My Individual Topic Exploration
ITECH 200- Topic Selection: Nancy Hutson, Maura Burns
Topic #1: Mobile Asset Tracking-
Wasp's mobile asset tracking device is designed to view and edit a company's assets on the go. It is fast and simple to use in any situation. It is important for businesses because it is 100% accurate, which is vital when you need correct information from any meeting, car, train, or office. This device is ideal for small businesses and larger businesses, from simple assets to whole departments.
Topic #2: Primary Response SafeConnect (PRSC)-
PRSC is a behavior based anti malware made to detect and remove threats from your computer and protect your personal identity and data from theft. It is used on windows PC. It is said that although 99% of business use anti virus tools, 68% still become infected. PRSC gives threat protection from malware attacks without the need of scanning and signatures, and it works constantly to protect on-line and off line PCs. We did not choose this topic because PRSC is not a new idea.
Topic #3: Blade Servers-
Our group did not choose Blade Servers for our topic selection because of the complexity of the subject. Although the topic relates to our class discussions and can be considered an important business application, it would be difficult to explain the terminology and use of the technology to an audience. Blade serves have also been around for a while and therefore cannot be considered a new, innovative business technology.
Abdulaziz Assaf
Nancy Hutson
Maura Burns
IT REVIEW: WASP MOBILEASSET PRO VERSION 5
What is the Wasp MobileAsset Pro v5?
The Wasp MobileAsset Pro Version 5 Tracking Device and software is currently the number one selling tracking solution for small and medium sized businesses (please see picture of device below). The Wasp Mobile Asset enables a company to track, view, manage, and edit all assets of a company across departments. The device provides asset management for all types of government, educational and healthcare agencies as well as large and small businesses around the world. Standard features of the Wasp MobileAsset enable it to track the locations of assets, provide detailed information about each asset (including its cost), keep track of warranty expiration and maintenance, and monitor asset transaction history. The Wasp MobileAsset Pro Version 5 has revolutionized the way businesses manage valuable assets in order to increase efficiency and profitability.
How Does the Wasp MobileAsset Pro v5 Work?
The Wasp MobileAsset Version 5 package includes a software program to upload asset information as well as a PDA hand-held device that records all the information by scanning the assets' barcodes. Once the information is recorded by the hand-held device, it can be uploaded onto a computer using The Wasp MobilAsset software which consists of a MicroSoft Desktop Engine SQL Database. In order to run the MobileAsset software, businesses need to have desktop PC with a Windows 2000, XP or 2003 server, a 400 MHz or higher processor, a 512 MB RAM minimum, a 32 bit color minimum and a CD-ROM drive. In addition to PCs, MobileAsset tracking software is also capable of running on Mobile devices using the Palm (smartphone offered by AT&T) and Microsoft Windows CE or Windows Mobile operating system (Please refer to Appendix A).
Once a business's assets are scanned by the hand-held device, the information can be recorded using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable to synchronize the PDA with the MobileAsset SQL Database. The MobileAsset software/database will not recognize any changes in information in the hand-held device unless the USB cable is connected to both the device and the computer.
The necessity for information to be uploaded through a USB cable is somewhat of a limitation of the Wasp MobileAsset Pro because it slows down the process of updating asset information for a business. If the PDA device could be replaced by wireless technology such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification, used as an alternative to the barcode) then changes in asset information could be achieved instantaneously. The application of RFID technology could automatically update information on the database without the use of a USB cable.
The recently developed Pro version of the MobileAsset has a new set of features that differentiates it from the standard version, as you can see in Appendix A. These features include kitting and asset linking, software license tracking, contract repository, alerts, and depreciation tracking. Kitting and asset linking benefits a company by grouping different assets in one group or assigning a parent asset. This allows a company to track and manage an asset more efficiently by associating it with a particular department, user, or location. Software license tracking provides businesses with the capability of tracking all software from a centralized repository. The repository contains information such as where the software was installed and how many licenses and user keys are available. A user can also attach and save asset and maintenance contracts/agreements in the database using the MobileAsset Pro's contract repository. This provides immediate access to dates and services stated within the contracts/agreements. The Alerts feature notifies a user when maintenance on a particular asset is due, when contracts expire, and when an asset that has been checked out has not been returned by its due date. This feature keeps users up-to-date on the functionality of its assets so they can be managed better. Lastly, Depreciation tracking provides five methods to accurately apply depreciation costs to assets. These new features enable a small/medium size business to easily and efficiently manage the company's assets. Most businesses see a return on investment after six months or less after using and investing in a Wasp MobileAsset v5.
Business Application:
MobileAsset Pro has many features that are very useful to various types of businesses, specifically in the retail, construction, and medical industries. As an asset tracking device, MobileAsset is itself an asset used to track computers, servers, PDAs, medical devices, construction tools, and office equipment for companies in these industries. This device will save time where jobs were previously done manually, or not at all, such as software license tracking, contract storing, asset linking, alerts, and depreciation tracking. Upgrading to MobileAsset Enterprise will allow users to use their own SQL databases and have more than five users linked to the database that MobileAsset holds.
Wasp MobileAsset allows companies to quickly track their assets assimilating the power of a desktop computer with the practicality of a mobile data collector. The MobileAsset does not require training to master; rather, employees can pick it up out of the box and begin to use it, so no time is lost. Also, time is saved from jobs which previously took hours out of a work day, such as attempting to locate misplaced, lost, or unreturned assets. MobileAsset also provides information such as its location, department, where it has been formerly, the cost of the item, information about its warranty, and what kind of maintenance it requires in one database which you can access at any time, anywhere.
When using MobileAsset, a company will never make the mistake of buying unnecessary items. MobileAsset will help a smaller company operate on a tighter budget with better service. This software will allow you to get a job done without having to take the time to find an office or a computer, which might not be available anyway.
In a hospital, Wasp MobileAsset will be able to get important life-saving machinery in the hands of doctors and healthcare providers faster than before. After the request for an order is put in, hospital building operators will be able to track the location of the necessary equipment at any point in the shipping process. They will also be able to tell if the machine was ever broken, repaired, or if it is still under warranty and for how long. This information is very important, especially to the patient who is expecting a 100% accurate reading from the equipment. Because the information received from MobileAsset is 100% accurate, the hospital will be able to do its job better because of that.
In a computer hardware and software store, such as Best Buy, acquiring the MobileAsset software is a reasonable decision also. By using this technology a retail store like this will be able to keep stocks of high demand items on shelves without running out and creating a backorder log. With MobileAsset, a retail company will be able to tell how many products have left the shelves, and when they need to replace their stock. By using this software, companies are not losing money on wait time.
Appendix A
Common Applications
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Examples of Assets
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System Requirements
PC System Requirements
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Mobile Device Requirements
Wasp MobileAsset supports both Palm and Pocket PC devices.
Palm Requirements
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Sources:
1) http://www.systemid.com/maverick/Wasp_MobileAsset_v5_--192475.asp
2) http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=994139
3) http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/contracts-law-licensing-agreements/5433901-1.html
4) http://www.sbtechnologymagazine.org/demo/viewProfile.php?DemoLoungeInfoID
=296
5) http://www.waspbarcode.com/asset_management/mobile_asset.asp#
Appendix A- http://www.waspbarcode.com/asset_management/mobile_asset.asp#
http://www.sbtechnologymagazine.org/demo/viewProfile.php?DemoLoungeInfoID=296
http://www.waspbarcode.com/asset_management/
http://www.waspbarcode.com/asset_management/mobile_asset.asp#
Phone Interview with Todd Jackson.
Phone Interview with Todd Jackson.
http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/contracts-law-licensing-agreements/5433901-1.html
http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/contracts-law-licensing-agreements/5433901-1.html
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=994139
http://www.systemid.com/maverick/Wasp_MobileAsset_v5_--192475.asp
http://www.systemid.com/maverick/Wasp_MobileAsset_v5_--192475.asp