Though devices will make up the largest portion of your lab’s budget, there’s some more equipment and software that you’ll want to invest in. Below, we’ve outlined must-have items, and some recommended items to budget for as you upgrade and improve your lab over time.
Plan for replenishing your supplies of things to borrow quarterly, around the same time as you check your analytics to see if there’s been a shift in the kinds of devices your users are using to access your site. Routinely checking in and upgrading your lab is a great idea, as it’ll be a good time to iterate on its usability and gather some data from your coworkers on how it can be improved.
| Category | Highly recommended item | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Power strips, USB hubs | Maintainable power chain |
| Power | Spare micro USB and iOS cables | Troubleshooting; Consistency Supply for people to borrow from the lab |
| Labeling | Asset tag or other physical identifier | Device maintenance and organization |
| Shelving | Shelving with stand built-in, or individual device stands | Device organization and ease of use |
| Category | Optional item | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Modlet | Measuring energy consumption of the lab |
| Power | Cable drops, hooks, or ties | Organization of cabling |
| Labeling | Labels on shelves for devices | Device maintenance and organization |
| Software | Mobile Device Management Software | Device maintenance and organization |
| Software | Device check-out system, and/or library of all the devices’ specifications | Device tracking and organization |
| Software | Adobe Edge Inspect | If you want to upgrade your license for more functionality |
| Shelving | Crates/buckets for spare cables, screen wipes, or other things for folks to long-term borrow (steal) | Supply for people to borrow from the lab |