This series of blogs explores how to ensure the efficient, accurate deployment of new assets in the data center.
What’s the challenge? Before assets are up and running, there’s lots of work to do. A new deployment can involve a handful of new assets, to thousands of different types of equipment. Each asset needs to be accounted for and installed correctly if it’s to provide value to the company.
Another factor to consider: new assets often replace ageing equipment - adding decommissioning to the list of tasks data center managers must complete.
Once assets have arrived at a facility it can take a surprising amount of time until they are operational – sometimes months can pass by with boxes of assets left unopened. But why?
- Is the environment too complex and causing issues?
- Are there not enough staff to efficiently deploy assets?
- Are other projects taking up time?
Bear in mind, if an asset sits idle for too long it will not deliver its maximum ROI over its lifetime.
There are plenty of opportunities for this issue to occur. From arrival to deployment, assets are moved multiple times. The longer assets are not in racks, the higher the chance of them being put somewhere and forgotten about – something which is more common than you think.
Keeping track of assets from the moment they are unloaded from the delivery van is critical.
Justifying investment within the data center can often be difficult - and assets are far from cheap – so data center managers need to install assets quickly to demonstrate the benefits of new hardware to budget holders.
For colocation providers, it’s especially important to reduce deployment time. Customers looking to increase their computing power cannot start projects if assets are idle and colocation providers could put their revenue at risk if they are not deploying equipment within the terms specified by service agreements.
Tracking the time it takes to deploy assets manually can be cumbersome and difficult. Asset management provides real-time information on location and status.
It also enables data center managers to set KPIs. For example, average asset deployment time or where delays occur within the deployment chain.
This information can be used in reports to improve processes for future deployments and to ensure internal goals are achieved. It’s also valuable for audits and external reporting, reducing the manpower costs associated with inventory management and improving the overall efficiency of the process.
A data center manager should always be looking for ways to improve efficiency. Reducing physical deployment and install time could increase asset ROI, reduce the chances of lost assets and improve overall asset management efficiencies.
