Integrate Reftab and OKTA for SSO and SCIM

Reftab Okta Integration Image

For many companies, Okta has become almost synonymous with single sign-on (SSO). With over 7000+ integrations, it is not hard to see why.  

Okta makes it easy for employees at your company to securely log in to all of your cloud and custom applications without having to authenticate each one individually. 

And, it makes it easy for your IT team to securely manage and monitor user access across all of the applications—cloud, web-based, and on-prem—that your company uses. 

In this post, we’re diving into how you can connect Okta to Reftab, as well as some potential use cases. 

How to connect Okta to Reftab

5 use cases for integrating Reftab and Okta

1. Make it easy for employees to sign into Reftab

2. Enable user provisioning and deprovisioning

3. SaaS application management

4. Spend less time on password reset requests

5. Secure company proprietary equipment and data

6. Create a booking portal for students

How to connect Okta to Reftab

Reftab’s Okta integration makes it easy to add single sign-on (via SAML) as well as user provisioning.  

You can check out this post to see a step-by-step guide for how to set up our Okta integration. 

The real benefit of our Okta integration is simplicity. 

Some added benefits of using this integration include: 

  • Allows you to manage Reftab access alongside all of the other cloud, web, and on-premise custom applications that your company has
  • Centralizes identity management 
  • Helps protect company IP and data by requiring strong login authentication practices 
  • Reduce the time that you and your team spend on repetitive administrative tasks, like adding and removing users to and from multiple systems or performing password resets

5 use cases for integrating Reftab and Okta 

As we alluded to earlier in this post, the primary benefits of Reftab’s Okta integration is single sign-on and user provisioning. Here are a few ways that companies can (and have) used our integration. 

1. Make it easy for employees to sign into Reftab

Did you know that the average company uses 80 SaaS apps as of 2020? 

While every employee isn’t logging in to all 80 apps (hopefully not!), they are probably actively using anywhere from 5-15 apps to do their job.

IT team members are logging into a lot more apps because of the nature of their role. 

If you have to log in to each app individually, that can become tedious and repetitive, not to mention a security risk. 

That’s where implementing single sign-on can be beneficial. With Reftab’s Okta integration, this means that all of your employees who need access to Reftab can sign in the same way as all of your other apps. They log in once and now have access to all of your company’s applications through Okta. 

2. Enable user provisioning and deprovisioning

An added benefit of using Okta and Reftab is that once a user is added to Okta, for example a new employee, that user is automatically added into Reftab. This is a huge time savor and reduces the possibility of error. You’ll have users who are ready for equipment to be deployed to them without the tedious work of user management.

You can also enforce access restrictions based upon users’ groups. For example, this means that instead of giving the entire company full access to authenticate into Reftab, they might only give access to any employee who works in HR, IT, or an operations-heavy role. On the other hand, end-users are added to Reftab but the integration is smart enough to know which users simply need to be added as a ‘loanee’, (meaning users who exist in Reftab to have items assigned to them), and which users need to be added as administrators to actually log in.

Pro Tip: Want to learn how to set up user provisioning in Reftab? Check out our guide here

This also means that there is one single hub where your IT can manage account/app access, troubleshoot login issues, and enable and disable user access. For example, when a user is disabled in Okta, Reftab will also disable the user within Reftab.

3. SaaS application management

By integrating Reftab with Okta, you can seamlessly track SaaS usage and discover software assets, enhancing your IT asset management with automated precision. This setup leverages your existing infrastructure to provide a comprehensive view of both hardware and software assets. Click here for a how-to guide on utilizing Reftab’s Okta integration for SaaS application management.

4. Spend less time on password reset requests

Without single sign-on, employees have to log into and authenticate each app individually. This means more opportunities to forget passwords, which means more password request tickets to your IT department. 

Or, employees resort to using weak and easy-to-remember passwords, like “abc123,” for all of the apps they have to use for work. By doing this, they are putting their account and company data at risk of being hacked. 

5. Secure company proprietary equipment and data

This is almost too obvious to include, but Okta offers a secondary level of security protection via multi-factor authentication (i.e. MFA) for the company. 

More employees access their email, company documents and conduct work on their personal smartphones (and computers) all the time. 

Since March 2020, many more employees are working from home and other places that may have less secure access to their cubicle over at HQ. 

Enforcing MFA is becoming more important than ever if an employee is logging in from a new device or a new location, especially if you work in heavily regulated industries like healthcare,  

For example, if you work for a large hospital and one of your nurses loses her phone, where she was logged into her work email and had a few sensitive patient records on it, after a night out with friends, that’s a HIPAA violation. 

That could not only cost the nurse her job but the hospital could be fined anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $50,000+ depending on the violation.  

6. Create a booking portal for students

Another use case that’s becoming more popular since the COVID-19 pandemic is to set up booking portals within Reftab where college students can log in and rent specific equipment that they need, like cameras, microscopes, iPads, etc.

You obviously don’t want anyone to be able to log in and “borrow” thousands of dollars of equipment and then skip town. 

So, you can use Okta to ensure only fully authenticated, registered students at your university with a university email address and who are in “good standing” can rent equipment. 

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In sum, these are a handful of ways that you can use our Okta integration to make it not only easier but more secure for your employees to access company applications. 

Looking to try out Reftab? Get started with a free trial. 

How to integrate Reftab and Azure Active Directory

Reftab and Azure Integration

If you are reading this guide, there is a good chance you are one of the more than 7,200 companies that are using Microsoft Azure Active Directory.  

Azure Active Directory is a comprehensive identity and asset management solution for small, midsize, and enterprise companies. 

You can integrate it with dozens of software that you are company is already using, including Reftab. 

In this post, we’re taking a deep dive into how you can integrate Reftab and Azure AD as well as a handful of different use cases. 

Let’s dive in.  

What is Azure Active Directory?

End User Computing

If you work in the IT department for an enterprise company that relies on Microsoft products, then you are likely well-versed in Azure Active Directory (a.k.a. Azure AD). 

But, a quick refresher for anyone new to Azure AD, it is a cloud-based, enterprise access management software that you can use for single sign-on, manage user and group access and ensure full security and compliance across the entire company.  

With single sign-on, this means that once an employee is authenticated in Office365, they can then access all of the company’s other SaaS software and custom web applications without having to authenticate each one individually. 

Some added benefits of using Azure Ad are threat detection, identity protection, asset management (of devices and accounts), and security reports and monitoring.  

How to connect Reftab with Azure Active Directory

If you are already using Reftab for asset management, then integrating Reftab and Azure AD is easy. 

In fact, there are two ways you can integrate Azure AD. You can configure Reftab as a SAML application in your Azure AD environment to use with single sign-on. Here is a how-to article with step-by-step instructions.  

Alternatively, you can set up SCIM with Azure AD. Check out this Knowledgebase article with step-by-step instructions. 

Regardless of which route you take, you can add, delete, lock, or modify Reftab users along with creating and syncing user groups. This not only saves you time on administrative, repetitive tasks but it is also a security measure. 

4 use cases for integrating Reftab and Azure Active Directory 

Similar to our Okta integration, here are a few Azure AD use cases. 

Make it easy for employees to sign into Reftab

Single sign-on not only saves time and is more convenient for your employees. It is also more secure for your company.  

Once an employee is authenticated through Office365, they can access all of the company’s software—both cloud and custom applications—without having to log in to each app individually. 

Not to mention, this cuts down on the number of login issues and password reset requests that can inundate your IT team. It is one secure password to remember instead of dozens of passwords that, let’s face it, are often reused across multiple sites or weak, easy-to-remember ones, like “abc123.” 

Eliminate tedious user management tasks

An added benefit of syncing Azure AD and Reftab is it makes it easier to add, manage, and remove users between the two applications. You can also create and update user groups and individual account roles. 

Secure all of your company’s IP and assets

The pandemic and the resulting explosion of work-from-home arrangements means IT departments have their hands full, ensuring the company’s devices, assets, and IP are secure. 

When you have employees, independent contractors, and vendors accessing your company’s data from their home WiFi networks, personal smartphones, or working from coworking spaces and coffee shops, you can use single sign-on and multi-factor authentication to protect your company from security breaches.

Get comprehensive monitoring and reports 

A big part of securing your company’s assets is also having detailed reports to be able to better track what users have access to what information, where assets are currently located and stay ahead of potential issues. 

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In sum, these are a handful of ways that you can use our Azure AD integration to make it not only easier but more secure for your employees to access company assets and data. 

Looking to try out Reftab? Get started with a free trial. 

A guide to enterprise asset management software

Manually tracking assets for any company can be a logistical nightmare. When it comes to large enterprise organizations, it’s nearly impossible. Fortunately, enterprise asset management software exists. This software is an invaluable tool that not only tracks inventory across multiple locations, but also helps companies with asset maintenance, regulatory compliance, and more.

In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about choosing an enterprise asset management tool, including:

What is enterprise asset management software? 

Enterprise asset management software, also known as EAM, makes it easy for a company to track and manage all of their operational assets, like physical assets and software (including keeping tabs on asset lifecycle costs). This means you have full asset lifecycle management from design or procurement through to maintenance operations and disposal.

The software is also helpful for inventory management, asset management tasks, regulatory compliance, as well as financial management (think asset utilization, financial reporting, depreciation, business intelligence, etc). 

Who uses EAM software?

Traditionally, large-scale enterprises have been the primary users of enterprise management software. But fast-growing, smaller companies on the rise are now seeing the benefits of implementing this type of software early on.

Managers of small, growing companies or large-scale enterprise operations looking for transparency and accountability with asset tracking should leverage EAM software. Companies looking to control operational costs are also good candidates for the software. For example, IT managers will usually deploy EAM software to track a company’s IT equipment and involve finance so they can keep a record of asset depreciation as well as HR to keep on top of on-boarding and off-boarding.

Likewise, companies with asset-heavy operations can benefit from using the software to gain full oversight of company assets. The software can also be used as an invaluable tool for setting up employee request portals, maintenance management, as well as companies needing to focus on regulatory compliance, such as those in manufacturing or construction industries.

What are the top benefits of EAM software? 

Company leaders in all industries looking to manage their assets can benefit from EAM software. Here are some of the top benefits after implementing this type of software:

  1. Efficient asset monitoring: EAM software delivers actionable insights in a centralized location so managers can quickly and efficiently monitor data. The software helps to bridge the gap between information silos to allow for more educated decision-making.
    1. For example, EAM software can provide an IT department a single pane of glass to see equipment being used by employees such as networked (i.e. laptops, printers) and non-networked equipment (i.e. monitors) and, equipment not being used such as old laptops, monitors or printers.
  2. Maximum utilization of assets: With EAM software, assets can be tracked throughout the entire lifecycle. This means they can be fully utilized and properly disposed of, replaced, or sold when they no longer make financial sense for the company to maintain. EAM software can help tell you when this may occur with current, deployed equipment and how much has already been sold or retired.
  3. Improved maintenance management: Tracking all of your assets across the enterprise means you’ll have a firm grasp of maintenance schedules and needs. Maintenance is typically more cost-effective than fixing something that’s broken. Using EAM software to monitor maintenance schedules can save the company a lot of money in the long run.
    1. For example, there’s many companies who need to ensure certain equipment is calibrated every year or six months and it’s vital that those calibrations are never missed, and if they are, the equipment must not be used.
  4. Simplified regulatory compliance: Abiding by industry regulations and policies is much easier if you can track your assets. For example, being able to pull up maintenance records or track machine parts to comply with recall repairs.

Cloud-based vs. on-prem EAM solutions: Pros and Cons

You essentially have two options when it comes to implementing asset management tools for your organizations: cloud-based software, like Reftab, or an on-premise solution. With cloud-based, your data is hosted on the vendor’s server, and you access the software via the internet. With on-premise, the software is installed locally on your company’s computers and servers.

Here are the pros and cons of each option:

Cloud-based pros

Easy / no hassle setup

Cloud-based solutions require no work to get started. The software is accessible via a browser. All you and your team need to do is create an account, login and import your data. You’ve got a working solution up and running very quickly.

Cost-effective

Cloud-based solutions are typically more affordable. You don’t have to have someone create a custom solution and install it onsite. Monthly subscription or plan fees may add up, but you still don’t have upfront costs with cloud-based software or ongoing maintenance. You also have reduced energy costs without the need to run physical servers on location.

Support

Upgrades and updates are handled by the software provider, not your in-house team.

Scalability

It’s quick to get started with cloud-based software and even faster to scale. As your business grows, you can simply choose a new plan with more storage or advanced features. You can even reduce your plan features if you find the current plan you’re on is more robust than necessary.

Cloud-based cons

Connectivity

If you’re having internet issues, then your entire system could go down. You’ll need a reliable internet connection to access your cloud data at all times. With an on-premise solution, you can still access your data if you’re still physically at the office and you loose connection to the internet.

Less customizable

While you can certainly pick from features and plan tiers with cloud-based software, cloud-based options are still less customizable. The software isn’t designed specifically for your business needs, so you’ll need to find the pre-made software that aligns most closely with your asset tracking goals.

On-premise pros

Lifetime cost

Upfront and maintenance costs are often higher for on-premise solutions, but depending on the length of time the solution is utilized you may end up paying less in the long run for on-premise vs. cloud-based. This is because you’re typically paying once for the license and installation, whereas cloud-based is an ongoing monthly or annual fee.

Flexibility

An on-premise solution gives you complete control of your asset management data. This is because you own the software or hardware. You can set up the system however you want.

On-premise cons

Maintenance

Ongoing maintenance is typically included as part of a cloud-based plan. With on-prem, you’re the one responsible for when and how maintenance will occur. This includes backup, storage, and disaster recovery when applicable. Costs can quickly add up.

Implementation

It simply takes longer to get started with on-premise solutions because they have to be manually installed first. The solution must be installed on servers, computers, and other individual devices before you can get started.

Best practices for choosing EAM software

For most companies, a cloud-based EAM software solution is a better option than on-prem solutions. But selecting the right EAM software for your business requires a bit of research and knowing your criteria beforehand. We’ve made the process easier for you by rounding up 6 of the best practices to keep in mind when shopping for EAM software.

Set a budget

Before you go searching for EAM software, you’ll need to set a monthly or annual budget for the software. 

Keep in mind some providers charge a flat rate while others charge per user or location. Pay close attention to add-ons or caveats that affect the pricing. 

Look for compatibility

The best EAM software is the one you’ll use. If the software isn’t compatible with your existing systems, software, or solutions, then you’ll struggle to implement it in your business. Look for software that can be integrated with your current tools. 

Make a list of your must-have features 

What features are a must-have, and which ones would never be used? Do your research to determine which features you need from the software. You don’t want to be without the functions you need, but you also don’t want to overpay for robust software features that you’ll never use.

Read customer reviews

Look for reviews of the software before you commit on review sites, like Capterra, G2, and TrustPilot, as well as social media reviews.  If possible, look for reviews from users in your same industry. This will give you a good sense of how the software could be used for your company. 

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Remember, the software you choose should be a good fit for your business. Not everyone has the same asset tracking needs or goals.

On the market for asset management software? Schedule a free demo of Reftab here: Reftab Calendar

How to improve your business’s operational efficiency

When’s the last time you reviewed your IT department’s day-to-day operations? Are you utilizing assets effectively? 

Operational efficiency is all about continuous improvement, maximizing resource utilization, and reducing unnecessary costs. 

In this post, we’ll share how to measure operational efficiency and give you tips to help you improve efficiency in your department and across your organization. 

What is operational efficiency?

Why does it matter?

How to measure operational efficiency

Ways to improve operational efficiency

1. Understand the ins and outs of the business

2. Conduct an audit

3. Utilize asset management software

4. Benchmark against competitors

5. Test different processes

What is operational efficiency? 

Operational efficiency is a business’s relationship between inputs and outputs. Inputs refer to what the company puts into operating, such as labor, expenses, and time. Outputs can include customer acquisition and retention, product quality, and revenue.

When we talk about operational efficiency, we’re thinking specifically about how well the organization reduces wasted effort, time, and materials. The goal of operational efficiency is to produce the best product possible with the least amount of wasted resources.

Why does it matter?

Wasted time and resources are equal to wasted money. Inefficiencies can drastically cut into your profit margin. It pays to be efficient with business operations. The more efficient the business is, the better. However, don’t take that as permission to cut corners. You don’t want your employees, customers, or the final product to suffer in your efforts to improve efficiency.

For example, one way to streamline operations is to provide employees with as many self-service tools as possible. For example, an IT department can set up a user request portal so that employees can check-in and out equipment when they need it. This improves efficiency by allowing employees to self-service and frees up your IT team’s time to work on more strategic tasks.   

How to measure operational efficiency

The primary metrics to look at when gauging your organization’s operational efficiency are operating expenses and total revenue. Once you have those numbers, you can use them to calculate operational efficiency with this formula:

operating expense / total revenue = operational efficiency

This would give you your operational efficiency ratio. For example, let’s say total revenue for the year was $100,000, and your operating expenses were $15,000. Using the formula above, you get .15 as your operational efficiency ratio.

You can turn this ratio into a percentage by multiplying the result by 100. This is how that formula would look:

(operating expense / total revenue) x 100 = operational efficiency rate

Using the same numbers as above, the .15 operational efficiency ratio multiplied by 100 would equal 15%. This means your operational efficiency rate is at 15%. The lower this rate, the more efficient you are at running your business.

Ways to improve operational efficiency 

Here are some ways to improve your efficiency if you’re currently not operating as lean as you would like. 

1. Understand the ins and outs of the business

It is easy to get tunnel vision and only focus on your specific role in the business. However, there’s something to be said for knowing all parts of your business. This will allow you to better understand your role in the company, and you may be able to spot and fix more inefficiencies firsthand.

2. Conduct an audit

In addition to observing operations firsthand, you can also perform a thorough audit to reveal inefficiencies in your department. For example, auditing your asset log may reveal that you are only using 50% of all of your equipment. Knowing this, instead of going out and buying a new computer for the new hire, you could send them one of the computers that are sitting in your equipment room. 

3. Utilize asset management software

There are a lot of software options out there to help you run your business more smoothly. One such type of software is asset management software, like Reftab. This software can be used to tag and track assets across multiple locations, help you maintain maintenance schedules for your assets, create user request portals, run reports, and more. 

4. Benchmark against competitors

Look to others in your industry to see how they run efficient operations. Use them as a benchmark to make your efficiency improvement. But don’t just use their operations to measure yours. Use their operation to inspire ideas for implementing operational efficiency in your business.

5. Test different processes

Test, test, and test again. Continuous improvement is the name of the game. You won’t know if an alternative process will help improve operational efficiency until you try it. Be sure to set a fixed time to conduct the test, designate team members, and set a clear tracking framework. This will give you clear variables or numbers to review when determining if the test was a success.

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No matter the size of your team or business, you can always make improvements to your operational efficiency. Remember, the more efficiently you operate, the more you can have a positive impact on your bottom line.

An overview of the best computer inventory systems

Are you still tracking your IT inventory with spreadsheets or old-fashioned pen and paper? There’s a better, more efficient way that can greatly improve your business operations and have a positive impact on your bottom line.

As your business grows, it gets more complicated to do asset tracking without a comprehensive platform. The sooner you implement your asset management solution, the better.

In this post, we’ll discuss what a computer inventory system is, the benefits that come with it, and four of the top asset management solutions available.

What is a computer inventory management system? 

Computerized inventory systems are a type of software that helps businesses monitor their inventory in real-time to simplify business operations. You may have heard these systems referred to as asset management software. Essentially, the software is used as a tool to help businesses track assets or inventory, generate reports, comply with industry regulations, and understand demand.

What are the benefits of using an inventory management system? 

No matter what the size of your business, if you have physical inventory, then you can benefit from implementing an inventory management system. Here are some of the top benefits that most IT teams see from utilizing the software including: 

  • Simplified overall inventory management
  • More efficient use of employee hours
  • Reduced risk of human error
  • Track monetary value of asset inventory

4 examples of computer inventory systems 

There are multiple solutions to choose from, including modifying existing tools you may already be using as dedicated asset management software. 

It comes down to understanding the key features your company needs. 

1. Excel

With all the inventory management solutions available, some still prefer the DIY approach. For others, the volume of inventory isn’t high enough to justify investing in a more robust inventory system yet, or the budget simply won’t allow for it. In these cases, using Excel spreadsheets can be a viable option.

The biggest advantage to using Excel is the low barrier to entry. It’s easy to get started, and most people already have experience with the software. This means no extensive training to learn how to use the tool. Often, businesses that decide to go the Excel route for inventory management already use the software in their processes and can easily work it into their existing operations. 

The problem with using Excel is that the software wasn’t designed specifically for asset management. Though it’s a useful tool that can be customized for a variety of projects, Excel can’t track inventory in real-time. It relies on users to input inventory changes as they happen, which opens your system up to human error. Plus, sharing an excel file more often than not leaves you with unreliable data.

If you already have Microsoft 365 or Excel on your devices then there’s no additional cost to add the spreadsheet tool to your business operations. If you don’t have it yet, then you’ll need to purchase it. Microsoft 365 Business Basic plans begin at $5 per user each month. You’ll get the full suite of Microsoft products with the plan, including PowerPoint, Outlook, Team, and OneDrive. For many, these additional tools are well worth the cost.

2. QuickBooks Enterprise 

QuickBooks is a popular accounting solution for small businesses. Some QuickBooks packages, including QuickBooks Enterprise, include basic inventory management features. If you’re a small business already using QuickBooks Enterprise or if you simply need an accounting function to go along with your inventory system, then this could be the right tool for you.

In addition, it can also integrate readily with a variety of other apps and business tools. This is helpful if you already have other software baked into your business processes. Another advantage is the ability to generate reports.

Unfortunately, QuickBooks Enterprise isn’t the most robust inventory management solution out there. It was designed for small businesses and isn’t really designed for IT teams. Not to mention, some users have experienced difficulty with backing up data, which can be concerning when you have a significant inventory volume.

QuickBooks Enterprise is affordable for most small businesses. Keep in mind, it’s a multi-use tool, so you’re paying for accounting and bookkeeping features in addition to inventory tracking. QuickBooks Enterprise version 22 begins at just under $1,500 for the year. This plan includes up to 30 team members with unique roles and logins.

3. Enterprise Resource Planning Software (ERPs)

Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Netsuite are two of the most robust ERP solutions. It can include inventory management as well as accounting, supply chain management, and point-of-sale functions in a single platform, depending on your plan. This solution is good for larger businesses or those that are looking to scale their operations within the confines of a single tool. 

ERPs typically also have artificial intelligence capabilities that provide data-based recommendations for business intelligence, trend spotting, and more. 

One of the biggest cons can also be a strength, which is ERPs are a blank canvas. There is a steep learning curve, and a ton of customization is needed in order to start using it. Most businesses will need specialized consultants and developers to not only launch an ERP but also to maintain it. 

Given these are enterprise tools, you can expect enterprise-type pricing, with most ERPs costing upwards of $100k per year. 

4. Asset Management Software 

While business owners in small businesses with minimal assets might find Excel to be more than enough and large enterprises need the functionality of enterprise-level software, like an ERP, dedicated asset management software, can be a great alternative for midsize businesses.  

For starters, this software is specifically designed to streamline the asset tagging and tracking process in real-time across your entire network. Both physical assets and software assets can be tracked. 

In addition, you can set up user request portals, create asset maintenance processes, run inventory reports, set up role-based access rights, scan asset bar codes on a mobile device, and more. 

Many asset management software companies, including Reftab, offer a limited freemium version. Paid plans start around $30 per month and include unlimited users and mobile apps for iOS and Android so you don’t have to purchase extra equipment to scan barcodes.

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When it comes to computer inventory systems, you have options. Keep in mind that you want to find the best solution that not just fits your organization today but where you want your company to be in the future.

Ready to get started? Try Reftab for free.

5 Best Practices for Managing IT Inventory

IT Inventory

Do you know where all of your IT inventory and assets are stored?

What asset management processes do you have in place for preventative maintenance or managing warranties?  

And, when’s the last time you ran an asset inventory report? 

If you answered no to any of these questions, chances are, you’re overdue for creating a new asset management and inventory process. 

No matter what’s prevented you from staying on top of your current hardware assets and software assets, it’s time for a change. Better managing your IT inventory can not only ensure that your company clearly understands all of its assets but also guarantees that these assets will be used in the most efficient (and cost-effective) way. 

In this post, we’re sharing five best practices for managing IT inventory. 

What is IT inventory?

IT inventory is the process an organization uses for asset tracking, such as tracking the location and quantity of IT-related assets as well as monitoring asset maintenance, performance,  depreciation, and software license management. An IT asset consists of any sort of device, software, or data source that supports any segment of an organization’s IT-related operations. These assets can range from physical IT hardware, such as computers and routers, to non-physical assets, such as industry-related software and internal IT data. 

5 best practices for managing IT inventory

Effectively managing IT inventory allows an organization to reduce internal security risks and overhead IT costs, all while helping to streamline daily operations. However, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution for managing IT inventory. 

1. Use asset management software 

Using dedicated asset management software can make all the difference when managing IT inventory. Without the use of a strong inventory management solution, remaining on top of current IT assets can quickly become a time-consuming and costly task that’s highly prone to errors. So, rather than rely on outdated spreadsheet methods, adopt an IT asset management tool that can grow with your company and align with the needs of your operation. 

Since IT asset types range significantly between hardware, physical assets (like furniture), and software, the ability to label and categorize assets with organizational controls helps managers locate and monitor assets with a simple search. The risks of overlooking assets and missing out on necessary warranty efforts can be avoided with such productive search capabilities.

2. Conduct IT inventory audits

Not to mention, having a reputable IT asset management software in place makes it easier to run reports and conduct asset audits. A lack of an audit may cause assets to slip through operational cracks and either become difficult to locate or become obsolete due to a lack of system updates or replacement. IT assets that go unaccounted for or lack proper upkeep may induce security and compliance issues too. 

Multiple details, such as unit location, quantity, current condition/version, and accessible users, should all be documented and inputted into your IT asset inventory software. By mapping out exactly where assets are located and their current status, you promote efficiency across the board and enhance the ability to identify and correct any asset concerns.

3. Monitor depreciation rates and maintenance needs

Now that all IT asset inventory has been audited, organizations should monitor asset depreciation rates, and warranty needs next. Crucial asset information, like warranties, vendor, purchase dates and costs or user manuals, should be stored in IT asset management software. These details can help track asset depreciation too, as outdated or overused assets may impact the quality of work and create unnecessary costs.

However, businesses must remain consistent with their efforts to effectively monitor depreciation rates and maintenance needs. Establish one user to assess assets monthly and report on the current status of each. This data can help make internal decisions to replace or update the unit and inform efforts to improve overall asset security and quality. Keeping up with these efforts long-term can help save on company costs and ensure the utmost productivity and security. 

4. Establish SOPs for consistent processes

Though the right IT asset inventory management tactics are a great start, you must also ensure these processes are completed consistently — and correctly. This is where standard operating procedures (SOPs) come into play. An SOP is a written document that outlines the procedures that must be followed to complete a shared task. Developing an SOP for IT asset inventory management ensures that all efforts remain consistent to avoid operational hiccups or concerns. 

Since IT asset types range from physical to digital, it may be wise for companies with an extensive IT asset inventory to create multiple SOPs. This will allow for a more targeted focus on each asset type and avoids any conflict with asset types that simply don’t match, like storing a router versus software and deployment of laptops vs headsets. Each SOP must outline each step, from how to access and update inventory management software to how each IT asset must be labeled and organized within the database. 

For example, here are some examples of inventory management processes for nonprofits. 

5. Maintain proper security efforts

Lastly, it’s imperative to maintain proper security efforts throughout each step of managing IT inventory. For starters, make sure you have a firm grasp of who has access to what (user access controls) within your software.  

Next, implement procedures that protect IT assets from outside security risks as well. This is especially important since cyberattacks can come in many different forms, from hacking confidential information to locking system access. 

With many IT asset inventory management solutions operating on a cloud-based system, it is critical for companies to follow a strong username and password system and have two-factor authentication enabled. If multiple people have access to the system, be sure to assign a single system administrator who can access and routinely update accounts with fresh passwords. These assigned individuals must also monitor user log-ins to ensure no unauthorized or suspicious activity is taking place within the IT inventory. 

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A company’s IT asset inventory is a critical component of a myriad of operations, from accounting and finance to overall security. If you don’t have a current IT asset management in place, now is the time to incorporate the above five best practices to safeguard your organization from risk. And with the right software, managing IT inventory can be a breeze.

Key features to look for when choosing asset management software for your small business

Does the thought of continuously tracking thousands of physical and digital assets across your company or multiple company locations stress you out? Then put the pen down and exit out of the spreadsheet. There’s no need to manually track your company’s assets. Businesses of all sizes can use asset management software instead to do the heavy lifting for them.

When your small business is growing quickly, or you find that you, as the business owner, and your team are bogged down in repetitive tasks like checking inventory in/out on a spreadsheet, that’s when it might make sense to abandon the Excel spreadsheet and switch over to asset tracking software. 

In this post, we’ll discuss what asset management software is, why small businesses should use it to manage business assets, how much it costs, and the most powerful features to look for. 

What is asset management software? 

Asset management software, a.k.a. IT asset management platform, is a type of software that lets you track important details about company assets in real-time. The tool helps to centralize and streamline asset tracking across your company, including assets across multiple locations.

There are several options when it comes to picking asset management software, and each comes with its own features. However, there are common benefits to using any asset management solution. We’ll cover these in the next section.

Why should small businesses use asset management software? 

There are many advantages to using asset management software. Small businesses can take advantage of these benefits to help streamline and even scale their operations. If you’re currently using spreadsheets or even pen and paper, then you’re wasting valuable time and potentially opening your records up to human error.

To combat this, use asset management software instead. The software can quickly and accurately track your inventory, reveal actionable insights, and help with inventory audits. With different permission levels, you can allow anyone in your company the right level of software access to help with their work.

To recap, the top benefits of using asset management software are:

  • Increased efficiency
  • Improved accuracy
  • Invaluable insights

Before you start free trials or ask for demos of this different software, we recommend creating a list of all of your must-have and nice-to-have software requirements. This will streamline the process and ensure you choose the software that’s the best fit for your business’s needs. 

How much does asset management software cost? 

There are multiple options available for small businesses that want to utilize this type of software. And just like there are multiple software options, there are varying price points to consider.

Additionally, there are various pricing models you’ll find when researching the best IT asset management software for your organization. Here are three common pricing models you’ll come across:

  • User-per-month: The price of the software depends on how many members of your team will be using the software.
  • Pay-per-asset: The amount you pay varies based on the number of assets, aka number of items uniquely tracked with a barcode or asset tag. (Sometimes, this can be seen as pay-per-node meaning you pay only for items that are networked with an IP address)
  • Tiers: This type of pricing model is popular for many types of software. Essentially, you pick a software package from basic to enterprise with the features you need.

With so many different types of software with varying features and different pricing models to choose from, you’ll need to do your research when picking the right one for your business. Depending on what you need, you may find a solution that costs anywhere from free up to $1,000 or more per month.

Key features to look for when choosing asset management software

While it is a best practice to list out the specific features you need before you start evaluating software, here are some of the top features to look for when considering an asset management software solution for your business:

Asset tagging

A practical feature, a.k.a. asset labels or asset barcodes, offered by most asset management software solutions is asset tagging. Asset tagging helps you manage physical assets by attaching a barcode, a QR code, or using RFID tracking (more expensive). Asset tags can be scanned to reveal information like manufacturing date, shelf life, or purchase and warranty details. Look for a software solution that offers asset tagging so you can easily track and scan physical assets.

Customizable Category and Field Configurations

While the main types of assets being tracked are generally IT assets, the ability to customize different equipment with specific details about that equipment can differ. Your business might need to track items differently than another business. So the ability to set your own categories and fields is really important, especially as you start out.

Asset logs 

Having an audit trail of all of your company assets, from fixed assets to digital assets, is vital to running a successful business. Having an asset log helps to see when assets were created and log any changes made to assets over time. In short, it helps you verify the assets you own, determine where they are located, streamline preventive maintenance processes, and provide a paper trail for both tax and insurance purposes. 

Reporting

One of the most beneficial aspects of asset management software is powerful reporting features, from viewing pre-built reports to setting up custom reporting. An example of a detailed report may include information like the location of assets, stock levels, purchase price, maintenance information, etc. They can help you manage inventory, create an asset register, and conduct asset tracking. Some software solutions will allow you to create customized reports specific to your inventory tracking needs. 

Security

The software solution you trust with your asset management needs to be secure. This also means that it should have role-based access controls, so you can restrict access to certain users. Everyone on your team doesn’t need full access to make changes to your asset records. For example, maybe you have an administrative assistant that needs to be able to see where assets are located, but not make changes. That person could be given a “viewing” permission instead of editing capabilities to protect your records.

Mobile App

A critical feature for best-in-class asset management software is having an easy-to-use mobile app. At the minimum, you should be able to scan barcodes and QR codes easily, create and edit assets, log maintenance work, check in and out equipment, update user roles’ access and permissions while on the go. 

Tech support

The software you choose should be user-friendly and easy to navigate. However, if you do run into issues or need help with the app, then you’ll want to know that the software you are using provides excellent and timely customer support. 

Before you decide on a software solution for your business, make sure you’re comfortable with how you can reach their support team. You don’t want to be surprised or unable to access help when you need it. You may even want to send a request or two to support just to gauge support responsiveness and quality.  

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Ideally, you want your asset management software to grow with you. This means knowing what you need from the features and comparing your options. Many software providers offer a free trial or demo so you can test the solution before committing. At the end of the day, you want software that’s the right fit for your business. It’s worth putting the extra effort into researching your options.

Ready to get started? Try Reftab for free. 

Software Asset Management Best Practices: 7 Tips for Managing Physical and Digital Assets

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Where does your company’s software asset management system stand? 

Software asset management (SAM) is the process of managing the end-to-end process from communicating with software vendors, purchasing software licenses and deployment to software maintenance, mitigating compliance risks, and keeping track of current contracts, renewal dates and total software costs (like used and unused licenses). This usually sits within the IT department, and has become an increasingly important role especially with the explosion of software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools and more teams switching to be either hybrid or fully remote.   

From large warehouse product inventory management to hundreds of SaaS subscriptions, the maintenance of company financial spreadsheets, mismanaged assets can result in operational slowdowns, unnecessary costs (from duplicate or unused software), security risks, and outright disasters.

With 55% of IT professionals witnessing an increase in cyber attacks in recent months, particularly the unauthorized removal or transfer of data (phishing emails, transfer of company data from devices, etc), now is the time to securely manage digital and physical assets alike.

In this post, we’re sharing seven software asset management best practices to minimize future risk and to best manage physical and digital assets.

1. Audit your assets 

When discussing effective physical and digital asset management tactics, conducting an asset audit is essential for understanding what you have and how it’s used. More often than not, assets reside in poorly managed locations—from underutilized company servers to backroom storage bins. These items are unaccounted for as a result, causing inaccuracies in data and potential security concerns. 

Start by taking a deep dive into your asset locations and record exact quantities of what you have, where it’s located, and how it’s organized. Be sure to also record exactly who has access to these assets and if these individuals were aware of their presence. This process will allow you to understand how assets are currently managed, who’s using them, and identify gaps in their organization.

2. Start off simple

When it comes to both physical and digital asset management, it’s very easy for a company’s processes to become a bit scattered (and overwhelming). When an asset management process becomes too convoluted for administrators to handle, it ultimately becomes significantly easier for error and security threats to arise. So, don’t jump straight into a 12-step management process.

Instead, when creating your asset management strategy, begin by creating workflows for various basic recording processes, like asset approval and archiving. For example, has the asset been approved for use? And, after use, has the asset been properly archived or not?

Simplify these processes and only share access with those who are distinctly responsible for managing them. As you become more familiar with the management process, you can circle back to revise workflows and allow for automation.

3. Establish SOPs for consistent processes

A standard operating procedure, or SOP for short, is a set of written instructions that outlines the step-by-step method for properly completing a shared activity. In terms of managing physical and digital assets, an SOP breaks down the complete details for how to best navigate this process. These SOPs are then distributed among appropriate employees to ensure a consistent approach across all departments. 

Depending on your business, you might have two separate SOPs for managing either physical or digital assets. For instance, an eCommerce brand might have a particular SOP for organizing and tracking physical stock and another for managing all promotional images. When developing an SOP for your business, start by identifying a uniform naming strategy for all assets. 

Digitally, modify original assets so they follow a synchronized naming structure and share consistent metadata fields. Implement keyword tags so anyone accessing the SOP can easily refine searches for digital assets using a standardized search term. Then, fill each field with relevant information, like photographer or copyright details.

For both digital and physical products, ideate a filing system based on date, category type, or tag. Remember, for any cataloging system or SOP to remain helpful over time, the chosen naming strategy must remain consistent. Once you settle on a system, thoroughly document this process in writing—from start to finish—and share the SOP only with relevant employees. 

4. Incorporate the use of asset management software

When it comes to effective physical and digital asset management, relying on old-school Excel spreadsheets only sets your organization up for operational hiccups. And with only a written SOP to base management on, mishaps are sure to happen. In comparison, asset management software, like Reftab, allows organizations to streamline their processes via numerous robust automation.

You must choose a system that aligns with your specific needs. Begin by identifying how you’ll utilize the software, such as how you will distribute or share inventory data. For instance, Reftab has extensive permissions and security features that allow administrators to limit who can access asset data.

If your inventory is quite extensive, you’ll also want to choose software with detailed search and automation capabilities. Combined with your established naming system, you can review and edit asset data with a simple search. Plus, advanced automation capabilities that can sync with outside touchpoints, such as a POS system, can streamline your digital and physical assets across the board. 

5. Assign responsibility to one or more people in your IT team

From the effort of daily recording of metadata to the struggle of routinely training new users on your SOPs, the work that goes into managing physical and digital assets is a job in itself. That’s why organizations should consider recruiting a full- or part-time IT person to be responsible for this. 

With a dedicated person in place, asset management processes are routinely supervised to ensure complete compliance with company SOPs. These individuals can further help identify system flaws or concerns to avoid any potentially damaging inaccuracies with inventory data.

6. Maintain proper security efforts

Considering the value attached to your organization’s physical and digital assets, why would you not protect them at all costs? With cyberattack concerns lingering, now is the time to implement security protocols. To start, ensure that all asset management systems utilize a strong username and password system that is routinely updated.

If you utilize a cloud-based asset management system for either digital assets or physical inventory levels, be wary when sharing log-in information. If you choose not to hire an asset management admin, only share sensitive information with a small group. You can also opt for a password manager, like LastPass, to store encrypted passwords online rather than share them with users.

Likewise, consistently review access logs to help reduce the chances of unauthorized or suspicious system activity. Cyberattacks do not always stem from overseas hackers or large-scale data leaks—many times, they can be as simple as a disgruntled past employee who inflicts privacy concerns within your company using your flimsy security efforts against you.

7. Develop a disaster recovery plan 

On the topic of cyberattacks, something to consider when rounding out your management plan is how you will handle a crisis. From significant data leaks to extensive inventory loss, when a disaster occurs, it’s a lot easier to recover when you already have a plan in place. A disaster recovery plan is an investment any organization can benefit from to protect them from ongoing hurdles.

In the event that assets are impacted by some sort of situation, be sure to have processes in place that can help navigate the difficulties and further aid in getting the company back on track. This includes assigning specific system administrators to response duties like locking an asset management system down for post-disaster review. These system administrators can then work to update all required data fields to ensure a smooth post-disaster launch. Not to mention having one reliable location (i.e. an asset management platform) where all your asset records are held, will help tremendously. For example, you’ll know which users had access to which software, when that access was given and so forth.

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If your physical or digital asset management system continues to encounter issues, it may be time to update some of your management processes. With these seven tips, you have the ability to improve your asset management process and streamline company operations. Help alleviate future risks—and future headaches—when you properly manage your company assets.

What is asset management software?

Managing your company’s assets can be overwhelming and tedious, especially if you’re still using Excel spreadsheets or pen and paper to keep track of everything. There are so many details and moving parts to manage assets that manually tracking them yourself not only opens your records up to human error but is incredibly time-consuming and inefficient.

This is where good asset management software, like Reftab, can come in handy.  

In this post, we’re sharing what asset management software is, what this software can do, how it can help you keep track of business assets, and who should use it.  

What is asset management software?

Who should use asset management software?

What are the top benefits for using asset management software?

Reduce errors

Improve efficiency

Ensure compliance

Create reports

Simplify audits

Prevent maintenance problems

Access a customer portal

What is asset management software? 

Asset management software, also known as IT asset management software, is a tool designed to streamline tracking your company’s assets in real-time throughout its lifecycle. This type of software automatically tracks, records, and categorizes company-owned assets like products, trucks, and equipment. It helps businesses see important details about each asset, such as where it’s located and how it’s being used.

This type of software can be a game-changer for certain companies, but not everyone needs it. The next section will help you determine if asset management software is a good fit for your company.

Who should use asset management software?

Are you currently using spreadsheets or analog systems to check-in and out various equipment and keep track of hundreds (or more!) of inventory and assets each month?

Then you’re probably a good candidate for asset management software. 

Both tangible and intangible assets can be tracked through the software in a wide swath of industries, from education and nonprofits to healthcare, technology, and construction companies. That being said, any company that wants to track its assets’ lifecycles can benefit from utilizing asset management software.

What are the top benefits for using asset management software? 

There are many advantages to using an asset management software tool. The biggest reason is that it ensures all of your assets are in one central hub. However, here are a few more benefits you can expect from utilizing this software. 

Reduce errors

One of the primary reasons to utilize an asset management tool is to lower the risk of human error. Tracking inventory and asset details by hand is tedious and time-consuming, and the more items and changes that you make, the more opportunities to make a mistake with record-keeping, which can be particularly problematic for insurance and tax purposes. 

Say that a few laptops are no longer in service, but the person entering the data forgot to mark it that way or remove it from the spreadsheet. Your company would go on paying insurance on the equipment under the assumption that it’s still operational. Software would help mitigate this risk.

Improve efficiency

Entering and tracking asset details manually wastes the precious time of you and your staff. Asset management software can automatically do something in seconds that could potentially take your IT team hours to do by hand.


For example, let’s say you have multiple locations and need to track down where all of your company vehicles are. Without asset management software, you would need to check your personal records and communicate with the different locations to have someone on the floor physically look for the company vehicle and confirm the asset is there. This is something the software would be able to automatically and efficiently do for you, saving you the time of manually tracking it down yourself.

Ensure compliance

There are many laws and regulations to abide by, especially in manufacturing, healthcare, or enterprise tech. Having an asset management system in place can help you stay compliant. 

For instance, let’s say you work in the IT department for a large hospital, and one of your doctors left a computer unattended with sensitive patient data potentially accessible. Due to a potentially serious HIPAA violation, you receive an alert and then can log into one central hub – your asset management software – and quickly identify any additional computers and devices that might be compromised.

Create and view reports

Asset management software allows you to view dashboards as well as advanced reports on everything from:

  • Asset type
  • Asset records
  • Location of assets
  • Ownership of assets
  • Asset condition monitoring
  • Preventive maintenance alerts
  • Full maintenance history logs 
  • Audit trail 
  • Service requests 
  • Number of available software licenses 

This allows you to make more informed decisions on everything from your approach to asset management to managing asset costs, hiring and operational decisions, and assessing financial risks. All in far greater detail and in less time than if you were using spreadsheets. 

Simplify audits

Not only will your asset management solution give you a complete overview of your assets and the ability to run the specific reports mentioned above, but it can also help with audit management. Both internal and external audits are easier when you already have your ducks in a row.

Regular audits help ensure that your accounting is compliant and that everything is in line with your operational goals and objectives.

Prevent maintenance problems

Monitoring the life cycle of your assets means you can put preventative maintenance plans in place. This helps keep your assets in working order. Maintenance reports can include maintenance schedules, the asset’s stage in its life cycle, and inspection dates.

Using these details, you can plan and budget for the maintenance of your assets. Maintenance is almost always more cost-effective than fixing something that’s already broken.

Set up a booking portal

A great asset management software, like Reftab, is designed to be easy to use. So easy, in fact, that you can set up workflows to allow employees to check-in/out equipment as they need it. This can eliminate repetitive, time-consuming tasks, which frees your IT team to focus on strategic, higher-value initiatives.  

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If you’re still on the fence about utilizing an asset management software solution for your business, then we encourage you to try one out. As mentioned above, most software options will offer a free trial or a demo to give you a sense of whether the solution is right for you before you buy. 
Ready to get started? Try Reftab for free.

Best Asset Management Software in 2021

Software buying

If you are reading this post, there is a good chance you are in the market for asset management software. 

Maybe you are tired of manually recording your assets on a spreadsheet? 

Or you are looking for a more efficient inventory tracking system? 

There are many software solutions out there for IT asset management, but it can be a challenge choosing the right one for your business. That’s why we’ve done the research for you. 

In this post, we’ll cover some of the best asset management software options, looking at key features, who should use it, pricing, and more.   

1. Reftab 

You didn’t think we’d write this post and not include our own asset management software in here. Founded in 2013, organizations of all sizes, from small businesses and nonprofits to large tech companies and public universities, are using Reftab to manage their assets. 

Some key features in Reftab include asset management and tracking, dedicated mobile apps to scan asset barcode labels, maintenance management/work orders, user request portal, inventory management, asset tagging, role-based asset controls, automated workflows, and custom reports and dashboards. 

If you are looking to track 50 or fewer assets, Reftab is free to use. Pricing for paid plans starts at $30 per month for 500 assets. 

2. Jira Service Management

Jira Service Management is an enterprise asset and configuration management solution by Atlassian. The software features an open data structure that allows teams to flexibly manage company resources. Key asset management features within Jira include asset tracking, asset discovery, asset reviews, importers, and integrations. 

If you are already using Confluence and Jira for internal knowledge-base and bug-tracking (for example), then using Jira Service Management might be a solid option if you want to keep everything in one tool. The solution is customizable, meaning it can easily grow with your business as you add more assets to the mix.  

The downside of using Jira for asset management is that the tool is almost like a blank canvas that you can integrate into your existing business and IT workflows. If you don’t have well-established asset management processes in place or you are a small team that doesn’t have the bandwidth to add your own custom features, then you may find there is a steep learning curve and serious product limitations.  

For up to 3 users, Jira is free to use. Paid plans begin at $20 per agent. You’ll need to contact Jira’s sales team for an enterprise plan quote.

3. Zendesk

Zendesk is designed to be a customer service ticketing platform. Many IT teams have adapted it to manage their internal IT requests. Everything from maintenance orders to checking in and out equipment. Because it wasn’t built to be an asset management software, this means you will need to use at least a handful of third-party apps for many critical asset management features. When you have a lot of integrations, this can complicate your setup costing more money and time down the line. 

A better solution is to keep using Zendesk for your customer support. Then, integrate with a dedicated asset management software, like Reftab to pull in any necessary information. 

Pro Tip: Here is how you can integrate Zendesk with Reftab.  

Zendesk’s customer service product starts at $49 a month per user. 

4. Freshservice

Freshservice is a robust IT service management platform. It has several useful features, including IT asset management. The asset management function includes automation, no-code workflows, and an integrated platform to bridge work silos. The company also offers excellent onboarding, migration services, and 24/7 support. 

Freshservice is made for all businesses and industries to use, but due to the cost, it might be best for enterprise companies. Because plans charge per user, having your whole team join the platform can get expensive. Another issue that users have pointed out is the inefficiency of the ticket process.

Plans start at $19 per user each month and go up to $109 per user each month for enterprise accounts. Whichever plan you use, you’ll want to get an Asset Pack add-on. This costs $75 for a pack of 500 assets. If your business has a lot of assets, then you may want to consider the unlimited assets option at $1500 per month.

5. Excel Spreadsheets

Excel wasn’t designed specifically for asset management, but the versatile software can function as a basic asset tracker. 

Excel is best for small businesses, either just starting out or on a tight budget. The main benefit of using Excel is the cost. 

There are several critical flaws to relying on Excel for your asset tracking, like:  

  • You can input data, but Excel can’t update the information, pull insights and reports, or actually track your assets. 
  • The manual nature of Excel opens up your records to human error, especially as more people have access to the spreadsheet.  
  • Formulas can be touchy within the spreadsheet, and data entry is tedious. 
  • It’s less accurate, effective, and efficient than other software designed for asset management.
  • Excel was not designed for use with mobile apps, nor can be used as a barcode scanner.

As a standalone software, you can purchase Excel for a single PC or Mac for a $159.99 fee. You could also purchase Excel as a part of Microsoft 365 which includes Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and 1 TB of cloud storage per person. Microsoft 365 plan starts at $6.99 per month and depends on how many people on your team that need an account.

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By now, you should have a better sense of which of the top software options are right for you. Many of these solutions come with a free trial or demo, so be sure to take advantage of that to test the option before committing.

If you are interested in trying out Reftab, get started for free here.