Originally posted on my status but probably more appropriate as a question..... We're in the process of implementing a new cloud based Fixed Assets register replacing an old (barely functioning) database. I was pleased that the project engaged with us early to get our requirements for the data feed into Apptio. I am now creating a process to address the issue of mapping of new assests to Tower and Sub-tower, at the monment this will be a manual process owned by the IT Finance team where new assets will be mapped monthly in a spreadsheet and uploaded into Apptio.

Just wanted to find out how others are doing this. Has anyone managed to come up with any clever ways of streamlining the process of mapping Fixed Assets to Tower and Sub-tower? And how are you handling intagible assets?

We use the expense cost center where the asset is purchased and capitalized to identify which tower it should align to. All cost centers belong to 1 cost tower.

Travis Cole

Technology Business Management | O:402-777-4409 | M:402-699-3715

We don't do anything fancy on mapping fixed assets to ITRT. We mapped by assets so as & when they come in on the register the description tells us what type of asset it is and then we map it. Any assets without an ITRT then instantly full out of the model so we can update our mapping file so not to tamper with the original data source.

I am going to look in to mapping a table match to find trigger words in the description or accounting type and then have the ITRT mapped that way although not sure it's the best idea

As a more specific reply, with our cloud fixed assets we know roughly the percentage of what needs to be allocated to IaaS and PaaS, I added a weighting column where all assets apart from those mapped to an ITRT combo containing the word Cloud was 1 and then added a percentage split of 50/50, 48/52 and 26/74 percentile against Cloud Storage, Compute and Network - not necessarily in that order.

The percentages were added as an additional column to the FAR to ITRT mapping file. 

I then added IaaS and PaaS as a third tier to Contract, FAR, Labour, ITRT, Servers, Storage and Networks but only if they were labelled as Cloud - that way I didn't have to create additional allocation lines and could use the existing, although I did have to make sure they didn't match on either side when it wasn't cloud as that over-allocated costs (I added null to one side of the allocation)

We could then use our existing server to application mapping file to allocate those cloud compute costs directly to the cloud applications without changing the top of the model, adding in extra allocation lines or needing to identify what applications are cloud

Yes. The metadata related to the asset is critical. See if your Fixed Asset Registry has any fields such as Asset Type, Category/Class, Sub-Category/Sub--Class

For Example:

Asset Type: Hardware, Software (Perpetual), Software Development (Internal/External)

Category/Class: Compute, Storage, Network, Laptop/Desktop/Table (if it falls into Fixed Asset Threshold), Telepresence, Print/Fax/Scan

Sub Category/Sub-Class: Windows/Linux, Security, Mainframe

There are just some examples. In any case, you may find yourself with fields that can be customized and find your needs. I highly recommend that this information be tracked during the intake/receiving phase of your asset lifecycle versus chasing this information afterwards. This will help streamline your reporting and asset accuracy/inventory/audits.

Richard Coronado | Sony Picture Entertainment

Manager | Technology Business Management

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