational strategic plan.”

How does a company get there? How do we know, and demonstrate, what is ‘optimal’? How can responsibility be established? How do we develop the skills, tools and processes to establish and sustain such an environment in the first place?

Industrial process, utilities and service companies have, over the last 5 decades developed greater specialization in niche functions. The effect of this has been to create more and narrower silos of contribution – design, construction, operations, maintenance, human resources, finance etc.

At senior management levels, the adoption of an “Asset Management” model has been interpreted to mean a new mix of functional responsibilities (new silos?):

- Asset ‘Owners’ – dealing with regulators and other stakeholders - Asset Managers – decisions on direction and strategy - Service Deliverers – work resources & methods

This emphasizes the need for directional thinking (what is worth doing, where, when and why), not just delivery efficiency (doing the same thing quicker, cheaper). ASAP Systems has 20 years of experience in Inventory Control Software and Asset Management Solutions.

Inventory Software & Asset Management

ASAP SYSTEMS

Online Asset Management Software

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There is no doubt that asset management software is needed in today’s environment. But what if you want to communicate with others offices? For that you will need to invest in an online asset management software system.

Online asset management software is connected to an enterprise wide network or the Internet by embedding special equipment that will allow maintenance personnel to track the functioning of the equipment in real time. Thus, you are to perform preventive maintenance measures and quickly take action when there are breakdowns. This also enables the company to manage their inventory from any location by using the web browser.

To give you an idea, here are some examples where online asset management software can be used.

Since this can be accessed remotely, it can help information technology personnel monitor the hardware and software installed on the enterprise network. Advanced versions of these applications can also help managers control the hardware and software applications on the servers.

Even advertising and media agencies have joined the bandwagon. This is because it helps the people in these companies automate the process of maintaining, marketing, publishing and viewing their multimedia gallery or store.

As for software product development companies, they can use this electronically distribute or manage the digital products they have developed.

On the human resources level, the online asset management software will help the HR department to track employee performance, manage talent and even identify star performers. This can also be used when they go out and attend job fairs so resumes can be stored.

Finance companies also use this so their clients are able to track their own financial assets especially stocks and mutual fund investments in real time. All the customer has to do is log in and then get the latest status on their assets.

Once a company has fully integrated the online asset management software, it will be easy for the various departments to talk to each other. It can detect the installation of unlicensed or unauthorized software, enhance helpdesk security and generate reports so this can be viewed and printed.

Asset management software provides analysis of data, which helps company to make new strategy plans for cash flow, helps in the finest utilization of resources, and in turn increase the productivity of the company.

You can find online asset management software online. Most of these will allow you to download their program for a 30 day trial and then you have to buy it to continue using it. When you are shopping for it, compare their features and the price. Don’t forget to read product reviews and blogs because how well it has performed or not has already had been tested by various users.

When you have found the right online asset management software program, make sure that those in the company are trained how to use it. This will prevent problems later on when data is sent back and forth.

Asset management even if it is now available online is still the process of designing, implementing, planning and maintaining the company’s assets. These include everything from infrastructure, plant, property, and human resources. Being able to access this from a remote location is just another way of checking on things if you are out of the office while you are out of town or out of the country.

Asset Management and Human Resource Management

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What is asset management? It is a business process and a decision making structure that covers various things in order to come up with cost effective investment decisions. For this to work, you need to have practice good human resource management by hiring the right people with the right qualifications to get the job done.

This job falls to the human resources department as they are after all the ones in charge of hiring. In the past, the people who worked here simply gave the employees their paychecks. But that is not the only thing they do. They are supposed to train and develop the employees so they feel that they are part of something bigger.

The professionals who are supposed to do this should see themselves as two things. First as a strategic partner and second, a changing agent. Strategic partner because without them, a company will not prosper. A changing agent because it is through them that the employees can become better individuals.

With that, you can say that human resource management is the bridge between the administration and the employee. For a company to practice true human asset management, their human resource department has to do the following.

First, they must have an active role in organizational planning. To make this happen, they must be given the power to dictate what is needed in the planning phase including the necessary resources.

The human resource department should be able to recruit employees that are best suited for the organization by being given a free hand as to how this will be achieved. This includes the selection process which involves the testing and the administering component.

Human asset management can only happen if the human resource department is able to produce change. This is done by seeing what needs to be improved on in an employee and then coming up with programs that will enhance it. This includes of course facilitating and overseeing the training. If this was never done before, it should be evaluated to see if there are any flaws so this can be avoided in the future.

Let’s not forget the basics such as traditional personnel administration such as administering wages and benefits, time management, employee cost management as well as employee performance review and appraisals.

Human asset management is serious business because how well the company does depends on the people they hire to fill up the various positions. If they hire someone and he or she is not qualified, problems will occur. If the company has a high turnover, money is also wasted because of the time, training and money that were invested in that person.

To keep employees happy or motivated, they also have to come up with programs that will enhance their skills even if they should be tempted by offers from competitors.

Asset management is a combination of different things. These include cash, bonds, stocks, property and people. If you want your business to prosper, you must have an effective human resource management team in place that will take care of it. Otherwise, there will be problems within the organization. People will quit and when your competitors see that, this can be used to their advantage to the point that they may even take over your business.

Achieving Successful Asset Management Growth

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Asset management growth is indisputably one of the goals of any business organization. This is tangible evidence that the industry has undertaken successful asset management, and is already experiencing general growth and improvement. It also implies that the enterprise has chosen the right asset management system and module, one that works compatibly with the already existing systems within the company.

Asset management gathers even greater importance during these technologically advancing times. Gone are the days of manual work; the administration of assets today has certainly evolved to include diverse and complex database systems and reliance on accurate and timely information.

What makes for effective asset management?

Asset management should be on the forefront of the strategies being adopted by any industry. However, it will be futile to speak of asset management merely on the tangible sense, since the generation of businesses nowadays relies heavily on technological systems and data maintenance. Thus, in order to be wholly effective, asset management must allow for both the hardware and software assets of the company.

Essentially, asset management must make room for the effective organization of production, facilities, transportation, and even digital assets. The budgeting, procurement, maintenance, and depreciation calculation of the fixed assets must be undertaken with value maximization and cost minimization in mind. Asset management solutions being offered to various industries nowadays have organizational modules on managing assets, human resources, materials, and softwares.

Asset management systems must provide tools for improvement on assets return and cost-cutting of asset ownership. These systems must also assist in license compliance and promote enhanced security. Especially for businesses that span different branches in different locations, a good asset management solution must have facility for assets tracking, whether these assets are physical or intangible.

The growth goals of asset management

In order for asset management to be successful, it must be able to achieve several goals. First of all, it must assist industry managers in making the best use of its assets. It must be able to pinpoint which assets need to be worked on, and which of these are just being idle. Simply put, asset management is geared towards bringing about greater value from the assets of the company, and using them to achieve more competitive performance and productivity.

Asset management tools should also be effective in the curtailment of asset ownership and the calculation of asset-related risks. It should also be able to provide for accurate inventory control and data storage. Most of all, it must engender wiser decision making where assets management is concerned, in the face of consistently shifting technology and cutthroat competition.

Why asset management is essential for organizational growth

Asset management encompasses not merely the actual physical and intangible assets of any organization, but more importantly, the effective utilization of each. This essentially means that asset management caters to various disciplines- from administration to engineering, and from production to information management.

With successful asset management, growth is imminent. Labor and production becomes efficient, downtimes on equipment and facilities are minimized, and the total cost of fixed asset ownership is significantly reduced. Solutions for better asset management are available from providers, all offering different solutions to the more specific asset-related concerns. Organizations must be able to pinpoint the areas that need to be enhanced, seek the assistance from management solution providers, and to work alongside these management tools.

Asset management growth is not a one-way street, nor is it expected to happen in a momentary tick. Asset management will continue to shift and evolve, and industry managers must be able to understand this from the beginning, to achieve the most favorable results for the entire organization.