Category: IDS

Enhancing Patient Care with Innovative Medication Dispensing Solutions by Intelligent Dispensing Solutions (IDS)

Posted on by SaravanaKumar@wittern.com

As the healthcare industry evolves rapidly, innovation has become necessary to keep up with the increasing demands. Technology has emerged as a crucial component of this transformation, especially for healthcare providers who strive to provide optimal patient care. A robust and adaptable healthcare infrastructure is essential for streamlining medical professionals’ workflows and ensuring that patients receive top-tier care.

 

The groundbreaking medicine  dispensing machine solutions provided by Intelligent Dispensing Solutions is revolutionizing healthcare innovation. IDS uses cutting-edge technology to provide accurate and personalized medication dispensing, making it a game-changer in the industry. This innovative approach improves the efficiency of medical professionals and reduces the risk of errors, waste, and loss of vital medical products and medications used in patient treatments. As a result, patient safety is enhanced, and medical facilities and EMS benefit from better inventory management. In this article, we’ll explore the profound impact of IDS’s avant-garde solutions on the quality and delivery of patient care.

 

A Leap Toward Life-Saving Measures 

Managing narcotics and other critical medical supplies is more than just a matter of compliance; it’s a matter of saving lives. Medical institutions, from clinics to hospitals to assisted living facilities, rely heavily on these supplies, often in time-sensitive scenarios. That’s where UCapIt comes in. It’s an IDS product that uses a cloud-based operating system to provide real-time inventory updates and detailed reporting. This allows for a clear understanding of what supplies are being used, how they’re being used, where they’re being used, and why they’re being used. With this seamless accessibility, first responders and healthcare providers can access vital supplies instantly, ensuring patients receive the precise dispensing they need based on their needs.

 

UCapIt eliminates overstocking and supply shortages, reducing costs and enabling medical professionals to deliver heightened patient care. In addition, the technology aids in flagging equipment due for maintenance or replacement. Its cloud-based architecture simplifies supply consumption management across multiple locations through a single access point.

 

Compliance Meets Security 

UCapIt’s iQ technology ensures the safe storage of medical supplies and equipment in their smart lockers. These versatile vending machines and storage lockers give supervisors complete control over their supply rooms. This fortified system secures storage and keeps track of and distributes a wide range of emergency medical supplies.

 

Access control is an essential aspect of managing healthcare facilities. Managers are responsible for monitoring and logging all withdrawals, ensuring they align with established training and tech clearance levels. Security is greatly improved with a range of access methods, including biometrics, prox cards, barcodes, and PINs. Furthermore, this system fully complies with FDA and DEA regulations, making it an indispensable tool for healthcare professionals and emergency response teams. By streamlining compliance-related tasks, UCapIt enables these teams to focus on what matters most – saving lives.

 

Elevating Inventory Management for Enhanced Efficiency  

To efficiently manage inventory, professionals require valuable insights, foresight, and an intricate system that forms the foundation for informed decision-making. UCapIt, a state-of-the-art system, provides EMS, pharmaceutical, and medical experts with real-time usage data and inventory tracking capabilities. These insights empower organizations to reduce costs, minimize wastage, and mitigate liabilities.

 

Interested in experiencing these advancements first-hand? Request a customized demonstration with Intelligent Dispensing Solutions today. Discover how IDS’s solutions can revolutionize inventory management, enhance patient care, and drive significant cost savings. In the healthcare industry, every innovation positively impacts people’s lives and raises the bar for care standards.

Revolutionizing Distribution with Intelligent Dispensing Solutions: Boosting Efficiency, Security, and Saving

Posted on by SaravanaKumar@wittern.com

When it comes to modern distribution, expertise is gained through both experience and innovation. Let us introduce Intelligent Dispensing Solutions (IDS), the leading manufacturer of integrated smart vending machines and supply lockers worldwide. Our journey through the smart vending machine landscape has been marked by pioneering innovation, consistently evolving to provide unmatched value. IDS stands out from the competition not only because of our cutting-edge products but also because of the comprehensive support we offer. From flexible leasing programs to 24/7 technical assistance, on-site repairs, and tailored branding, our unparalleled service has continuously proved its worth to our customers. Let’s explore why Intelligent Dispensing Solutions is a game-changer that distributors should seriously consider.

Elevating Efficiency, Accuracy, and Security 

When it comes to managing inventory, time is of the essence. The high demands of this task make it impractical to spend countless hours accessing necessary equipment. Additionally, navigating faulty tools can be highly frustrating for employees. Waiting for a replacement tool without visibility into its availability or status only adds to this frustration.

This is where IDS solutions make all the difference. IDS self-service lockers empower employees to access necessary tools swiftly, enabling organizations to kick-start shifts promptly, ensure swift repairs, and efficiently monitor usage. The result? Amplified productivity.

IDS contactless solutions redefine your distribution center’s potential. Employee safety is paramount, and IDS addresses this by promptly replacing faulty tools and implementing reverse vending. This approach ensures scheduled tool maintenance and proactive repairs. Our iQ Technology platform seamlessly tracks tool ownership, usage hours, misuse patterns, and real-time tool conditions. This empowers responsible tool usage through insightful status and availability data while curbing unnecessary shrinkage that can reduce profits.

 With IDS, you can:

  • Reduce 35% of your average inventory spend.
  • Ensure 24×7 supply availability with user transaction accountability.
  • Attain complete inventory visibility to reduce stock-outs and obsolete inventory.

PPE, MRO Tool Dispensing Excellence 

Efficient access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a crucial element of inventory control. At the core of IDS is iQ Technology, a cloud-based intuitive software interface that reduces costs by preventing loss and hoarding. It equips managers with real-time analytics for data-driven decision-making. Our adaptable hardware enables distributors to manage the inventory supply room, overseeing PPE and MRO supplies through tracking, storage, and dispensing. This ensures effective inventory management, accountability, and controlled access for PPE and MRO supplies at every life cycle stage.

Our VendSafety suite is a comprehensive solution that includes supply lockers, dispensers, and virtual tracking systems. The VendSafety Supply Lockers enable the easy retrieval and return of PPE tools and equipment. These lockers can be connected with isolated supply lockers or dispensers, making it possible to optimize storage. Each locker bay is individually programmable and features electrical charging options, ensuring your equipment is always ready when needed. VendSafety Supply Dispensers are designed to efficiently distribute MRO and PPE supplies, safety gear, and tools to authorized personnel. They establish a central access point, ensuring organized and secure stock. In addition, Virtual Tracker provides asset tracking through Android, iOS, or IDS mobile computer devices, allowing you to keep track of your equipment and supplies in real time.

Exploring Our Savings Calculator 

Managing assets can be challenging, with concerns ranging from access and security to maintenance and inventory tracking. At IDS, we strive to alleviate these worries with our comprehensive inventory management capabilities. We offer immediate supply access, swift repairs, and streamlined asset usage tracking, leading to improved maintenance and heightened productivity. 

With our assistance, you can expect substantial cost reductions that will significantly impact your bottom line. And we’re not just saying it – let’s do the math together.

Experience the IDS difference—where innovation meets impact.

Enhancing Safety With Standard Dispensing Equipment

Posted on by John Van Horn

Supply lockers and dispensing machines are essential components of a well-designed inventory management system. They are frequently big pieces of equipment that securely store assets and provide simple, point-of-use access via a humanless transaction. Improper handling, a lack of training or maintenance, and equipment that does not comply with industry, state, or federal requirements can have catastrophic effects, just as they do with practically any form of office equipment or industrial machinery. As a result, major dispensing equipment manufacturers put their products through rigorous testing and certification processes to ensure no one gets harmed or property is damaged. These techniques increase machine reliability, lower risk, prevent situations from occurring, and assure end-user safety. Risk mitigation is approached in various ways through certifications and regulatory requirements. 

Most Important Compliance Standards For Dispensing Equipment 

The safe operation of dispensing equipment necessitates compliance with several standards. Approved and reputed certification agencies verify compliance with safety, performance, and responsibility standards. In the United States, most major dispensing equipment manufacturers certify their goods and businesses in six key areas.

Electrical safety, electromagnetic interference prevention, electromagnetic compatibility, safe handling in the case of a fire, accessibility for the differently-abled, and restrictions on the use of hazardous materials or products from areas of conflict are considered.

UL Certification

Underwriter Laboratories (UL) is a third-party certification firm that has been in operation since 1894. They certify products to make the world safer for consumers and employees alike. They not only evaluate new goods but also set industry standards to follow while developing new ones. In fact, UL-certified products entered the worldwide marketplace over 14 billion times last year.

UL is a safety group that sets industry-wide standards for new products. They examine these products regularly to ensure that they meet these standards. UL testing ensures that wire diameters are proper and those devices can manage the current claims they make. They also guarantee that products are built to the highest safety standards.

FCC Certifications

Electronic equipment obtains an FCC certificate indicating it has been tested and authorized to comply with FCC regulations. A product’s FCC certification does not mean it is safe or long-lasting or suggest how the machine was made. It merely shows that it is within approved ionizing radiation limitations. FCC clearance is possible if the electronic device complies with FCC emission norms and regulations and has been tested to fulfil FCC standards.

RoHS Compliance

The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) is product-level compliance based on the European Union’s Directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS). With rare exceptions, products complying with this regulation do not include more than the permissible levels of the prohibited materials including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

Manufacturers, importers authorized representatives, and distributors of products such as large and small household appliances (refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, etc.), power tools, computing and communications equipment, lighting, consumer electronics, toys and sports equipment, and automatic dispensers (vending machines, ATM machines, etc.) are all covered by this directive.

RoHS compliance is made evident by a letter of compliance signed by a firm employee. Third-party testing services are available to check for levels of banned materials in an organization’s products.

Health and Safety Policy

Manufacturers of sustainable dispensing equipment also include elements above and beyond regulatory compliance or standards. Mechanisms that limit the machine’s use to within the safe operating range are examples of such characteristics. When the dispensing machine’s temperature falls outside this range, the safety system turns off part or all of the device. Manufacturers specify a range of temperatures with upper and lower limits. This stops the machine from being exploited and protects the user from serious injury. Such characteristics are not required by law or relevant regulatory agencies and are entirely up to the manufacturer’s choice.

The Benefits Of Certified Dispensing Equipment

Easy To Use Intelligent Dispensing Machines. It’s a cost-effective and time-saving method of getting employees what they need fast and safely while also automating reconciliation and restocking. Intelligent dispensing is a novel take on the classic vending machine concept. Instead of drinks or snacks, this dispensing machine dispenses office supplies. It’s also cashless. Dispensing machines and supply lockers are simple to set up, blend in with your workplace decor, and provide supplies quickly, effortlessly, and proficiently.

Customizable. To dispense the products they require, employees swipe a badge or input a code on the keypad. Intelligent dispensing machines maintain track of what has been distributed and what is still available. Almost anything may be dispensed from the office dispensing devices. Pens and paper clips, staplers, and tape are the essentials. However, more oversized products such as safety goggles, medical equipment, and IT supplies might even be offered. You may also customize the machine to fit any products your business needs to provide.

Happy Employees. Thanks to supply dispensers and supply lockers, employees do not need to go to a supply closet to search high and low for a specific product. Instead, supply dispensers and lockers can be placed at the point-of-use, which, hypothetically speaking, would allow you to have multiple “supply closets” throughout your building, as opposed to just one. This leads to more productive employees, as they will be able to find what they need faster.

Through supply lockers and supply dispensers, employees can access the products they need, no matter what time of day it is. It also allows managers to track who is accessing what in order to stay on top of inventory tracking. 

Intelligent dispensing is undoubtedly a step forward in the management of office supplies and inventory safety. Companies all over the globe realize that dispensing supplies makes employees happier and more productive while increasing profits.

Are you ready to enjoy the benefits that dispensing machines can offer to your company? Download our Whitepaper or contact IDS to learn more about our services.

Case Study: San Diego State University

Posted on by John Van Horn

 

IDSvending - Sandiego State University

Serving over 36,000 students, San Diego State University (SDSU) is known for providing students with opportunities to prepare them for the future. What happens, however, when a global pandemic ravages the United States? The leader in public research has to come up with a way to keep students safe while providing them with a quality educational experience.

So, what are some of the pandemic safety challenges that were dealt with on the SDSU campus?

  1. The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed the way SDSU keeps students and staff members safe.
  2. Slowing the spread of COVID-19 was a challenge at SDSU. While students are not required to get tested, SDSU is working hard to limit the spread by providing COVID-19 Test Kit Dispensing Machines across campus.
  3. Single Point of Use testing centers was unrealistic as SDSU, as it has over 36,000 students.

SDSU is requiring all staff members and students to be vaccinated against COVID-19, however, it is still possible for breakthrough COVID-19 cases. SDSU is doing what it can to ensure it can control the spread.

“If you’re worried that you have symptoms, it just makes it very easy to pop on over and grab one, as opposed to just hoping you’re okay,” said Heidi Nguyen, Senior Admissions Counselor at SDSU.

In order to help control the spread of COVID-19, SDSU implemented COVID-19 Test Kit Dispensing Machines across campus, providing testing for students and staff members. Students are tested prior to the semester and regularly throughout. Tests can be accessed for free, once students sign up online.

While students are not required to be tested, they are expected to test if they start feeling any symptoms of COVID-19.

Through iQ Technology, UCapIt’s software solution, SDSU has real-time usage data that is useful for staff planning, budgeting, reporting and compliance purposes.

UC San Diego utilizes the passcode function of iQ Technology for the COVID-19 testing machines. Through iQ Technology, the passcode feature allows system administrators to provide one-time use codes assigned to individual users. An expiration date and time, as well as specific product access, is able to be assigned to each unique passcode.

Due to testing and COVID-19 protocols across campus, including mask wearing, social distancing and required vaccinations, SDSU has been able to quickly test students for COVID-19. Within the first few weeks of the 2021 fall semester, almost 800 tests had been accessed by students.

Through UCapIt’s COVID-19 Test Kit Dispensing Machines, users can access test kits at their convenience 24/7, without staff needing to be on-site. In addition, the machines can be equipped with patent-pending UVC light sanitization technology, UVend Technology. UVend sanitizes the high-touch surfaces on the machine quickly and safely by killing or inactivating up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including the virus that causes COVID-19.

COVID-19 Test Kit Dispensing Machines are located across campus and can be found using the campus’ interactive map. Additionally, with the help of the Test Kit Dispensing Machines, SDSU has been able to:

  1. Reduce wait times for COVID-19 testing
  2. Help control the speak of COVID-19 across SDSU’s campus
  3. Keep track of students and staff members who have been tested. 

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt everyday life, campuses across the country are in need of solutions to control the spread, SDSU has stayed on top by providing a safer educational experience for students and staff members.

Does your educational institution need an efficient, convenient way to provide a COVID-19 test kit and other public health supplies to students and staff? If so, contact UCapIt to schedule a live, personalized demo to see how our iQ Technology can help your organization.

How can your organization help control the spread of COVID-19?

Posted on by SaravanaKumar@wittern.com

 

IDS-BLOG-BANNER_IDS

COVID-19 and the new workplace

In the early days of COVID-19, the whole world was very optimistic about how soon the flu-like epidemic will soon disappear. Two years later, the pandemic is still raging on. Every few months, a new wave emerges that seems to be larger than the previous [1]. Our workplace has evolved to meet these new realities. Factories, offices, shops, and warehouses have all adapted to the changing dynamics. Businesses have been trusted with taking the necessary steps to protect their employees and prevent an outbreak at the workplace. They must accomplish all of this while going about business as usual.

The good news is that technology can give businesses a helping hand with pandemic workplace safety. A combination of equipment, software, and processes can come together to reduce contamination, trace outbreaks early or provide necessary response supplies.

Availability of EMS Supplies

Prevention is better than cure any day of the week. Many businesses are driven by the desire to protect their employees from a dangerous disease. Some are also motivated to avoid the expensive downtime from a contagion-related stoppage and the ensuing sanitization costs. Timely access to PPE equipment and sanitization products can help both objectives. Placing PPE dispensing equipment at access points can ensure everybody who needs access to such supplies will get it. Our range of PPE Supply Dispensers are specifically designed for this purpose. They reduce wait times, eliminate queues, and provide a completely contactless experience while providing employees with face masks, sanitizers, gloves, tissues, and more.

Testing and Sample Collection

From the very beginning of this global pandemic, aggressive testing and tracing of infections have been a priority for health officials. Companies that need employees onsite for conducting business will need proper testing infrastructure to control spread. 

Testing Kit dispensing machines can provide much-needed access to test kits. When sample collection is authenticated by Employee ID or Key Cards, traceability of samples becomes very easy. This accelerates response and reduces the chances of uncontrollable spread. Technology can improve the ability to test and control spread. 

IDS’ UCapIt Rapid COVID-19 Testing Solution ensures easy access to self-administered COVID-19 test kits. Their design, operation, and footprint make them ideal for workspaces, campuses, and healthcare facilities. See how California universities are benefiting from COVID-19 Test Kit Dispensing Machines by downloading our case studies.

Reducing Contacts

COVID-19 pathogens stay active on surfaces like glass, metal, or plastic for several days. This makes every contact a potential opportunity for contamination. Thanks to the pandemic, a killer handshake can now truly live up to its name.

Fewer person-to-person interactions can have a tangible impact on containing spread within your office or factory. Strategically placed dispensing machines can be the insulation between the employee who needs tech supplies and the IT support team. MRO tools dispensing machines can eliminate the need for physically handing over tools and equipment from one individual to another. Vend Safety, for instance, uses iQ Technology, our in-house cloud-based inventory management software, to increase productivity and reduce costs.

If you are a shop owner, the chances of contamination can come from more places than within your business. Contact with customers is not as controllable as it is with your employees. BOPIS and retail collection lockers can eliminate that touchpoint. Our BOPIS/Click and Collect lockers give a novel and safe experience for your customers. Our retail lockers offer customizable lockers and intuitive user interfaces while being equipped with iQ Technology, which makes inventory management a breeze.

Safe Interfaces

Dependence upon dispensing equipment and lockers may make one wonder if they can be sources of infection. That is why responsible dispensing solution manufacturers like IDS Vending have developed UVend Technology, an ultraviolet-based disinfection technology. This can sanitize the touchpoints of the dispensing machines each time after use. UVend Technology can eliminate or deactivate 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. UVend Technology is our patent-pending technology that combines UVC rays with motion sensors to make high contact surfaces on the machine safer.

Trackability (iQ Technology, Chain of Custody)

Despite all precautions, infections can still happen. Businesses need to be prepared to respond to such instances. One of the first steps is to trace the source of infection and identify all contacts for isolation. Thanks to innovative software platforms like iQ Technology from IDS Vending, establishing the chain of custody of equipment used by the source of infection is easy. At the click of a button, you can trace all users who have interacted or used a particular piece of equipment. This helps health officials and businesses take the necessary precautionary actions.

Future Work Environment

As of the time, this blog was written, we are in what experts identify as the fifth wave. Though this has been several times larger in terms of the number of infections, thankfully, the fatality rates are much lower. In one form or the other, such mutations pop up once every few months. Businesses need to protect their employees while ensuring business continuity. Technology can help businesses meet such challenges. Controlled dispensing hardware and software platforms from IDS Vending can help you tide over any number of waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. To know more, call us at 1-855-526-2683.

References:

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Dispensing Technologies for More Success In Self-Service Domain

Posted on by SaravanaKumar@wittern.com

 

Dispensing Technologies

How Are Tomorrow’s Retail Practices Shaping Up?

The past couple of years have been an eye-opener for the retail industry. While it was inevitable that critical services and their supporting ecosystems would continue to operate, the uncertainty of the times left businesses in other sectors blindsided. 

Multiple studies show that technology across industries is shifting to adjust to the changing marketplace. 

  • Enterprise IT spending in the retail industry will be at $193.2 billion in 2021, up from $182.5 in 2020, pointing towards accelerated digital transformation. 
  • 77% of retailers would have surveyed feasibility to have AI in place, of which 87% place robotic warehouse management as the top use case, pointing towards fewer people and more automation.
  • Based on consumer behavior, the self-serving kiosk market revenue could double by 2027 (from 2020). Pointing towards an aggressive adoption of self-service technologies by the industry and services by the consumer.

Features That Makeup Tomorrow’s Retail Practices

Industry research around the expected end-consumer experience sees recurring themes around contactless experiences, cashless payments, BOPIS, BOPIL (Click and Collect). We have identified the following recurring trends from the multiple industry research findings and academic studies sampled.

  • Digital Transformation: The retailer and the consumer are having more digital interactions. This digital push has made the entire industry accelerate its efforts to be digitally available. Everything from inventory management to digital marketing campaigns drives retail sales.   
  • Automation: Social distancing mandated minimizing human-human interactions. In the consumer-facing retail domain, this means task and process automation. Stakeholders, like cashiers, order takers, help-desks, security personnel, planogram experts, stock and procurement teams, etc., and more could now be automated. Even when human intervention is needed, it is augmented or heavily supported by software tools and even algorithmic AI’s.
  • Self-Service Technologies: Consumers are the recipients of all automated retail experiences. Their preferences make more retail domains turn to self-service technologies and applications to give consumers the option to minimize person-person contact. Retailers are also keen on taking their businesses across online channels, focusing on mobile-first experiences.

Multiple technologies are essential for self-service industries to succeed. And they revolve around the ability to provide dependable and consistently good customer experiences. The above trends help retailers achieve the following benefits,  

  • Reduced operating expenses: barring the upfront investments for automation and digital transformation, adopting features linked to these trends reduce operating expenses by providing real-time data and insights across the retail value chain. This visibility also helps in reduced spending on resources and less wastage.
  • Increased revenues: all three trends help identify product and service consumption patterns and predict the best consumer for the subsequent consumption cycle. 
  • Enhanced customer experience: investing in backend technology and applications does not ensure retail customer satisfaction. Retailers will also need to factor in their expectations across channels. From contactless service delivery to sanitized safe contact surfaces, retailers must consistently delight the customer.

Equipping Your Retail Practices For the Future

At first, lockdowns restricted the movement of goods and people. Later restrictions impacted trade, commerce, and livelihoods. Consumer-facing entities faced most of the brunt, which accelerated the need for a digital transformation.

While more consumers prefer self-service, merely leveraging self-service technology and products may not be sufficient to keep customers satisfied. Taking this thought further, properly implemented self-service technology could be a critical differentiator that provides a competitive advantage to your retail business.

Evaluating Your Business For Transition to the Self-Service Model

Self-Service Technology is evolving to accommodate more business types across industries. There are several use cases for traditionally offline domains. For example, IDS’ smart lockers are applicable for repair shops serving personal vehicle owners or servicing electronic goods. Our smart lockers can help deliver contactless experiences. 

We can help identify use cases that support your offline business and enjoy the fruits of retail self-service technologies.

Partnering With IDS For Making Your Self-Service Business More Profitable

IDS’ capabilities and offerings are in sync with what is required to future-proof your retail business. A few relevant use cases across industries and domains are

  • Restaurants: IDS supply lockers are an ideal fit for contactless delivery. Our lockers are internet-enabled and have an API that ensures mobile apps can communicate seamlessly with them.
  • Laundries: In addition to locker solutions for contactless laundry collection and delivery. Supply dispensers can provide additional sales revenues to self-service laundries by providing customers with laundry supplies.
  • Autowash Centers: Dispensers for car care products can bring in additional revenues.
  • Health and Fitness: Our Vending Fit application serves gyms and fitness centers. It is equipped with credential-based access and intelligent inventory management capable of providing real-time reports.
  • Automated Retail Stores: Our BOPIS/CNC offerings help retailers provide their customers with Buy-Online-Pickup-In-Store and Click and Collect options. They focus on bridging the online and offline experiences without a hitch – from ordering on a mobile app to collecting the ordered item in a controlled environment at a convenient time. 

Unlike our competitors that provide automated vending machines and lockers, we are your one-stop for successful vending and dispensing solutions. We are an end-to-end solution provider. 

Our patented UVC based sanitization technology, intelligent inventory management technology, asset tracking and management software etc., showcase the depth and scope of what we offer. Our flexible leasing programs offer more value for your budget. At the same time, our 24/7 technical service on-site repair and support ensures business continuity and more bang for your buck.

Trust us when we say you have not truly experienced a single source supplier in automated dispensing until you have experienced IDS. Contact us now to explore how our technology, offerings, and automated vending and dispensing solutions could benefit your business.

Posted in IDS

Why Is Cloud Technology Indispensable for Seamless, Hassle-Free, and Effective Asset Management in Organizations?

Posted on by SaravanaKumar@wittern.com

Why Is Cloud Technology Indispensable for Seamless - IDSVending.com

Evolution of Asset Management

Automated asset management solutions are no longer a thing of the future. Asset management tools have helped with data sharing, to a certain extent. It is cloud-based digital asset management technology that has created a collaborative “single source of truth” that is accessible by those who need access to it. It has also improved the extent of deployment across offices, plants, branches, business units or even geographic units across the globe.

iQ Technology, for example, drives cloud-based inventory and asset management. It contains modular software packages that suit the end requirement. The multiple software packages can be as straightforward as reporting and managing enterprise-wide inventory and asset management requirements to integrating with 3rd party systems. The modules are customizable for domain-specific regulations and material management requirements.

What does Asset Management on Cloud look like?

Asset Management becomes versatile and scalable when it moves to iQ technology. The ability to expand the scope and SKUs and a host of benefits like controlled accessibility, analytics, alerts and automation, decision support systems, and others creates limitless possibilities for any business. Despite its application versatility, cloud-based digital asset management shares a few common aspects. The basic building blocks are as below:

Asset Management - IDSVending.com
Whether the asset management application is for an office environment or a manufacturing line, the basic structure of any cloud-based system like iQ Technology looks the same. A sound asset management system must be easily configurable to meet the needs of different applications.

Another essential trait of an ideal cloud-based system is to have full-cycle capabilities. They should be capable of converting data from physical systems, like crates, tools, or equipment to digital data, through Bar Code readers, RFID scanners, or data entry kiosks. This is often the most critical part that most cloud-based systems cannot provide, as they provide just the software and cloud infrastructure. Without usable data from the physical to the digital realm, the entire system becomes useless.

What are the basic elements of iQ Technology’s asset management capabilities?

iQ Technology can deliver the best value if they help extract the most value from the organization’s assets. To achieve this, they need to address all the needs across the entire lifecycle of the asset.

 

  • Asset Storage – Capturing data about all aspects of asset storage, including the age of asset, inward traceability, outward traceability, and cost of holding, can help in critical decisions.
  • Asset Dispensing – The release of assets for usage must be easy to avoid the solution becoming a part of the problem. Easy dispensing can reduce hassles and improve efficiency. But control of access and trackability of dispensing is also critical.
  • Asset Collection – Collection of assets post its usage is critical to ensure availability for those in need. It can also help in preventing loss or theft. Collection can mark the asset for maintenance or recalibration before usage.
  • Asset Tracking – Tracking all assets to prevent loss or shrinkage. Asset tracking is essential to minimize “non-value-added time” like transit and idling.
  • Asset Costing – Allocating costs to every asset is critical for effective resource management. It can come in handy while maintaining books, allocating project costs, and maintaining books.
  • Asset Allocation – Ensuring that the assets are allocated to the right user is vital for accountability and responsible usage. Asset allocation also contributes to accurate project costing.
  • Asset Utilization – Calculating the utilization of assets in terms of time or cost per hour is critical to track asset efficiency and utility. It is an essential factor to justify returns on investment during asset purchase decisions.
  • Asset Maintenance – Marking assets for scheduled maintenance, repairs, upgrades, or recalibration will improve the usability of the asset and drive productivity.
  • Tracking Chain of Custody/Accountability – Establishing the chain of ownership can help understand asset usage, prevent asset hoarding, reduce chances of asset abuse, and a host of other benefits.

iQ Technology’s asset management - IDSVending.com

What are the benefits of iQ Technology on the cloud?

Asset management systems have several benefits, as discussed in the previous section. Cloud-based asset management solutions, like iQ Technology, have certain added advantages.

Cost: Cloud systems cost relatively less than on-premise or physical systems to implement. There is no need for upfront capital expenditure in setting up server infrastructure, communication systems, security tools, and other essential paraphernalia. However, for large enterprises, the cost of the cloud may equal or even exceed on-premise systems. The benefits, however, often far outweigh the costs.

Accessibility: Cloud systems are easily accessible from anywhere with internet connectivity and access privilege. This makes it easy to create a borderless business that can access data internationally.

Auditability: Unlike paper systems and most on-premise systems, it is easier to establish asset custody across factories, offices, and business units. This makes it easy to maintain the documentation required for compliance and auditing.

Scalability: Cloud systems have flexible packages that make them scalable. Businesses only have to pay based on the number of users or transactions they need. Adding users can be easily accomplished through a back-end control portal.

Flexibility: Cloud systems are flexible as users can be increased or decreased based on the requirement. This means businesses do not have to suffer sunk costs invested in infrastructure once the need is complete. A good example would be asset management when the project is finished in a construction zone.

Device Agnostic: Asset management solutions are accessed through web and mobile interfaces on the cloud. This makes it easy to access them from any device.

Summary

iQ Technology driven asset management has many benefits that make investing in it an easy decision, but the key to successful asset management lies in selecting the right partner. The partner needs to have proven success across all the blocks of asset management, including the digitalization of data and necessary hardware. IDS combines the power of cutting-edge hardware and powerful software to deliver this for you. To know more about how we can help your business, click here or call us at 1-866-881-0326.

How Equipped is Your Dispensing Solution to be Immune to These Disruptive Consumer-Side Changes?

Posted on by SaravanaKumar@wittern.com

 

How Equipped is Your Dispensing Solution - IDSvending.com

Dispensing office supplies in today’s office space

Modern work environment trends have changed workplace needs significantly over the past couple of years.  With changing consumer needs, experts predict that office-based work has changed forever. Businesses and employees worldwide have realized the advantages and disadvantages of working away from the confines of an office. Several companies are moving from 5 days a week at the office to alternate days. Some are even considering moving entirely to work from home. Ensuring the availability of necessary resources for the employees in such an environment requires innovative ways to distribute supplies.

Today’s IT departments grapple with challenges like controlled access, attacks from hackers, resource management, and several other responsibilities. They also must ensure uptime of the office employee so that business can go on as usual. This is genuinely an unenviable position, but thankfully, technology can help them address such needs and challenges efficiently.

Changing trends in the modern work environment

The differences between the environment at a local or a global business are blurring every day. The employee mix is becoming homogenous. Increased labor mobility is creating a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural office space. This influences the access to resources and supplies as human intervention can cause communication and semantics-related hurdles. Using equipment to distribute supplies virtually eliminates this. Of course, this does not mean machines can replace people, but using controlled dispensing equipment and the power of human intelligence can drive excellent efficiency and experiences.

There is generally a favorable disposition for the employee to work from home. A research report on Statista says about 81% of employees working from home report an increase or similar productivity levels compared to working from the office. Another report also says more than 75% of employers describe their companies as having the same or better office productivity. Such a high level of employer-employee agreement is a rare sight in any other aspect. 

Work from home is here to stay. And thus, employees must have real-time visibility to the status of their resource requests. Because unlike before, they now need to plan when to go to work and collect necessary supplies.

Pandemic or not, the workforce has become increasingly mobile. Concepts like hot-desking and coworking are changing the way people define the office. An employee may not even be sitting in the same bay or floor of the office every day. They may not even be sitting in the same building all day. They cannot rely on a centralized IT storage closet. Controlled and decentralized access to IT supplies is in great demand.

This is where IDS’s iQ Technology comes in. iQ Technology is our all-in-one and end-to-end solution for inventory and asset management. Our solution is all-in-one because it contains the software and hardware components that helps you take your hands from the wheel. iQ Technology is end-to-end because it covers all possible use cases from procurement, the physical dispensing, consumption tracking, and returns (in case of assets).

The diversity of devices and solutions in the modern work environment is genuinely phenomenal. Just ten years ago, casting and streaming devices were a part of emerging technology. Today, such devices form a part of routine presentations, discussions, workshops, and training sessions. Computer mice, business phones, slide controllers, and electronic notepads are other essentials in today’s office. There is a growing need for access to these pieces of technology. They also need replacement, repairs, or maintenance. Businesses that invest in dispensing and collecting technology that provides timely access to these gadgets are no longer options.

It also goes without saying that the solution that works for your organization will be built over time. Here too, our customer-centric R&D and implementation makes adoption easier with our modular offerings. The different packages cover everything from simple reporting and item management to credential-based access,  customizable alerts like product expiration, API/Pre-Authorization  etc.

In a world where handshakes have been replaced by elbow bumps and “Namaste,” physical transactions are becoming few and far between. The concept of hygiene at the workplace has taken a massive turn in the past few years. Everything has become contactless and socially distant. While the debate is still raging on the sustainability of these measures, the business must go on. Gladly, technology comes to the rescue again. Distributing supplies no longer need as much human touch as it needed before.

The office goer today is becoming more and more focused on personal success. Individual productivity is now everybody’s concern. Nobody wants downtime due to a lack of resources or faulty equipment. Timely access to necessary supplies is a critical factor for employee motivation. With IDS’s dispensing solutions there are no constraints on the type of supplies that you want to make available to your employees. From fragile, sophisticated electronics to stationery, our range of dispensing solutions cover it all. 

Lastly, business leaders and managers need data about the consumption of supplies. Technology enables this data-driven decision-making at all levels. Leaders can guarantee uptime, reduce waste, and improve productivity with better insights into consumption. Businesses can also use such technology to save costs, prevent resource hoarding, and improve profitability. Using automated controlled dispensing is now driven by demand from both sides. Employees need them for convenience, and employers need them for efficiency.

Controlled dispensing in the modern office

It is undeniable that modern work environment trends call for the technology that serves the unique nature of demand for IT and office supplies. The good news is that there is already proven technology available in the market from reputed suppliers that address this need. Such equipment can ensure the delivery of resources to the right recipient. 

IDS’s office supply dispensing solutions are constantly attuned to the fast-paced changes in customer requirements because we listen to our customers and keep our eyes open for emerging technologies that add value.  Our solutions are capable of helping achieve high-level mandates and board-room philosophies around productivity, resource consumption, cost optimization, to name a few. 

We help our customers achieve more by enhancing the trackability of assets and improving the performance of those assets through scheduled maintenance or repairs. They also provide transparency into the consumption and utilization of resources that give leaders informed decision-making power. They are also a vital component of the office process automation and the transformation towards a paperless office. The value that such technology brings through loss prevention, improved accountability, and support for material audit are simply icing on the cake.

Our team of consultants at IDS Vending can help you find the right combination of hardware and software that will serve the needs of the evolving office environment. Call us at 1-855-260-4771 to talk to an expert.

Introducing the COVID-19 Test Kit Dispenser & Return Center

Posted on by SaravanaKumar@wittern.com

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions’ COVID-19 Test Kit Dispenser & Return Center gives your employees easy access to self-administered COVID-19 testing kits via a humanless transaction experience.  The goal of the COVID-19 Test Kit Center is to align with Return-to-Work and Return-to-Learn programs. Frequent testing can help quickly identify and mitigate COVID-19 outbreaks in the workplace, campus or community.

Each self-administered test is identified by using a barcode that is scanned when the user dispenses and returns the test kit. From there, each kit is linked to your company’s employee budget or organization’s campus cards. This is critical in order to ensure accurate and timely results.

Keep track of the employees who are accessing testing kits with the help of our medical inventory control and reporting iQ Technology. The COVID-19 Test Kit Center limits the number of tests that an employee can dispense from the machine, so iQ Technology tracks who accessed and returned the testing kits. iQ Technology gives you complete control over the machine, testing kits and how your employees access testing kits.

An attractive feature of the COVID-19 Test Kit Center is the contactless dispensing of the products. Employees can easily access their testing kits without the need to interact with another individual.

Provide employees and students with peace of mind, while mitigating risk with the COVID-19 Test Kit Dispenser & Return Center from Intelligent Dispensing Solutions. To find out more, contact us at 1-877-771-4446.

Reduce Employee Exposure Risk to Infectious Diseases Through Controlled Dispensing Solutions for Surgical Scrubs and Uniforms

Posted on by John Van Horn

IDS’ ScrubTrak surgical scrub dispenser provides a seamless transaction experience to allow employees to quickly and safely access surgical scrubs, uniforms and other textiles

Today it is more critical than ever to provide healthcare workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) including proper work attire such as scrubs and lab coats.  In order to access PPE and proper work attire, it is important to have processes in place. These processes protect your employees without compromising the ability to provide life-saving medical treatment to patients. This is especially crucial as medical organizations’ resources are being strained due to the influx in demand related to surging numbers of COVID-19 patients.

In order to protect medical personnel from the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, it is important to ensure scrubs and hospital uniforms are being handled by as few people as possible while ensuring these items are being returned and laundered properly. It is impossible to eliminate shoulder-to-shoulder contact within a hospital setting. However, it is possible to limit this contact internally and reduce the handling of critical supplies, including hospital scrubs and lab coats, by limiting contact points.

Why is this so critical?  According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lifespan of the Coronavirus can vary, based on different surfaces and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to three days. 

  • Airborne: 30 minutes to 3 hours
  • Cardboard: 24 hours
  • Stainless Steel: 2 days
  • Plastic: 3 days  

While the exact number of healthcare professionals afflicted with COVID-19 is unknown, thousands of healthcare workers across the United States have either had COVID-19 or been exposed to it. While healthcare professionals may be at a higher risk to contract COVID-19 due to their interactions with infected individuals, there are proactive measures that can be implemented to reduce the risk of healthcare workers contracting infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions provides controlled dispensing solutions that offer a contactless transaction experience, specifically for surgical scrubs lab coats, uniforms, and other textiles through its brand ScrubTrak.  It is a fast, easy and proactive solution for hospital staff and medical professionals to retrieve the clean, uncontaminated scrubs they need in order to perform their jobs. It also allows for contaminated scrubs and other textiles to be returned in a safe and secure location.

In addition to scrubs, uniforms and other textiles being safely retrieved, ScrubTrak provides peace of mind that scrubs are returned and laundered per hospital standards. In order for scrubs to be free of contamination, they must go through an extensive laundering and sterilizing regime with commercial-grade laundering equipment that cannot be accomplished by an at-home washer and dryer. 

Once scrubs have been worn, they are simply checked back in and returned to the ScrubTrak return unit where the transaction is logged and credited back to the employee’s account. This allows you to track your inventory and provides accountability typically resulting in drastic decreases in surgical scrub shrinkage.  In fact, many of ScrubTrak’s customers reduce scrub replacement costs by over 60% in the first year of implementing ScrubTrak.

In an open supply closet setting, when a nurse, lab tech or doctor comes in to retrieve new scrubs, he or she will sift through the items, often shoulder-to-shoulder with other staff members, until he or she finds a correct fitting pair, potentially exposing himself or herself to infectious diseases such as COVID-19. 

ScrubTrak helps to reduce the risk of spread of infectious disease by providing a safe and secure retrieval and return center for scrubs, uniforms, and other textiles. With ScrubTrak, personnel simply have to enter in the scrub sizes they need (top and bottom) and then wait only a few seconds for them to be dispensed. The return process is just as simple. Nurses and doctors simply have to scan their badge and place their used items in the return slot for laundering.

Unlike open scrub supply closets, in which multiple staff members can access scrubs and discard of used ones, controlled dispensing through ScrubTrak’s dispensers require employees to only access the specific scrubs they need, whether it be pants, tops or a specific size of scrubs, as well as the quantity they need. Additionally, staff members must be verified for access before the scrubs are dispensed and the employee is able to touch the item. 

“Human error is inevitable. We were losing scrubs faster than we should have been. We began inquiring about automated systems for managing scrubs,” said Ryan Madewell, the environmental services director for Hunt Regional Healthcare. 

To determine if ScrubTrak was the right solution for Hunt Regional Healthcare, Madewell analyzed the system’s various features including ease of use, approved efficiency, infection prevention and cost savings. “We chose ScrubTrak because it was the best fit,” Madewell said.

IDS’ ScrubTrak utilizes real-time data and reporting capability through its proprietary iQ Technology software. iQ Technology allows administrators to track who accessed what item(s), when they accessed the item(s) and the quantity of the item they accessed. This chain of custody is critical when identifying and mitigating risks in a crisis situation, as well as is useful on an inventory management basis during normal operating circumstances.

Having a solution in place to manage and track inventory reduces a hospital’s risk and also protects your most critical assets – your staff members. It is these individuals that are on the front lines of combating crises such as the global pandemic we are currently facing.

ScrubTrak can help. As you are evaluating and initiating your response plan, we want to help you keep your staff members safe, while providing a solution that ensures accountability in order to reduce scrubs and uniform shrinkage, and laundering costs.

For more information about ScrubTrak’s surgical scrub and uniform dispensing solutions, contact Intelligent Dispensing Solutions at 1-877-771-4446.