--- title: Scared of Asset Management and Ghost Assets in your Asset Register? description: Article explaining what ghost assets are, why they matter and how to prevent them appearing in your asset register Asset Management and Ghost Assets image: https://blog.sgworld.com/hubfs/5D%20Blog%20Images/Worried.jpg --- [![SG World](https://blog.sgworld.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SGWorld_December2020/images/sg_world_logo_new_373x208.png?width=1000&height=1043&name=sg_world_logo_new_373x208.png "SG World")](https://www.sgworld.com/) [Login](https://www.sgworld.com/account/login) - For Business - [Contractor Management](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/contractor-management) - [Authorisation To Work Passes](https://www.sgworld.com/products/contractor-authorisation-to-work-passes) - [Customised Authorisation Passes](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/customised-contractor-authorisation-to-work-pass) - [Permits To Work](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/permit-to-work-products) - [5D Contractor Management Software](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/5d-contractor) - 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[5D Contractor Management Software](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/contractor-management-software) - [Contractor ID Service](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/id-bureau) - Administration & Finance - [Asset Management Software](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/asset-management) - [Cheques](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/cheque-landing-page) - [Cash Collection Envelope](https://www.sgworld.com/products/school-cash-collection-envelopes-packs-of-1000) - [Good Received System](https://www.sgworld.com/products/goods-received-system-packs-of-250) - [Message & Absence Notebook](https://www.sgworld.com/products/school-telephone-message-and-absence-notification-system-pad-of-120) - [School Receipt Pad](https://www.sgworld.com/products/school-receipt-pad-packs-of-5) - Accessories - [Armbands](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/armbands) - [Clips](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/clips) - [Lanyards](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/lanyards) - [Lanyo-yos](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/lanyo-yos) - [Wallets](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/wallets) - [Wristbands](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/wristbands) - [Writing Boards](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/writing-boards) - [Yo-Yos](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/yo-yos) - Safety Signage - [All Safety Signage](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/all-safety-signage) - [Warning & Hazard](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/warning-hazard-safety-signage) - [Construction](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/construction-safety-signage) - [Fire Safety](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/fire-safety-signage) - [Access & Traffic](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/access-traffic-safety-signage) - [Safety Notice Boards](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/site-safety-notice-boards) - [Floor Safety Mats](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/safety-mats) - [Inspection Safety Signage](https://www.sgworld.com/collections/inspection-safety-signage) - 5D Software - [Visitor Management](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/5d-visitor) - [For Business](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/5d-visitor-for-business) - 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Resources - [Blog](https://blog.sgworld.com/) - [Permits To Work Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/permit-to-work-information) - [Pre-Use Inspection Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/pre-use-safety-inspections) - [School Accident and Incident Reporting](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/school-accident-reporting) - [School Asset Management Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/school-asset-management) - [Visitor Management Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/visitor-management) - [Free Poster Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/workplace-safety-posters) January 6, 2021 Lisa Robinson Updated on: June 25, 2021 # Scared of Asset Management and Ghost Assets in your Asset Register? ## ![Worried](https://blog.sgworld.com/hs-fs/hubfs/5D%20Blog%20Images/Worried.jpg?width=756&name=Worried.jpg) ## What are ghost and zombie assets?  Ghost assets are assets that are listed in your [schools fixed asset register](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/school-asset-management) but are either missing or unusable. This usually happens when a piece of property has been lost, stolen, broken, damaged, replaced or sold but this information is never captured or shared, leaving Finance with incorrect asset data. Conversely, a zombie asset is a fixed asset that exists on school premises, but has not been recorded in the fixed asset register.   ## Why do they matter?  Outside of staff wages, fixed assets are the most important element of the school balance sheet. If a significant percentage of assets do not actually exist, school insurance premiums may be inflated unnecessarily. Additionally, capital budgeting and financial reporting will be based on incorrect information. An asset that only exists on paper is not much help when it is needed by staff. Likewise, an asset that does exist, but isn’t traceable is not only unavailable for use but also cannot be maintained or insured properly and will lead to additional expense if it has to be purchased again.  ## How big a problem is it?  A fixed asset is a long-term piece of property or equipment, so you’d be surprised how many aren’t physically accounted for or don’t appear in the accounts ledger.  However, it is reported that 12 to 25% of the assets in a fixed asset ledger don’t exist.   > *It is estimated that as many as 65% of fixed asset records are incomplete, inaccurate, or altogether missing while 10 to 30 percent of fixed assets are no longer owned.*  > > *Michael N. Day and Stephen Talbot,* > > *“Data Validation the Best Practice for Data Quality in Fixed Asset Management,” (White Paper) Asset ManagementResources*    ## How to prevent them?  One of the most common reasons for ghost assets is a disconnect between different school departments. Finance, Facilities and IT may all be keeping their own asset lists and changes to one are not always reflected in the others. An [integrated asset management platform](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/school-asset-management)can help to prevent this disconnect by establishing a centralised asset database that is easy to update and accessible to all areas for one centralised view.    Another reason is the challenges of a manual asset inventory process. Manual auditing is time-consuming and error-prone, while [asset management ](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/5d-asset-for-schools)[software](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/5d-asset-for-schools) makes identifying, finding and updating the location of all assets electronically so much simpler. Barcode or QR code tagging can dramatically increase tracking accuracy and reduce the amount of time required performing annual audits.  A complete inventory of all assets and equipment is common at the start of a [school asset management](https://sgworld.com/pages/school-asset-management) implementation, to give you an accurate baseline to work from going forward.    [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7964242/b4be5e30-9fbd-420b-920d-2be54ed9ebf2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7964242/b4be5e30-9fbd-420b-920d-2be54ed9ebf2) ### About Lisa Robinson Lisa - word smith to the gods. ### Latest Reads [Catch SG World at HSM Live Coventry This Week Jun 30, 2026](https://blog.sgworld.com/catch-sg-world-at-hsm-live-coventry-this-week) [Daily Vehicle Lift Safety Checks: PUWER Compliance for Garages Jun 29, 2026](https://blog.sgworld.com/daily-vehicle-lift-safety-checks-puwer-compliance-for-garages) ### Categories - [Health & Safety](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/health-safety) - [Education Solutions](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/education-solutions) - [Safety Inspections](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/safety-inspections) - [Visitor Health and Safety](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/visitor-health-and-safety) - [Visitor Management](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/visitor-management) - [Asset Management](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/asset-management) - [Contractor Management](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/contractor-management) - [Public Sector News](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/public-sector-news) - [School Safeguarding](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/school-safeguarding) - [Permit to work](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/permit-to-work) - [Case Study](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/case-study) - [Academies](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/academies) - [Inventory](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/inventory) - [Forklifts](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/forklifts) - [LOTO](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/loto) - [Visitor touchscreen](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/visitor-touchscreen) - [5D](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/5d) - [Construction](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/construction) - [HSE](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/hse) - [News](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/news) ## Follow us [mailto:web-enquiries@sgworld.com](mailto:web-enquiries@sgworld.com) ## Navigate - [Home](https://www.sgworld.com/) - [Search](https://www.sgworld.com/search) ## Contact - [Contact Us](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/contact-us-general) - [Request a Visit](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/arrange-a-visit) - [SG World Around the Globe](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/sgworld-around-the-globe) ## Support - [Software Support](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/support-centre) - [Shipping & Returns](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/shipping-and-returns) ## Legal - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/terms-and-conditions) - [Cookie & Privacy Policy](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/terms-and-conditions) - [Shipping & Returns](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/shipping-and-returns) Copyright © 2020 SG World. We are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm. Give us a call on 01270 588211 ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lisa Robinson", "url" : "https://blog.sgworld.com/author/lisa-robinson" }, "dateModified" : "2021-06-25T12:01:51.390Z", "datePublished" : "2021-01-06T12:13:00.000Z", "headline" : "Scared of Asset Management and Ghost Assets in your Asset Register?", "image" : [ "https://blog.sgworld.com/hubfs/5D%20Blog%20Images/Worried.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.sgworld.com/scared-of-ghost-assets-in-your-asset-register", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.sgworld.com/hubfs/SG%20World%20Logo%20(002).png" }, "name" : "SG World " } } ```