The Trick to Locating Underutilized Computers

June 30, 2022 |  BI Reports, Data
1 min

Find low-use or zero-usage computers quickly to save on IT costs.

Removing unused hardware from your inventory is a logical place to optimize your IT budget. Likewise, relocating hardware from one area to another could have a dramatic impact on usage. 

Hardware that’s not being used in its current location, might be far more valuable somewhere else. Consider a few new machines that are technically accessible to students, but hard to find in a basement computer lab. Or consider a computer in the busy library that’s been accidentally disabled by a user. 

Benefits of Removing Excess Hardware: 

  • Frees up space for alternative use (expanding classrooms, storage, meeting spaces, etc.)
  • Reduces budget strain and opens up the opportunity to spend on higher usage machines
  • Alleviates unnecessary maintenance, refreshes and staff time
  • Reduces software costs

With LabStat’s hardware usage data pulled into your BI tool, or into our newly developed Power BI hardware template, it’s easier than ever to identify specific computers on campus that are underutilized.

Computer Usage Power BI Template

Once you’ve identified the machines that have low or zero usage, it’s time to find out why. Using your LabStats data, you, or someone you delegate, can easily drill down to specific groups, labs, and individual stations to understand utilization.

Consider the following common scenarios:

  • The computer has been unplugged or disabled by a user. 
  • A mouse, keyboard or monitor is missing or disabled. 
  • The computer is in a location where students or staff can’t find it.
  • Students may be using their laptops or working in groups in the area of the machine without ever turning it on. 

It’s time to find out which computers on your campus are not being used, and optimize overall utilization either through reallocation or elimination. Start collecting hardware usage data with our free trial.


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