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It is widely accepted that IT Asset Management (ITAM) is 80% process, 20% tools.  The Asset Management module allows you to manage several important aspects about the process necessary to help make ITAM successful.

Most of the process required for successful ITAM centers around the various functions performed during an asset's life cycle.  The functions are performed by users, by technicians, by moving companies, and by other contractors.  Essentially, any action taken on an asset during its life cycle that in some way changes information that is being tracked by the ITAM solution, requires some process to make sure that information gets captured and recorded.  The point in the life cycle in which the function is performed represents an opportunity to capture asset change data, and is therefore referred to as a "Catch Point".  

Some changes may be automatically detected and reported by autodiscovery (such as the Workstation Data Assistant).  However, changes to location, cost center, assigned employee, etc, cannot be reliably captured by autodiscovery and therefore require some human intervention and therefore compliance to defined process.  The most efficient way of capturing such change information is through the proper design and deployment of web-based catch point screens, and/or through the use of properly designed hand-held scanners.

The MIE's process area assists in initially designing catch points, as well as the subsequent design of the screen to address the catch point and the rules that will be used to manage the catch point moving forward.