Why IT Asset Visibility is Your Company's Strategic Edge

Visibility Gaps = Real Financial Losses

According to recent research, only 28% of organizations confidently track over 75% of their IT assets. Most companies discover approximately 35% more assets than initially recorded when implementing thorough asset discovery processes. This disconnect translates directly into unnecessary spending.

Consider ghost assets, outdated or non-existent assets still appearing on financial records. These comprise 12–25% of a typical IT asset inventory, inflating taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. Approximately 70% of businesses report discrepancies between asset records and actual inventory, revealing substantial financial mismanagement.

Unused software licenses ("shelfware") represent another substantial drain. In 2023, the average company wasted around $18 million on unused software licenses. For larger organizations, this figure jumped to $127 million annually.

Cloud infrastructure further compounds the issue, with about 28% of cloud spending classified as unnecessary. Many businesses underestimate cloud usage, with actual usage often far exceeding tracked figures, leading to substantial uncontrolled expenses.

Beyond Financial Losses: Operational and Security Risks

Poor visibility isn’t just financially damaging; it affects security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

IT outages now cost companies around $9,000 per minute, often totaling millions per incident for larger organizations. Ineffective asset tracking exacerbates downtime, complicating issue identification and resolution.

On the regulatory front, nearly half of organizations report audit complications and increased compliance costs due to inaccurate asset records. Accurate asset inventories are essential, especially in heavily regulated sectors like healthcare and finance, where even minor oversights can lead to serious legal and financial consequences.

Cybersecurity risks are also heightened without comprehensive asset visibility. In 2023, 26% of companies experienced breaches through unmanaged or unknown IoT devices. Additionally, lost or unsecured laptops have been responsible for breaches in over half of surveyed businesses. Effective security starts with knowing precisely what you need to protect.

The ROI of Clear Visibility: A Foundation for Leadership

Organizations implementing comprehensive asset management solutions are experiencing significant benefits. Half of companies using advanced asset tracking tools reported saving more than $1 million annually. In some cases, savings surpassed $25 million by addressing unnecessary expenditures such as unused licenses and inefficient cloud resources.

According to Forrester, proactive asset management initiatives deliver an average ROI of 428% over three years. These savings stem from improved asset tracking, reduced manual workloads, and enhanced decision-making capabilities. This demonstrable return positions companies prioritizing asset visibility as fiscally responsible and strategically astute industry leaders.