In today's complex IT environment, effective management of IT resources is a key element of success for any organization. Therefore, making the right choice of IT tools can bring many benefits to your company, both in terms of operational efficiency and cost control. A very good solution in this regard is the product of the French company Teclib - GLPI (acronym for Gestionnaire Libre de Parc Informatique). This software, the result of 20 years of experience and collaboration of experts from around the world, is currently available in the offer of Hawatel.

What speaks for choosing GLPI and why such a platform might be of interest to you? Check out a few key advantages.

Why choose GLPI?

GLPI offers not only comprehensive tools for managing hardware, software, and incidents but also allows integration with various platforms. GLPI is based on open-source licensing, which means it is available for free and also allows customization of the source code to fit a company's individual needs.

Choosing GLPI allows for cost reduction associated with licenses, which is attractive for companies with limited budgets. The saved money can be reinvested in other areas.

GLPI is not limited to just hardware inventory or software management. This tool offers comprehensive IT asset management functions, including helpdesk, monitoring, incident management, and configuration management. GLPI is flexible and scalable, meaning it can be adapted to the needs of both small and large companies. It can evolve along with the development and complexity of an organization's IT infrastructure.

The GLPI interface is user-friendly, making it easy to learn and use, even for individuals without specialized IT knowledge. This is important, especially in environments where various departments of a company may use the tool without the need for specialized training. This is important for the efficient use of the tool across different departments of the company.

Source: Teclib

GLPI offers a modular structure, meaning organizations can choose only the features they need. This works efficiently for both small companies that need simple hardware management and for larger enterprises that want a full ITSM feature set.

GLPI allows integration with various tools and systems, providing full control over the entire IT ecosystem. Integrations with monitoring systems, ticketing systems, or cloud systems allow for consistent management of IT resources.

GLPI is supported by an active open-source community. This means regular updates, easier access to documentation, and the opportunity to participate in tool development. Community support allows for issue resolution and knowledge sharing with other users.

Effective incident management and helpdesk handling, along with features related to incident ticketing and progress tracking, make GLPI a complete tool for effective technical support management and user support. Through efficient handling of tickets, quicker problem resolution, and better incident management, companies can improve user satisfaction with IT services.

GLPI offers reporting features that enable organizations to monitor effectiveness, identify areas for optimization, and provide data for strategic decision-making. By choosing GLPI, organizations gain not only a tool for IT asset inventory but a comprehensive solution that can effectively support IT infrastructure management.

Source: Teclib

Many options for integrating GLPI with other systems 

Integration with IT infrastructure monitoring systems

GLPI allows integration with many systems existing in companies. A good example is the ability to integrate with various monitoring systems such as Nagios or Zabbix. With this integration, information about incidents and outages can be automatically sent to GLPI, reducing IT team response time. Administration can thus gain a fuller picture of the IT infrastructure and make faster decisions in case of problems.

Integration with ticketing systems

Collaboration with ticketing systems, e.g., Jira, is crucial for effective incident management. It allows for automatic creation of tickets in GLPI based on requests received from other systems. This streamlines workflow and eliminates the need for double data entry.

Integration with Active Directory 

Connecting with identity management systems such as Active Directory allows for automatic updates of user and device data in GLPI. This enables tracking changes in the organizational structure and provides current information about individual employees and their allocated IT resources.

Integration with antivirus systems

GLPI can be integrated with antivirus solutions, enabling monitoring of security status and automatic response to detected threats. Administration can track which devices are at risk and quickly respond to potential attacks.

Source: Teclib

Integration with inventory systems

Importing data from inventory systems such as OCS Inventory allows for automatic updating of hardware and software information. This eliminates the need for manual data entry, speeding up inventory processes.

Integration with helpdesk systems

Collaboration with helpdesk systems, e.g., Zendesk or Freshdesk, enables better handling of user requests. Integration of such a system with GLPI allows tracking requests from submission to resolution, all from within one tool.

Cloud integration

GLPI can be integrated with cloud platforms, e.g., AWS or Azure, enabling fuller control over cloud resources. Administration can track resource usage, monitor performance, and manage them from one central point.

Integration with teleinformatics systems

Connecting with teleinformatics systems, such as Cisco Unified Communications, allows for monitoring of telephony devices and quick response to potential issues. Integration with GLPI enables consolidated management of both IT infrastructure and telecommunication systems.

Source: Teclib

Comparison of GLPI with other solutions

Interested in how GLPI compares to other similar platforms? Check it out!

GLPI vs. OCS Inventory

GLPI and OCS Inventory are often used together as a comprehensive solution. However, GLPI offers more extensive incident management, helpdesk, and advanced reporting features than OCS Inventory. OCS Inventory mainly focuses on hardware and software inventory, while GLPI goes further, offering a more comprehensive tool for managing IT infrastructure.

Source: Teclib

GLPI vs. ServiceNow

ServiceNow is one of the leaders in IT service management (ITSM) tools. ServiceNow offers more advanced ITSM features but is typically more expensive to implement and maintain than GLPI. GLPI may be more flexible and tailored to specific organizational needs.

GLPI vs. Spiceworks

Spiceworks is a popular IT asset management tool, especially in small and medium-sized businesses. GLPI offers more extensive features, especially in incident management and helpdesk. Spiceworks may be more intuitive for small businesses, while GLPI has greater scalability for more complex environments.

GLPI vs. Jira Service Management

Jira Service Management is known for comprehensive ITSM process management. Jira may be more complicated to implement, while GLPI is more user-friendly and easier to understand. Jira Service Management offers stronger reporting and data analysis tools, but GLPI still provides solid functionality in these areas.

GLPI vs. BMC Remedy

BMC Remedy is one of the oldest and most advanced IT service management tools. BMC Remedy is often used in large corporations, offering comprehensive ITSM features. GLPI is more affordable and can be more flexible for medium and small businesses while still retaining solid IT asset management features.

The choice between GLPI and competing solutions depends on individual business needs and the scale of the organization. GLPI stands out primarily for its price, flexibility, and wide range of features, making it an attractive choice for many companies, especially medium and small ones. Organizations looking for a simple but effective tool for managing IT resources may find in GLPI a solution tailored to their needs.
 

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