Optimizing Equipment Tracking with Inventory Management

It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your equipment is?

Actually, we have no idea what time it is while you’re reading this article. Still, this (paraphrased version of an) iconic PSA has a point: it’s always crucial to know where your shop’s parts are located. If you can’t reliably keep track of your inventory, your business could suffer from everything from reduced efficiency to component theft.

Fortunately, you and your techs don’t need to spend valuable time tracking equipment by hand. Instead, adopting specialized equipment inventory management software can help you handle this process without extra effort on your part.

How Specialized Software Addresses Equipment Tracking

One of the most basic functions your equipment inventory management software needs to provide is equipment tracking. When your shop’s software can provide updates on parts locations, your techs will never have to look around to find the components they need for a job. Instead, they’ll be able to track equipment locations and usage in real time—increasing your shop’s overall efficiency in the process.

Of course, the best programs in this category don’t require workers to enter parts locations manually. Instead, this software can log that data with the scan of a QR code or barcode, keeping things simple for everyone involved. Some inventory management programs can also assist your workers with inventory best practices like cycle counting by building reports for the various parts categories involved in this process.

While heavy-duty shop software can make it much easier to deal with “equipment” in the sense of managing inventory, these programs can also help you keep track of the heavy equipment your shop works on. If your business has the right reporting software in place, you’ll be able to automate maintenance scheduling and provide usage-based maintenance alerts. That means you won’t have to worry about missing crucial preventive maintenance tasks.

In the construction industry, maintaining accurate inventory tracking for construction equipment is essential. Integrating an accounting system that enables access via mobile devices provides real-time updates on inventory levels. This streamlined approach ensures that all construction equipment is accounted for, reducing the risk of shortages and improving overall project efficiency. By leveraging mobile technology, companies can keep their inventory tracking up-to-date and ensure smooth operations on the job site.

Benefits Beyond Inventory

Obviously, equipment inventory management is one of the most notable advantages associated with equipment inventory management software—but the benefits don’t stop there. Once your heavy-duty shop starts using diesel truck or RV repair shop software that can help with inventory management and maintenance scheduling, you’ll also enjoy improvements related to:

Compliance

Without assistance from heavy-duty repair shop software, your techs could easily have trouble keeping up with maintenance scheduling for the vehicles your business works on. Along with potentially compromising the performance and condition of these vehicles, this situation could put the fleets you work on at risk of compliance issues.

Fortunately, that won’t be a concern when your business takes its preventive maintenance tracking seriously. When your shop software automatically tracks vehicles’ PMs, you’ll ensure these trucks are in compliance with U.S. and Canadian motor safety regulations. Beyond that, these programs can help keep track of data required by the FMCSA and DOT.

Asset Optimization

These days, heavy-duty shops have more parts to choose from than ever. But there’s a catch—some types of equipment are more commonly used than others. As a result, it’s all too easy to order parts you don’t need (or forget to order particularly fast-moving components, for that matter).

In addition to its other capabilities, inventory management software can help you pinpoint the types of equipment your shop is constantly using—and the parts that haven’t been used in months. With access to that information, you’ll be able to make data-driven decisions when it’s time to purchase equipment for your business.

Reduced Tool Loss/Theft

Here at Fullbay, we’re fond of comparing your inventory to a bank account. That means your techs have constant access to the First National Bank of Your Shop—and if even one of them turns out to be less than scrupulous, you could end up losing a surprisingly pretty penny to theft.

(Wait, does that last bit work? The prettiness of the penny wouldn’t necessarily add to its value, so…you know what, let’s just move on.)

The good news is that when you get constant updates on equipment locations, it won’t be long before you notice missing parts. As a result, you’ll be much more likely to successfully track these components down when your shop uses parts management software.

This Is Your Shop on Fullbay

Even the best heavy-duty shops can find it challenging to keep track of their inventory (and their fleets’ PM needs) without help. Fortunately, Fullbay’s software is designed to make life easier for shops like yours. With that in mind, it can:

• Track parts with barcode scans
• Assist with cycle counts
• Help you only buy the parts you need
• Reduce your risk of employee theft

Now, is there anyone out there who still isn’t clear about what using the right equipment inventory management software does? Okay, last time: This is your shop. This is Fullbay. This is your shop on Fullbay. Any questions?

…What’s that? “How can I schedule a demo?” Good question—just click this link!