Austin, Texas, October 4, 2025
News Summary
A comprehensive review evaluated 33 asset management products from 17 vendors and examined the top 10 in depth, ranking solutions by features, value, security and support. Reviewers highlighted four must-have capabilities: real-time asset views, reporting and analytics, mobile access, and scanning/tracking support (barcode, RFID, QR, GPS). The roundup details pricing models, trials, onboarding options and vendor snapshots from Asset Panda to ServiceNow and Flexera. The report also covers related market activity, including wealth-management team hires in Austin and a student housing disposition in the Austin area, offering practical guidance for buyers weighing cost, integrations and mobile performance.
Asset management software roundup, local wealth hires and a student housing sale lead business activity
A focused review of asset management tools tops this report: a small business review team evaluated 33 asset management products from 17 different vendors in initial testing and took a deeper dive into the 10 products that scored highest. Reviewers concentrated on features, value, security and support, with special attention to the products’ ability to track IT assets such as software license management, hardware maintenance schedules and external devices connecting to networks. Price transparency was given great weight in rankings while reviewers warned that total cost depends on a company’s unique combination of assets.
Key capabilities the reviewers prioritized
The team said the four most important features of asset management software are: real-time views of all assets, asset reporting and analytics, mobile access, and support for scanning/tracking tools (barcode scanners, RFID, QR codes, GPS). Reviewers also flagged mobile apps, industry customizations and discovery tools as central to preventing small glitches from becoming major problems.
How the reviewers tested and who led the evaluation
Testing combined product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights. The reviewer is Dennis, who has decades-long tech journalism experience and a career history that includes founding editor and senior editorial roles at major consumer tech outlets. For the small business reviews, Dennis covers HR, payroll, payment processing, business formation and many other products and services for small and midsize businesses.
Highlighted vendors and what they offer
The review listed several vendors with specific features and prices. Reftab was shown as a featured partner with a 14-day free trial for up to 50 assets and a starting monthly price of $40 for 250 items; it includes unlimited users and accessory tracking and a Flow Builder to route requests through manager approval and catalog validation. ShareMyToolbox was listed with a starting price of $100/month with full web and app access plus $10/month per user and supports field transfers, maintenance tracking and audits. Rippling IT was shown with custom pricing and features that include Asset Tracking, Returns & Retrieval, Procurement, Storage & Inventory, Setup & Security.
Several products received detailed notes in the review. Asset Panda was described with a starting monthly price listed as $33 per user (billed annually) in one pricing line and a separate listed starting monthly price of $79.58 (annual contract required) in another line; implementation/onboarding support is listed as Yes; risk mitigation is listed as Yes in one line and No in another. Asset Panda includes asset inspection features, easy creation of custom inspection checklists, mobile app photo and barcode scanning, inspection assignment coordination with custom roles and permissions, alerts for due inspections, a dashboard for managers to view inspection status, and industry customizations for construction, education, healthcare and government. Users value its efficient barcode system, customization options and cloud-based real-time updates; reported issues include slow mobile performance, scanning glitches, limited integration capabilities and cumbersome data export processes.
ManageEngine AssetExplorer was noted for automating discovery of hardware and software and identifying relationships when network configuration changes. It maintains a history of IT assets, supports VMware and several Unix versions in addition to Windows and macOS, tracks software licenses and vendor contracts, and generates visual maps showing relationships between assets. The starting monthly price was listed at $19 per agent (billed annually). Reviewers found AssetExplorer affordable and feature-rich for SMBs but cited difficulties with initial setup, cloud integration and add-on costs.
Freshworks Freshservice includes a CMDB that can generate topology maps and produce a comprehensive compliance audit with a single click for on-premises and cloud assets. The starting monthly price shown was $249.58 for five users (billed annually). The product received mixed reviews for asset tracking, ticketing integration and ease of use, with criticisms including a clunky interface, high price and issues integrating with certain device management tools.
Wasp Barcode AssetCloud Complete was highlighted for flexible Audit Windows that record changes during audits, support blind audits from mobile phones and a multiquantity feature for category-level tracking. Its starting monthly price was listed as $219 (billed annually). Lansweeper was noted for combining active scanning with passive network monitoring, assigning risk scores to shadow IT and alerting on rogue devices; implementation/onboarding support was listed as No and risk mitigation Yes. ServiceNow’s Asset Management Executive Dashboard was described as combining Software Asset Management, Hardware Asset Management and Cloud Cost Management in one window with widgets for total spend, actual savings and contracts scheduled to run out within the next 90 days. Flexera One, EZO AssetSonar, InvGate and others were also detailed for strengths such as cloud cost visibility, lifecycle management, barcode label design and multiple inventory collection methods.
Pricing and structure notes
Pricing structures vary widely: some vendors charge by nodes (unique assets), others cap nodes at a level and charge more if exceeded. Asset Panda and Freshworks were the only providers in the rankings that charge per user, while Wasp Barcode has five-user limits on plans. Reviewers emphasized that price transparency matters but total cost depends on each company’s asset mix.
Local wealth management hiring activity
In regional wealth management moves, a firm recruited a Merrill Lynch Private Wealth team managing $500 million in client assets in Austin, Texas. The team is called The MK Group and produced more than $3 million in annual revenue. The MK Group is led by advisors Nancy McDonald and Jason Khawaja and includes client associate Alexandria Hardcastle. They joined the firm on April 17. The team reports to the Austin branch manager Billy Brandenberger. The hiring firm said it has around 2,200 financial advisors managing $667 billion in client assets and recently added other veteran teams from large banks.
Separately, a New Jersey-based bank holding company announced that Greg Allison joined the bank’s wealth management division as a senior managing director and portfolio manager based out of the Summit wealth office. Greg Allison joined Peapack Private from J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Austin, Texas, and previously led investment teams overseeing assets exceeding $1.3 billion and more than $6 billion at prior firms. The bank holding company reported total assets of $7.2 billion and assets under management and/or administration of $12.3 billion as of June 30, 2025.
Student housing sale with big income gains
A local investment manager completed the sale of The Oasis, a 672-bed student housing property located in San Marcos, Texas. The manager purchased The Oasis in Q1 2022 and sold the asset in Q2 2024 after doubling the net operating income (NOI) during its hold period. The Oasis was 99.3% occupied and 100% pre-leased for the 2024/2025 academic year and is located 30 minutes away from downtown Austin and two miles from the Texas State University campus. The manager executed a capital improvement plan soon after acquisition, renovating all 240 units and upgrading common areas and exteriors to drive rent growth and resident programing.
Bottom line
Businesses shopping for asset management tools should prioritize real-time views of all assets, asset reporting and analytics, mobile access, and support for scanning/tracking tools (barcode scanners, RFID, QR codes, GPS), match pricing models to their asset mix, and factor in onboarding support and discovery capabilities. Local wealth firms continue to recruit experienced advisory teams while real estate investors report value unlocked through renovation and active management in student housing.
FAQ
How many asset management products were evaluated?
They evaluated 33 asset management products from 17 different vendors in initial testing and took a deeper dive into the 10 products that scored highest.
What are the four most important features of asset management software?
The four most important features of asset management software are: real-time views of all assets, asset reporting and analytics, mobile access, and support for scanning/tracking tools (barcode scanners, RFID, QR codes, GPS).
What did Palladius do with The Oasis?
Palladius purchased The Oasis in Q1 2022 and sold the asset in Q2 2024. Palladius said it doubled the net operating income (NOI) during its hold period. The Oasis was 99.3% occupied and 100% pre-leased for the 2024/2025 academic year. The Oasis is located 30 minutes away from downtown Austin and two miles from the Texas State University campus.
What hiring did RBC Wealth Management-U.S. make?
RBC Wealth Management-U.S. recruited a Merrill Lynch Private Wealth team managing $500 million in client assets in Austin, Texas. The team is called The MK Group. The MK Group produced more than $3 million in annual revenue. The MK Group is led by advisors Nancy McDonald and Jason Khawaja and includes client associate Alexandria Hardcastle. They joined RBC on April 17.
What pricing examples were listed for asset management tools?
Examples listed include Asset Panda starting monthly price $33 per user (billed annually) and a separate listed starting monthly price $79.58 (annual contract required); ManageEngine starting monthly price listed: $19 per agent (billed annually); Freshservice starting monthly price shown: $249.58 for five users (billed annually); Wasp Barcode starting monthly price shown: $219 (billed annually); Reftab pricing noted: Starting monthly price $40 for 250 items; Flexera One starting monthly price listed: $62.50 (billed annually).
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Key features table
| Feature | Why it matters | Example vendors |
|---|---|---|
| real-time views of all assets | Enables immediate visibility to prevent outages and identify unauthorized devices. | ManageEngine AssetExplorer, Lansweeper, ServiceNow |
| asset reporting and analytics | Supports compliance, audits and cost optimization through clear metrics and reports. | Flexera One, EZO AssetSonar, ServiceNow |
| mobile access | Allows field teams to scan, inspect and update asset status from any location. | Asset Panda, Wasp Barcode AssetCloud Complete, InvGate |
| support for scanning/tracking tools (barcode scanners, RFID, QR codes, GPS) | Makes inventory fast, accurate and scalable across sites and asset types. | EZO AssetSonar, Asset Panda, Reftab |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- AdvisorHub: RBC lassos $500 million Merrill Private Wealth team in Austin
- Wikipedia: RBC Wealth Management
- NewMediaWire: Greg Allison, CFP® joins Peapack Private
- Google Search: Greg Allison Peapack Private Bank
- BusinessWire: Palladius sells Austin-area student housing property
- Wikipedia: Student housing
- TipRanks: Wilson Asset Management Group alters stake in Austin engineering
- Google Scholar: Wilson Asset Management
- CNBC: Austin asset management coverage
- Google News: Austin asset management
Author: Construction TX News
TEXAS STAFF WRITER The TEXAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructiontxnews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Texas and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Texas Construction Expo, major infrastructure unveilings, and advancements in construction technology showcases. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Associated General Contractors of Texas and the Texas Building Branch, plus leading businesses in construction and real estate that power the local economy such as Austin Commercial and CMiC Global. As part of the broader network, including constructioncanews.com, constructionnynews.com, and constructionflnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic construction landscape across multiple states.
