Part 3: Laying the Foundation | Zero to HAM
Welcome to Part 2 of AMI’s “Zero to HAM” series, where we explore the essential steps to building a successful Hardware Asset Management (HAM) program.
In the first episode, we talked about the importance of admitting you have a problem — clearly defining the challenges your organization faces. In this post, we’re diving into Step 2: Getting buy-in from stakeholders.
Building a Clean Data Foundation
At the end of the day, asset management is about reporting and managing exceptions. If your data is messy or inconsistent, even the most advanced software won’t deliver meaningful reports.
A clean, well-organized data platform ensures your inventory makes sense, your reports are accurate, and your users trust the insights they receive.
Start with Shared Data Categories
Before building anything, start by sourcing a clean, authoritative list of:
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Locations
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Cost centers
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Model categories
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People
These shared data sets form the foundation of your asset reports. Most organizations already maintain this information — the key is ensuring it’s accurate, consistent, and universally adopted.
Don’t Overengineer Your Data
When designing your data structure, keep it as simple as possible. The less information you need to capture, the easier it is to follow processes and maintain compliance.
For example:
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If your goal is property tax compliance, you only need to track assets by tax jurisdiction.
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If you’re managing a data center, tracking down to the row, rack, and U-position might be necessary.
The rule of thumb: Capture everything the business truly needs — but nothing more. Simplicity drives consistency.
Achieving Universal Understanding
Once your data structure is in place, ensure that everyone in the business understands and agrees on it.
Universal understanding eliminates confusion, ensures consistent reporting, and keeps every department aligned around the same definitions and standards.
When data is clean and structured, your workflows run smoother, reports are easier to interpret, and decision-making becomes faster and more confident.
Watch the Next Video
With a clean foundation in place, the next step in the Zero to HAM journey is Plumbing Data Integrations — connecting your data to the systems and tools that power your asset management processes.
👉 Watch the next episode to learn how to link your data with external systems and take your HAM implementation to the next level.
Download the Whitepaper
Download the whitepaper for practical steps on laying the foundation.
