Klein Tools Nails Down IT Asset Management Control with Numara Software
Automation Solutions Give Klein the Tools to Improve Performance, Reduce Risk and Increase Visibility of IT Assets
Tampa, Fla. (January 18, 2010) –
Numara® Software, Inc., a leader in service management and asset management solutions for IT professionals, today announced that Klein Tools, Inc. has chosen its integrated IT asset management solutions to centralize and improve the company’s data and processes. Since 1857, Klein Tools has manufactured the highest quality hand tools and, today, is the number one preferred hand tool brand in the electrical industry, as well as a leader in the maintenance, construction and industrial trades. After struggling with a more complex solution, the Klein Tools IT team chose a number of products based upon the Numara Asset Management Platform (NAMP), in conjunction with the Numara® Track-It!® help desk solution, to reduce time and budget spent on IT operations.
NAMP consists of eight modular software products built on a single, unified platform that eliminates the need for expensive combinations of disparate products. By leveraging the “power of one”–one console, one agent, one database, one rule and reporting engine–the products work seamlessly together to eliminate the costs and complexity of managing hardware and software assets. Klein Tools selected to implement three of these modules: Numara® Deployment Manager, Numara® Remote Manager and Numara® Patch Manager.
With a staff of four IT professionals to support over 500 end-users across ten sites, the Klein Tools IT team must rely on automation to handle activities that regularly eat up time and money. They previously implemented a solution from Symantec(TM) Altiris® to track and manage IT assets, but found the software so difficult to learn and use–and slow to respond–that staff members were resorting to older and home-grown solutions. As a result, data was dispersed across disconnected databases and spreadsheets, and hours were wasted navigating the complex solution. Klein Tools went on a quest for a more intuitive and practical solution that would centralize their asset management data and processes and improve the technicians’ and end-users’ experience.
“Our staff wears many different hats, and we don’t have time to be stuck in a tool all day because it’s too complex or slow to react,” said Michael McCue, director of IT for Klein Tools. “We needed a responsive, easy-to-learn solution that lets even new employees quickly access the information they need and get back to servicing our business users. The Numara Asset Management Platform and its integrated products offered just that.”
McCue and team were also looking for new functionality their current solution didn’t offer, including the ability to remotely deploy new software and patches, integrate with a bar code scanner, and manage desktop power consumption. In addition, they needed to standardize procedures and processes and gain better visibility and control. They selected the NAMP products paired with Numara Track-It!, because the combined solution offered all of these features plus an intuitive, flexible and practical style.
By eliminating the data gaps, the IT team now has a complete and accurate picture of their assets. This is especially beneficial for Klein’s leased items, as underutilized or out-of-contract assets can lead to easily-avoidable fees. Klein is also leveraging the solution’s software deployment functionality to streamline its OS and application patch and deployment processes, eliminating the need for technicians to go from desktop to desktop to install updates. In addition, the team is integrating the Numara® Track-It!® Bar Code add-on module to quickly scan, record and log asset data, greatly increasing data accuracy and asset security.
“The NAMP solutions from Numara Software fit the way we work: they’re easy to install and get up and running, extremely intuitive for users, and offer the breadth of functions we need now along with the flexibility to grow with us in the future,” continued McCue. “We forecast a significant amount of savings based on faster data access, less training, quicker patch and software roll-outs, and reduced risks; not to mention the affordability of the solutions themselves.”
“Our new NAMP products address the challenges companies like Klein Tools face every day: managing inventory assets, simplifying software deployment and migrations, improving security and compliance, and reducing vulnerabilities and power consumption,” said Umesh Shah, senior manager, product marketing of Numara Software. “Right now, IT departments are struggling with flat budgets and lean staffs, so it’s extremely important that all of our solutions are affordable, easy-to-use, and at the end of the day, help them to get the job done.”
The NAMP family of IT asset management products includes: Numara® Inventory Manager, Numara® Deployment Manager, Numara® Remote Manager, Numara® Patch Manager, Numara® Power Manager, Numara® Vulnerability Manager, Numara® Compliance Manager and Numara® Device Manager.
About Numara Software
With more than 55,000 customer sites worldwide, Numara Software is a global leader in delivering practical, flexible solutions that allow IT organizations to improve service to their end-users. Our integrated IT service management and IT asset management software platforms enable organizations to efficiently automate a wide variety of IT related tasks and processes using interoperable solutions from a single, proven vendor. Widely known for our dedicated focus on ease of use and affordability for our customers, our IT solutions deliver fast time-to-value, increased control, and reduced risk for small businesses to large companies. For more information, visit: www.numarasoftware.com.
About Klein Tools
Klein Tools are designed and built to exceptional quality standards in a tradition that dates back over 150 years. Klein Tools are the #1 preferred hand tools in the electrical industry, as well as one of the leading brands used in the maintenance, construction, and industrial trades. Klein Tools, For Professionals…Since 1857. www.kleintools.com.
Source: Numara