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JumpCloud IT Asset Management™ uses a hybrid approach because your inventory is a mix of different assets. You have the JumpCloud agent automatically tracking your Windows, Mac, and Linux fleet, while flexible manual importing handles peripherals, monitors, and unmanaged hardware.
This system covers nearly every stage of the lifecycle, but there has been one exception: the time between buying a device and unboxing it. To track a MacBook during shipping, you typically rely on a CSV import from your purchase order to get those serial numbers into the system.
We are streamlining that step for your Apple fleet.
With the new Apple Business Manager (ABM) integration, you can sync assets directly from your procurement source. This extends your automated coverage to the very beginning of the lifecycle, capturing device details the moment they are purchased so your records are ready before the hardware even arrives.
Why This Matters
Adding this integration gives you a new layer of efficiency for your Apple fleet. You can rely on automation where it is available while continuing to use our flexible manual import option for the rest of your IT inventory.
A Verified Record of Truth
For unmanaged assets like monitors or peripherals, manual entry is often the only option. But for high-value computers, you have a better data source: the vendor itself.
By syncing directly with Apple, you make sure that hardware information in JumpCloud matches your procurement records exactly, such as:
- Type
- OS Family
- Serial Number
- MDM Status
- OS Version
- Model
- Vendor
It creates a verified record for your most critical hardware without requiring you to cross-reference spreadsheets.
Zero-Touch Inventory
You are likely already using Apple Business Manager for zero-touch deployment to automate device setup. We are applying that same logic to your record-keeping. Zero-touch inventory means your Apple asset records populate themselves as soon as the purchase clears.
It removes the administrative step for these devices, freeing you to focus on managing the assets that require manual tracking.
Suggested reading: Build a Secure, Powerful IT Foundation That Skyrockets Growth
Built-In, Not Bolted On
We designed this feature to respect the work you have already done. If you use JumpCloud for Apple MDM, you do not need to configure a new connector or install a new agent. This feature uses the existing ABM token and connection you have already established.
Simply make sure your devices are assigned to the JumpCloud MDM server within Apple Business Manager, enable the sync, and the platform uses your existing infrastructure to bring deeper visibility to your fleet.
How It Works
The Apple Business Manager integration runs in the background with minimal configuration. Once enabled in your Asset Management settings, here is how the system handles your data:
1. Seamless Daily Syncing
The integration establishes a daily sync with your ABM account. It automatically pulls in the essential hardware identifiers—specifically the serial number and model type—for every device in your procurement history. This makes sure that even if you order devices on a Friday, they will be waiting in your Asset Management console by the time you return on Monday.
2. Intelligent Asset Mapping
A common concern with importing data is duplication. If you already have Apple devices enrolled and active in JumpCloud, you do not want the ABM sync to create a second record for the same machine.
JumpCloud’s IT Asset Management solves this by matching on the serial number. When the sync runs, JumpCloud checks if a device with that serial number already exists in your organization.
- If it exists: We update key hardware fields to match the verified Apple record.
- If it is new: We create a new asset record.
This logic makes sure your inventory grows without becoming messy.
3. Customizable Ingestion
Not every asset in Apple Business Manager is ready for a user. To reflect this, the integration allows you to define a Default Status for all incoming ABM assets.
For example, you can configure the system so that every new device synced from ABM is automatically assigned a status of “Purchased” or “In Stock.” This keeps your reporting accurate, distinguishing between the laptops currently in use and the ones that are still in the box.
Also read: Best Practices for Modern IT Asset Management
Solving Real-World Problems
This integration is designed to handle specific operational challenges that come with managing Apple hardware at scale. Here are three ways it streamlines common IT scenarios:
The Bulk Refresh
- The Scenario: You purchase 50 new MacBooks for a hiring surge or a departmental refresh.
- The Workflow Improvement: Instead of waiting for the shipment to arrive or manually importing a CSV from the purchase order to pre-stage these records, the devices appear in JumpCloud automatically. You can configure the sync to apply a default status of “In Stock” or “On Order,” giving you an accurate count of your incoming inventory before the boxes even touch your receiving dock.
Catching “Shadow” Procurement
- The Scenario: A branch office manager buys an iPad for a point-of-sale terminal using a corporate card and links it to the company’s Apple Business Manager account, but fails to notify Central IT.
- The Workflow Improvement: Without this integration, that device is invisible to you until it breaks or goes missing. With the sync enabled, the iPad appears in your Asset Management console the next time the sync runs. You immediately see a new, unassigned asset, allowing you to proactively reach out, assign ownership, and make sure it is properly enrolled.
The Finance Audit
- The Scenario: Your Finance team requests a report of all hardware assets purchased in the current fiscal year to reconcile against capital expenditures.
- The Workflow Improvement: A report based solely on active devices would miss the inventory sitting on shelves or in transit. Because the ABM sync captures every device procured through the account, your report matches the purchasing ledger. You provide Finance with a complete view of company-owned hardware, closing the gap between IT operations and the balance sheet.
Start The Intelligent Age of IT Asset Management
The Apple Business Manager integration is just one part of our latest update designed to give you complete visibility over your hardware lifecycle.
By combining this new procurement sync with our other recent enhancements, you can build a streamlined workflow that covers the entire journey of a device:
- Sync your Apple devices automatically via ABM to capture them the moment they are purchased.
- Attach the original invoice or purchase order to those records using our new File Upload feature for audit-readiness.
- Analyze your inventory using JumpCloud AI Search to instantly query data—like asking, “Show me all MacBook Pros purchased in 2024 that are currently In Stock.”
We are removing the friction between buying hardware and tracking it, giving you a reliable source of truth so you can make smarter decisions about your fleet.
Ready to close the visibility gap? Get started with JumpCloud today to start tracking your assets from day one.
