Category: IDS

Provide Employees with Instant Access to the Supplies They Need, When They Need Them

Posted on by John Van Horn

Hardware administration and asset management can be a headache for the IT service desk.  Some organizations utilize the open supply closet approach. With this approach comes uncertainty, frustration, and wasted productivity.  For example, it could be extremely unorganized where you know it will take too long to find what you are looking for. Or even worse, perhaps it is locked and you can never seem to track down an IT service desk rep when your mouse battery has died. 

Did you know you can eliminate your supply room headaches for both your IT service desk staff and users with a Supply Dispenser or a Supply Locker from IDS?  Many companies who wish to streamline their IT processes and bring flexibility to their employees have been turning to smart vending machines to assist the IT service desk.  These IT office vending machines also track supply inventory and asset utilization on back-end systems.

IDS’ Supply Dispensers or ‘smart vending machines’ are the perfect inventory supply management solution for any office environment, whether it be finance, healthcare, professional services, or tech.  Since one organization can have multiple Supply Dispensers dispersed at various places in the office building or across the office campus, employee productivity will increase. For example, instead of having one central supply close, with Supply Dispensers at multiple locations, employees only have to travel to the Supply Dispenser closest to their work area rather than the central supply closet which may be much farther from their work area.   

Do you have larger IT and office supply items such as keyboards or laptops that may not fit into a Supply Dispenser?  Or perhaps you would like an inventory asset management solution for reusable assets. IDS Supply Lockers provide secure storage and dispensing of larger consumables and reusable assets. Our Supply Lockers keep your employees accountable by using a simple check-in and check-out system. Plus, these lockers can be used for will-call, asset management, loan periods and more. 

Using IDS’ Supply Dispensers is simple, as you just scan your ID and dispense the item you need.  There is no need to spend time tracking down an IT service desk rep to open the supply closet or digging through a messy supply closet searching for the specific item you need. With a swipe of your employee badge and the peripheral is logged against your name and tracked at the inventory end.

Decreasing wait times for IT service requests lets workers access replacement laptops to keep them working. A week-long process to get a new laptop can now be supplied in minutes leading to a rise in productivity and associated improvement on returns on investments.

With IDS’ Supply Dispensers and Lockers, office supplies and IT peripherals can be maintained instantly to better manage your stocks. IT will become more efficient, save costs, and improve employee satisfaction.  

Automated supply dispensing allows IT staff and employees to work more efficiently. It also allows companies to monitor the cost, deployment, and use of those supplies to make sure that office supplies and IT peripherals are accounted for.

Automating the distribution of necessary hardware such as keyboards, mice, headsets, cables, and other peripherals keeps employees productive and gives them the business products they want.  With IDS office and IT inventory asset management solutions, your employees will have convenient, secure access supplies they need, no matter what time of day it is. Call us today at 1-855-570-2673 to learn more.

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions Introduces PUSH-IT, a New Tray Delivery System

Posted on by John Van Horn
PUSH-IT

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions (IDS), a leading hardware and software provider of inventory management solutions, is pleased to introduce PUSH-IT, a new tray delivery system.  PUSH-IT allows customers to dispense larger items from our vending machines while also creating operating efficiencies. With no coils, PUSH-IT allows for greater capacity per selection and is adaptable to a wide variety of premium products, including different types, sizes, weight, and form factors including boxed items. 

For example, in the IDS SD5000-R refrigerated supply dispenser, 17 1.1” x 3” x 1.1” 10 mL vial boxes of Lorazepam injection solution fit per selection with PUSH-IT, while only 14 boxes fit per selection with a standard coil.  Likewise, in the SD-5000 supply dispenser, seven 6.9” x 5.3” x 2.5” inch boxes of landline phone hands-free headsets fit per selection with PUSH-IT, while only six boxes fit per selection with a standard coil. 

The PUSH-IT Delivery System is user-friendly and allows for flexible product configuration. Since there are no coils, selections are easily and quickly re-configurable infield without additional parts and it is reversible to accommodate extra-wide products. In addition, PUSH-IT provides a quicker restocking process than coils and eliminates any missed or empty slots occurring during the restock process.  PUSH-IT is strong and durable, able to push up to 15 pounds per selection or 30 pounds with paired devices.

With clear gates replacing obtrusive coils, PUSH-IT allows users to see the full products face on with no tilt or label obstruction, allowing them to better view the products and become informed by easily viewing the full front product label.  In addition, PUSH-IT eliminates the possibility of the products rotating in the selection when a product is vended from the selection, a nuisance that often occurs with coils.

“The PUSH-IT tray system enables clients to vend a wide variety of packaging. In addition, they can instantly change selection configuration width at no expense and with no additional parts required. The absence of coils dramatically speeds up restocking increasing productivity,” commented Jim Dillingham, President and Owner, Vend-ucation.

To see PUSH-IT in action click HERE.  For more information on the PUSH-IT tray delivery system or any other IDS products, please contact IDS by calling 1-877-771-4446 or visit www.idsvending.com.

We’re Heading to Orlando for “Work”

Posted on by John Van Horn

We are excited to be heading to gorgeous Orlando, Florida November 9-13 for the Service Management World Show. IDS will be showing off our helpful solutions for managing office and technology supplies. The Service Management World Show from HDI is a great opportunity to hear from service management experts and learn about the latest trends in the industry.

The IDS iVendTech solution reduces costs from untracked office and IT supplies and increases employees’ productivity. Our machines are simple to use, they work 24/7, they don’t take breaks or need vacation time.  

Supply dispensers provide instant access for employees to IT products and other essential office supplies.

https://youtu.be/Gx7S540dE3Y

“I used to be inundated with requests for IT peripherals and other office supplies, said Kyle Williams, IT Support Specialist at GoSpotCheck.”But since implementing the vending machines these requests have dropped to almost none.”

Kyle Williams, IT Support Specialist at GoSpotCheck.

Daniel Bolens is the Desktop Services Specialist at JAMF Software. He calls the IDS iVendTech machines the “perfect solution.” After researching other suppliers he determined “IDS had the best technological solution.”

Daniel Bolens, Desktop Services Specialist at
JAMF Software

For more information about our iVendTech machines for your office and IT supply management give us a call at 1-877-771-4446.

Is your Fitness Center in Shape?

Posted on by John Van Horn

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions reaches across many industries to help companies increase profit and maximize their resources. IDS vending machines and lockers for Fitness Centers makes it convenient and easy for gym members to find the supplies they need and makes workout facilities the go-to place to find what they’re looking for. The IDS Fitness Center brings nutritional and fitness essentials right to those that want them. Workout facilities can use IDS machines to increase profit while meeting a need among their clientele.

The IDS Fitness Center is capable of dispensing large packed products like bulk containers and bags, to small individually packaged samples. The protein vending machines can also dispense refrigerated beverages and shakes. Our Fitness Center locker and vending machine system can be set up as a standalone dispensing unit, or include satellite lockers giving you expandability for a variety of products.

The IDS Fitness Center is configurable and expandable for a wide range of products. The machines off secure dispensing, cash and credit card payment options and a web-based interface. Third-party POS integration includes Bar Code, PIN code, MagStripe and PROX Card.

All transactions are secure. You can customize your IDS Fitness Center with your logo on the outside of the machine, too. Our Fitness machines easily integrate with ABC Financial software as well. This way customers can use their gym membership or ID card to pay for their products.

IDS will be at the Club Industry Show at the Hilton Chicago on October 10 and 11. We will be showing off our equipment and would love to answer any questions you have about how our machines can increase your fitness center’s profit. Please call us today at 1-877-771-4446!

 

School Food Application

Posted on by John Van Horn

We are proud to offer solutions to help schools feed children nutritious lunches and snacks. IDS has the technology to integrate a school’s POS so that students can use their IDs or a code to get their food from the machine. The healthy school vending machines can offer different food categories and be programmed so each student can choose one food from each category offered. Our school food application is perfect for schools without a lunch room or schools looking to provide after school snacks to students that are part of an activity or students who may not get a nutritious meal at their home.

Vending Machines Uses: They Aren’t Just for Snacks

Posted on by John Van Horn

                  It is most common for people to associate vending machines as only serving food and drinks. However, more and more we are seeing vending machines that have a variety of uses besides dispensing food. Businesses are understanding the value of convenience and the ease with which products can be stored and delivered in non-food vending machines. Vending machines also provide a secure location for items and easy tracking and inventory information.

                  Companies are learning that vending machines help them get their products in front of their possible customers sooner. A recent Small Business Trends article titled “Vending Machines Aren’t Just for Snacks Anymore” noted that companies are selling jackets and headphones out of electronics vending machines in airports. Vending machines help companies go to their customers rather than on relying their customers coming to them. In addition to airports, schools and universities are becoming popular places to place non-traditional vending machines.  These machines can help travelers that are missing something they want for their trip or a student who needs a piece of technology for class.  Fitness centers are also great places to reach a target market through automated dispensing. Just like in traditional snack vending where location is important and a business profits when they can take their product to where people interested in their product already are.

iVendTech Satellite Machine

                  Organizations are also learning how vending machines are efficient and cost effective ways to get necessary supplies to their own employees. Businesses can use vending machines to track supplies, so they know exactly who is taking the supplies, and can limit how many workers can take. Employees can also take supplies 24/7 and do not need to wait on anyone else to access what they need. Intelligent Dispensing Solutions had been very successful helping hospitals dispense and sort their scrubs and other medical supplies. IDS also has helped fire departments track and dispense emergency supplies. Improved inventory management with vending machines is helping organizations save money and better serve their workers.

             We will let other companies get customers snacks and drink. We are proud to be on the cutting edge of automated inventory management systems helping businesses save time and money. Helping companies develop automated retail plans to reach their target market is important to us. Intelligent Dispensing Solutions is excited about the future of vending and the growing awareness and opportunities to vend non-food items. Do you have an idea of something you would like to vend but need helping making it happen? Contact us today at 1-877-771-4446. We would love to learn how we can serve you!

The Value of Saving Time

Posted on by John Van Horn

The end of the year is a good time to look back and evaluate how it went. Years can be broken up into financial quarters, which can be broken up into weeks and then into business days. Spending moments during the day doing unnecessary tasks can snowball into to large amount of wasted time over the year. Intelligent Dispensing Solutions works to save you time, which can save you money and add value to your business.

IDS has tools to help companies eliminate time and money waste by tracking supplies, securely dispensing materials and reducing administrative costs. By eliminating tedious time consuming work IDS products give you more time to spend working on more important parts of your businesss. We take pride in our asset management systems and have seen them help many different types of businesses. Contact us to find out how we can help you save time and money for your business.

IDS New Web Service Features

Posted on by John Van Horn

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions is excited to announce new web service features that will enhance reporting and accountability allowing you to further streamline administration costs. The new features include: Supply Room, Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets as well as Transaction Reporting.

Supply Room

Supply Room makes sure that you always have the items needed to restock your machine.  With Supply Room you can set critical alert level and par levels for items that are ready to be stocked in your IDS UCapit machine(s) and items that will remain stocked on the shelf. You can be alerted when you need to reorder products and if you need to restock products. Soon this service feature will include the ability to run purchase orders based on your supply levels in both machine and supply room.

Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets

Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets provide the ability to better manage tasks by creating your own checklist. The checklists tracks who completed a task and when. A completed task can be reported automatically by sending an email to the designated crew member. The completed checklist is easy to share with those on your team as well.

Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets

Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets provide the ability to better manage tasks by creating your own checklist. The checklists tracks who completed a task and when. A completed task can be reported automatically by sending an email to the designated crew member. The completed checklist is easy to share with those on your team as well.

Transaction Reporting

In the Transaction Reporting feature the allocation displays automatically when a report in run. For example, if you are prompting your crew members to enter the Run Number and Unit Number it will automatically display with the individual transaction record without having the change the account setting. Also, when you check the ‘Customize Columns’ box, further options for returning the data you want appears. You can now make selections for displaying the Lot Number and Expiration Dates. This means that the individual Lot Number and Expiration Date will display for each individual product that has been dispensed. Remember that any time you run a particular query, you can automate it.

IDS Advancing Technology

IDS expects to continue improving our solutions in order to provide your organization with increased value. Please contact us to schedule an online demo on these new web service features or have general questions about optimizing your use of the IDS UCapIt solution.

Customer Spotlight: Mastic Beach Ambulance Company Success Story

Posted on by John Van Horn

This month, we want to highlight our medical vending machine customer, Mastic Beach Ambulance Company.

Mastic Beach Ambulance Company implemented our U-Cap-It medical vending solution and placed themselves in control of inventory. Now, they are able to save staff time managing inventory and significantly reduce costs associated with wasted and expired supplies.

With 90-100 staff members, the Mastic Beach Ambulance Company runs five ambulances and multiple responders and averages about 2,500 to 3,000 calls a year.

Prior to implementing the U-Cap-It system, Mastic Beach would run into problems with tracking of product on hand. This ended up being an issue when crews were coming back into the building to restock and there was no product left.

Though a few different software solutions were looked into by Mastic Beach, they found the U-Cap-It solution to be the best option. The cost savings implemented by U-Cap-It was a huge benefit for Mastic Beach. Implementing the solution allowed Mastic Beach to spend less time doing the manual count and paperwork needed to keep track of all the spreadsheets and physical inventory in their building.

“U-Cap-it was able to provide us with exactly what we were looking for.”

-Rich Tvelia, District EMS Supervisor, Mastic Beach Ambulance Company.

When Mastic Beach needs to do a restock, whether something expires or is out of stock,  U-Cap-It is able to see exactly which ambulance vehicle needs the restock. Additionally, there are automated reports and instant notifications from the U-Cap-It website available to Mastic Beach to better track all of their equipment, certifications and product.

In implementing the U-Cap-It system, Mastic Beach was able to save up to $8,000 in the first year alone. Now that the system is in place, there is also continuing local technical and training support from IDS.

“I would recommend the U-Cap-It system to any other agencies in need of cost-cutting processes, ease of use, inventory tracking, and continued customer support.”

-Rich Tvelia, District EMS Supervisor, Mastic Beach Ambulance Company.

If you’re looking for a better way to control inventory, save staff time managing inventory and significantly reduce the cost of wasted and expired supplies, consider IDS U-Cap-It solutions.

For more information about U-Cap-It, visit us here.

Watch the entire testimonial here.

Unlock The Value Of Your Vending Reports

Posted on by John Van Horn

 

For most people, the idea of reviewing reports and spreadsheets sounds about as fun as going to dentist. But in each case, they’re both necessary and putting it off could potentially create greater (and more expensive) problems in the future. You don’t want to wait until you have a cavity before you go see the dentist. At the same time, you don’t want to wait until there’s a serious issue with your inventory, before you decide to look at the reports.

Almost every business could benefit from cutting costs, improving inefficiencies and gaining control of inventory. This is where vending reports shine because they are  able to tackle all three goals at once, each of which could drastically increase your bottom line.

In order to keep things running optimally, you have to be paying attention to the numbers. Vending reports are versatile and can be generated by item, employee, point of use, and department.

While in depth reporting such as this might seem a bit overwhelming at first,  once you know what you’re looking for, you can automate a report.

When we look at larger time frames, vending machine inventory reports can help with determining how items are used during specific times of the year. For example, you might look at the report and find that certain items peak during certain times of the year. Now that you’re armed with that information, you can make sure to increase your inventory of those items when appropriate.

Vending machine inventory reports help improve the overall workflow of the organization by keeping a pulse of what’s being used and at what rate. Products that were once all the rage become outdated or obsolete. You’ll be able to notice this as you’re reviewing the vending reports regularly and be able to make the appropriate changes.

To conclude this post, one of the biggest benefits of reviewing your vending reports is that it allows you to look at all of your vending machine data in one place. In other words, it gives you the bigger picture on how your vending machines are running and reveals any potential blind spots.

From there, your findings can be shared with your management team who can go on to make the necessary changes whether it’s adjusting inventory levels, managing certain assets, or ensuring that billing is being allocated to the correct departments.

For more information about our vending machines, visit www.idsvending.com .

Posted in IDS