A new cloud-based service that aims to simplify inventory and management of devices and equipment has been announced by Multiven. The Oyster service handles all devices in a customer's IT network, giving it a social identity so that organizations may track a number of device characteristics.

By assigning a social identity to the network, Oyster enables clients to track the purpose, cost and status of all devices from the procurement process to decommissioning. It also helps foster organization-wide collaboration across departments and geographies, within the cloud, without any software required to download, install or maintain.

Features of Multiven Oyster include device profiles through which users may create unique profiles for all their IT devices. This includes firewalls, routers, switches, tablets, smartphones and even software assets, and all profiles may be followed in the style of a social network. Device-level analytics and reports are also enables, and dynamic device statistics are presented in a unified view of analytical data and updates.

Device QR codes are also enabled through the service, in which each device is assigned a unique QR code that may be printed and placed on the device. This enables on-the-go scanning for up-to-date device data. Organization-wide collaboration is also enabled, and the service facilitates cross-functional collaboration among procurement, engineering, operations and all other IT stakeholders within an organization.

The Oyster service is available free worldwide for up to 50 devices. Users may sign up for the service at the company's website and once they are logged into the dashboard, they may begin to add and update assets while also inviting colleagues to collaborate.

"With Multiven Oyster, IT network devices now have their own unique social identity that provides stakeholders with real-time insight into the purpose, cost and status of each device from procurement to de-commissioning and ultimately to residual monetization," said Peter Alfred-Adekeye, founder and CEO of Multiven. "In the coming months, we will continue to enhance the Oyster platform to further enhance device-to-people and device-to-device collaboration."

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