

















we needed something between a spreadsheet and a full enterprise ITAM system for tracking shared gear - laptops, cameras, a few loaner monitors - across a small distributed team. the QR-code check-in/check-out flow is the part that actually gets used day to day, since it's fast enough that people don't skip it the way they would a spreadsheet update. assigning an item to a person and seeing its full history (who had it, when, any reported issues) in one place has already caught a couple of "who has the good webcam" arguments before they started
the bulk-import path for identical items (e.g. a batch of the same laptop model) could use clearer guidance in the UI - it wasn't obvious upfront whether adding several identical items still needs a QR tag on each one to stay individually trackable, or if that only matters once they get assigned to different people
Sortly is the closest comparison for basic inventory tracking, but it's built around SKUs and stock levels more than assigning a specific item to a specific person and tracking its lifecycle. the assignment + history angle plus the API for building custom workflows is what tipped it for us, since we wanted this to plug into an existing offboarding process, not replace it
Bulbthings make it much easier to keep track of equipment and other physical assets without relying on spreadsheets. I especially like the clean interface and the ability to keep asset information, assignments, and history in one place. The QR scanning is also a nice touch for quick check-ins and check-outs.
Some of the more advanced features took a little time to understand, so a bit more guidance during the initial setup would be helpful.
Compared with using spreadsheets, Bulbthings feels much more structured and practical for teams managing multiple assets.
Thank you for the thoughtful review! We're glad Bulbthings has made it easier to ditch spreadsheets, and that the QR scanning is helping speed up check-ins/check-outs and real-time availability.
Great point on the advanced features. We're actively improving onboarding to make those easier to pick up from the start 👍
In the meantime, we'd love to give you a quick demo of the more advanced functionality whenever you're available. Just let us know a time that works!
Thanks again for sharing this with us.
Wow, importing our assets and getting right to work with bookings and returns was super smooth! I especially loved the online shopping feel when browsing and reserving gear on both web and mobile. The QR codes for instant lookups and quick checkouts on the spot are brilliant. Overall, this is an incredible, smartly designed tool with a seamless experience throughout. Massive congrats and thanks to the team!
It would be awesome to have a dedicated view for kit hierarchies (parent-child asset relationships) built out similar to the way location hierarchies are set up.
Compared to other options like Sortly, Bulbthings gives you way more flexibility with fully customizable forms on the free plan, plus so much more depth for organizing your inventory.
Thank you so much for this amazing review, we really appreciate it! We're thrilled the import process, bookings, and the overall shopping-like browsing experience have been smooth for you. Glad the QR codes are speeding things up too.
On kit hierarchies: good news, this view is already available from the Asset Availability Search tab. We'll also be adding this same type of hierarchical view to the Assets Register tab, so you'll be able to access it from both places, we'll keep you posted once it's live.
Thanks again for the kind words and for comparing us so favorably to alternatives like Sortly, it means a lot.
Hi Product Hunt! 👋 I’m Leslie, the builder behind Bulbthings.
We noticed a massive irony: scaling businesses are building cutting-edge products yet they’re still tracking their physical assets (e.g. IT equipment, high value-value prototypes, A/V gear, machines, vehicles, furniture, facilities) across messy spreadsheets and chaotic WhatsApp threads.
Notion lacks the asset-centric workflows and analytics needed for scaling teams, while legacy IT Asset Management (ITAM) and Computerized Maintenance Management (CMMS) platforms are clunky, enterprise-priced, and bloated.
So, we built Bulbthings: a modern, AI-powered asset inventory, tracking and maintenance management platform designed specifically for fast-moving teams.
Here is why we think you'll love it:
⚡ Zero-Friction Onboarding: Select your industry and Bulbthings instantly auto-configures your workspace with the exact features and templates you need to automate any assets you rely on for your operations. Plus, our smart import module turns your messy spreadsheets into structured data in clicks.
🤖 Unified AI Copilot (paid feature): Faster onboarding and automation. Just tell Bulb AI what you need: snap a photo or scan a QR code to add gear, assign a MacBook to a new hire, book equipment for a project, report an issue, or pull instant reports—all via natural language (chat or voice).
🛠️ Developer-First (Headless AMS/CMMS): Your data, your rules. Use our open API and SDK to build complex workflows or new apps.
🔓 Un-Gated & Fair: Tired of upgrading to Enterprise just to use one key feature? We don't gate functionality. Mix and match feature packs as you grow.
🎯 Who is Bulbthings for?
We designed this for growing teams that have outgrown spreadsheets to automate their asset inventory and workflows but aren't ready for complex, legacy enterprise software.
🎁 The Offer for the PH Community
We have a highly capable "Free Forever" tier so you can get your operations out of spreadsheet hell today without pulling out a credit card. Get started for free here 🚀
What's Next?
We are on the verge of launching our AI Developer Agent, designed to help you customize your workspace or build asset-centric features and applications even faster. We would love your feedback on the core platform, API, and these upcoming AI capabilities.
Thanks for your feedback @thobes 🧡 tracking/managing physical assets may sound a bit niche but most growing businesses - especially the asset heavy ones - encounter the issue sooner than later 😅 We try to make that transition as easy as possible for them.




Bulbthings
Thank you so much for the detailed review! Hearing that the QR workflow and asset history are already stopping the "who has the good webcam" debates is a huge win for us, that’s exactly the sweet spot between a messy spreadsheet and heavy ITAM software we built this for.
You hit the nail on the head regarding bulk importing identical items (i.e. same brand, model)👍 We’ll improve that UI flow to clarify that the user can import them either as serialised assets tracked individually or as bulk items. Bulbthings allows to track them both ✅
Really glad to hear the API and asset check-out/check-in fit seamlessly into your existing offboarding setup! Thanks again for giving us a try and sharing such actionable feedback 🤗