Q: Which and how many Default Client Settings control the MDM inventory?

A: An admin can set classes on Default Client Settings - Hardware Inventory.

• "Mobile Device Installed Applications" - for iOS, Android, WP8
• "Windows 8 Application" for Windows 8 Applications.
• "Web Applications" for Web apps inventory.
• "Installed Software - Asset Intelligence (SMS_InstalledSoftware)" - this is only for PC’s.

Q: Can the admin do a Custom Client Setting to override the MDM inventory settings?

A: An admin change the interval in UI, but it will not be honored.

Q: What is the default frequency of Inventory collection?

A: 7 days

Q: Can this frequency be changed? Are there any workarounds to expedite the inventory collection?

A: It can be changed on the Configuration Manager console to more frequently (Say 5 min or 1 day). But each device platform has a frequency to connect to Gateway.

• WP8 by default connects every 8 hours. User can initiate on demand sync from the enrollment UI.
• Windows 8.1: by default connects every 24 hours. User can initiate on demand sync by "Run MDMAgent.exe" from an elevated Command Prompt.
• iOS by default connects every 24-36 hours.

For iOS, the only way to expedite is as follows:

1. Increase the frequency in the Console (to say 5 min)
2. Deploy and install a web app (link) on the device after at least the interval (as configured at step 1) has elapsed.

This forces the inventory policy and inventory should show up in the console soon after.

Q: When a device type is changed from Personal to Company, what should we expect for all inventory to be reported?

A: On changing the device type, the default inventory collection frequency should be honored – whenever the next inventory collection schedule is set. The workarounds mentioned earlier can be used.

Additional useful information 

Thanks Vinay Bhatt for the great information!