EZOfficeInventory

What is EZO

EZO, formerly known as EZOfficeInventory, is a cloud-based asset management software. Its main purpose is to help organizations track and manage their physical and digital assets from a central platform. The software provides tools for monitoring equipment location, managing custody, scheduling maintenance, and generating reports on asset usage. This helps businesses to reduce asset loss, improve operational efficiency, and maximize the return on their investments. EZO Inc., the company behind the software, was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Carson City, Nevada, USA. It serves a wide range of industries, including construction, healthcare, education, and IT, by offering a flexible system to manage everything from tools and machinery to laptops and software licenses.

EZO Features

EZO offers a complete set of features for asset management. Here are some of the key functionalities:

• Asset Tracking: Use QR codes, barcodes, and RFID tags to track every asset. You can easily check items in and out, perform audits, and maintain a clear history of who has what.
• Inventory Management: Monitor stock levels of consumable items. The system sends low stock alerts and allows you to create and manage purchase orders to avoid shortages.
• Maintenance Management: Schedule and track preventive maintenance for your equipment. You can create recurring service events, manage repairs, and keep a full service history to extend asset lifespan.
• Mobile Application: A mobile app for iOS and Android lets you manage assets from anywhere. You can use your phone's camera as a scanner to check out equipment, update information, and conduct audits on the move.
• Reservations and Scheduling: Users can reserve assets for specific dates. This prevents scheduling conflicts and ensures that necessary equipment is available for projects and events.
• Reporting and Analytics: Access many pre-built reports or create your own custom reports. These reports provide insights into asset utilization, maintenance costs, and depreciation, helping you make better decisions.
• User and Access Control: Set specific permissions for different users. You can create roles for administrators and staff, controlling who can see what information and what actions they can perform.
• Integrations: Connect EZO with other business tools like Zendesk, Jira, and single sign-on (SSO) providers to create a more connected workflow.

EZO Pricing Plans

EZO provides several pricing tiers designed for businesses of different sizes. The plans are structured to scale as your company grows.

• Essential Plan: This plan is for small teams and businesses starting with asset management. It includes core features like asset tracking, check-in/checkout, and basic reporting.
• Advanced Plan: Aimed at growing businesses, this tier offers more advanced features. It typically includes everything in the Essential plan plus features like purchase order management, advanced reporting, and more customization options.
• Premium Plan: This is the most popular plan, suitable for medium to large organizations. It includes all features from the Advanced plan, plus maintenance management, recurring services, and more integrations.
• Enterprise Plan: For large corporations with complex needs, this plan offers custom solutions, dedicated support, advanced security features like SAML/SSO, and API access for custom development.

EZO Free Plan

EZO does not offer a permanently free plan. However, they provide a 15-day free trial for new users to test the software. The trial typically includes access to all the features of their Premium plan, allowing you to explore the full capabilities of the platform. This lets you import your own data, test the mobile apps, and see how the system fits your workflow before making a purchase decision.

How to use EZO

Getting started with EZO is a direct process. Here is a typical workflow for a new user:

1. Sign Up: Begin by signing up for the 15-day free trial on the EZO website.
2. Add Assets: You can add your assets to the system in two ways. You can import a list of your existing assets using a CSV file or add them one by one manually.
3. Create and Attach Labels: Generate unique QR code or barcode labels from within the EZO platform. Print these labels and attach them securely to each physical asset.
4. Check-in and Check-out: Use the mobile app or a dedicated barcode scanner to scan the labels. This allows you to check assets out to employees or locations and check them back in when they are returned.
5. Schedule Maintenance: For equipment that needs regular servicing, set up recurring maintenance schedules. The system will send reminders when service is due.
6. Run Reports: Use the reporting dashboard to track asset activity. You can see which assets are used most often, monitor maintenance costs, and identify equipment that needs to be replaced.

Pros and Cons of EZO

Here is a balanced look at the advantages and disadvantages of using EZO.

Pros:

• Comprehensive Features: It covers almost every aspect of asset management, from tracking and maintenance to reporting.
• User-Friendly Mobile App: The mobile app is powerful and makes it easy to manage assets in the field.
• High Customization: You can create custom fields, reports, and labels to fit your specific business needs.
• Scalable: The software is suitable for small businesses as well as large enterprises.
• Good Customer Support: Users often report positive experiences with the customer support team.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: With so many features, it can take some time for new users to learn how to use the system effectively.
• Pricing: The cost can be a bit high for very small businesses or non-profits with limited budgets.
• Interface Can Be Busy: The web interface can feel cluttered at times due to the large amount of information and options available.

EZO integrations

EZO integrates with a variety of other software platforms to help you connect your workflows. Here are some of the key integrations available:

• Zendesk and Jira Integration: Connect asset information directly into your helpdesk tickets. This allows IT support staff to see which assets are assigned to a user when they submit a request.
• SSO/LDAP Integration: Integrate with providers like Okta, OneLogin, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Azure AD for secure and easy user login.
• Dropbox and OneDrive Integration: Automatically back up your EZO data and reports to your preferred cloud storage service.
• Slack Integration: Receive notifications about asset checkouts, check-ins, and maintenance alerts directly in your Slack channels.

EZO Alternatives

If you are looking for other options, here are some popular alternatives to EZO:

• Asset Panda: A highly customizable asset tracking platform that is known for its mobile-first approach. It is very flexible but may require more setup time.
• UpKeep: This software combines asset tracking with a strong Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). It is a great choice for businesses focused on maintenance.
• Snipe-IT: An open-source asset management system that is popular with IT departments. It is free to self-host, making it a cost-effective option, but requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
• GoCodes: A simpler asset tracking solution that focuses on QR code scanning with a mobile app. It is very easy to use but may not have the advanced features of EZO.

EZO API

Yes, EZO provides a REST-based API for developers. This allows you to build custom integrations and connect EZO with other applications that are not supported out-of-the-box. API access is typically available on the higher-tier pricing plans.

To get your API key, you usually need to log in to your EZO account, navigate to the settings or add-ons section, and enable API access to generate the necessary tokens. For detailed instructions and documentation, you should visit the EZO developer portal on their website.

Here is a simple example of how to fetch assets using the API with cURL:

curl -X GET \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
"https://your_company.ezo.io/api/v1/assets.api"

EZO Affiliate program

EZO offers a Partner Program for businesses that want to collaborate. This program is designed for resellers, consultants, and technology partners who can introduce EZO to their clients. While specific commission rates and payment details are not publicly listed, they are typically discussed during the application process.

To join, you can visit the 'Partners' section on the EZO website and fill out an application form. You will need to provide information about your business and how you plan to promote the software. If there is no clear affiliate program, it is best to email their support or partnership team to ask about opportunities to become a partner or influencer.