Category: inventory control

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.

Inventory Management vs. Warehouse Management

Posted on by John Van Horn

Inventory Management vs. Warehouse Management - Idsveding.com

The terms ‘inventory management’ and ‘warehouse management’ are mistakenly used interchangeably since they both deal with products and operations within organizations in the distribution and manufacturing industry. Despite their similarities, many factors differentiate them. 

 Business owners and warehouse managers should understand the differences between the two terms because the management system utilized to track inventory depends on several factors that can impact your company’s efficiency and profitability. In this article, you will learn the similarities and differences between warehouse and inventory management. This article also compares warehouse and inventory management and explains how they function together. 

What is Warehouse Management? 

Warehouse management is the process of controlling and maintaining the operations in a warehouse. The process includes receiving the inventory from the seller, moving the goods inside the warehouse, and allocating storage space for the products in the warehouse. It involves all the activities that take place inside a warehouse.  

Warehouse management includes the following: 

  • Managing equipment and inventory effectively
  • Educating and training employees at the warehouse
  • Demand forecasting
  • Scaling warehouse operations from a business growth perspective
  • Maintaining relationships with courier companies to deliver items to customers on time
  • Obtaining licenses and certifications from concerned authorities
  • Keeping track of everyday outbound and inbound shipments and other activities

Businesses opt for a WMS or Warehouse Management System in their warehouse to make their warehouse operations easier. A WMS helps maintain the inventory levels and avoids stock out situations to allow you to get the best ROI (Return on Investment). It also enables you to forecast demand accurately by giving you information on which products are selling the most and which are not moving from the shelves.

What is Inventory Management? 

An inventory management system is how a company keeps track of its stocked inventory. It helps channel the inventory accordingly and deliver to the customers without delay. The process also monitors the dimensions, weight, and amounts of the inventory in stock.  

Having a good inventory management system helps eCommerce businesses prevent time lags in processing orders to the final delivery, as it will accurately track the goods in the storage. In today’s competitive world, you must always have your inventory levels data on hand because only then will you be able to provide your customers with a spectacular shopping experience. The process effectively performs your business’s inventory checks without losing potential sales. 

What Do Warehouse Management and Inventory Management Have in Common? 

Inventory management and warehouse management are similar activities, as both aids in moving inventory from the supplier to the consumer efficiently. Each involves shipping, storing, and reordering stock. They have the following features in common: 

Offer visibility into all stock for one warehouse or the whole company. 

Use barcode tools, software, and radio frequency identification (RFID) to enhance accuracy and efficiency. 

IDS is here to assist you in optimizing your supply chain with manufacturing inventory control, productivity and tracking.

Differences between Warehouse Management and Inventory Management 

Inventory Management System Warehouse Management System
Tracks inventory across all locations Tracks locations and stock movement within a warehouse
Focuses on maintaining inventory levels to fulfill orders Focuses on packing, picking, and shipping stock
Provides information about all inventory Generates reports on the status of stocks

 

Other Differences

Complexity 

Inventory Management system is a simpler process than a warehouse management system. Inventory management provides you with a record of the total inventory in a particular storage location. Warehouse management is the process that businesses perform to manage storage systems inside a warehouse. For example, if a warehouse has multiple storage bins for the same product, warehouse management helps you manage your items. In contrast, inventory management can only inform you about how many items you have. 

Integration 

Typically, inventory management is the first activity in a holistic warehouse management strategy. Warehouse management strategy includes several processes, including, but not limited to, order fulfillment, such as sales, distribution, product supply, and so on. In other words, warehouse management is more essential to everyday operations in the order fulfillment process when compared to inventory management. 

 Control  

Inventory management will only provide information about the quantity of a specific item in your stocked goods. Managing that inventory in a warehouse is done with warehouse management, which enables you to dedicate particular locations for the inventory. Warehouse management gives an organization more control over its operations since it gives them more information than inventory management to complete other tasks in the order fulfillment process. 

 Solutions 

WMS allows businesses to analyze and change storage and inventory when needed, while inventory management does not provide this option. Communication devices used in Warehouse Management make it possible to make these changes and gain a better understanding of the inventory and product locations, which results in a more streamlined and efficient operation.

 Final Say 

Now that you have noted the differences between inventory management and warehouse management, take the next step in deciding which process is best for your business. While both methods increase efficiency and reduce manual efforts, they do so in their own unique ways. Let us know your requirements, and we will guide you in making the best choice for your business.

Easy Inventory Management with UCapIt

Posted on by John Van Horn

Today, EMS providers and other healthcare organizations face the challenges of providing high-quality patient care with reduced operating costs and increased patient volume and regulatory requirements. UCapIt, from IDS, provides a simple yet powerful solution to the problem of how to efficiently and effectively control your EMS, hospital, and other healthcare facility inventory.

You need to be extremely careful managing your EMS inventory. With UCapIt, you can take better control of your inventory. If you are a medical service provider, UCapIt ensures your medical and narcotics equipment are stored securely. 

We offer several ways to identify your crew members to give them access through dual validation to equipment and supplies, such as inputting a unique code on a barcode, proximity, biometrics, magnetic strip, and much more.

Inventory Management Made Simple with UCapIt

Key Highlights

  • Reduces inventory carrying costs
  • Decreases ‘shrink’ and hoarding
  • Eliminates waste because of expired pharmaceuticals and products
  • Offers complete real-time reporting of how, why, where, and what
  • Offers access to inventory while maintaining security and control
  • Meets the DEA and FDA guidelines for pharmaceutical management
  • Streamlines operations and reduces administration costs

Inventory Management Features of UCapIt

The iQ Technology

The brain of the UCapIt system is iQ Technology. Through this technology, UCapIt increases employees’ productivity and provides management with real-time analytics to make data-driven decisions. This system is a cloud-based operating system provides round-the-clock real-time inventory and reporting of what, how, where, and why inventory is removed. 

In addition, iQ Technology alerts managers whenever their products are at crucial points, I.e., whenever they should be reordered. Moreover, all withdrawals are time-stamped, catalogued, and regulated by training/tech clearance level.

The iQ Technology for the Medical Industry and Emergency Services

Our Medical package includes all the features that healthcare and medical organizations need for enterprise-wide asset and inventory management, including:

  • Locker Dispensing & Reporting
  • Product Expiration
  • Supply Room
  • Vehicle Management
  • Lot-Tracking

Locker Dispensing and Reporting

IDS’ Supply Lockers allow easy and efficient inventory management of larger items than Supply Dispensers can. You can adjust the number of compartments and the size of each compartment to suit your product mix. Supply Lockers can be used as standalone or satellite machines connected to a Host Supply Locker or Supply Dispenser.

With IDS’s proprietary software management system, iQ Technology, you can manage access to products and utilize user credentials during check-out. Supply Lockers provide check-in/check-out, asset management, self-service automated order will-call/pick-up, single and multiple items dispense, and loan period processes.

Irrespective of how you utilize our Supply Lockers, the iQ Technology reporting can be accessed with a single login rather than multiple logins. This feature is helpful for will-call applications, along with regular supply dispensing.

Product Expiration

Our product expiration enables customers to view product expiration without manually sifting through products. This feature allows customers to find out all they need about products, including when they expire. It saves money and time and eliminates product waste in a machine.

Supply Room

The Supply Room feature allows you to save money and time by managing your inventory anywhere and anytime. You won’t have to spend hours in your supply room taking inventory of your products anymore. Instead, you can access your full supply room with the click of a button.

The Supply Room feature benefits you in risk reduction and audits. Also, with this feature, you can quickly see which products are about to expire so you can use them before their expiration date.

 Vehicle Management

Manage all your dispensing equipment in a single location with our Vehicle Management system. This feature helps you save time by giving you the facility to manage your equipment from one spot instead of you having to walk around to every machine to check if it is in good health.

Lot Tracking

With Lot-Tracking, you will be able to easily track lot numbers on any product in your system. This is a comprehensive feature that helps you track supplies from the moment you receive them in the supply room, till they’re dispensed from the machine.

Lot-Tracking offers you the ability to keep track of where your product is and who can access the product. Besides, the feature reduces risk and helps organizations maintain full compliance. 

Final Words – Other Features

Custom Checklists, Biometric Management, and API / Pre-Authorization are some other capabilities of iQ Technology. The Custom Checklist feature allows you to create a digital checklist to make sure all your machines and supplies are in place according to your standards. Biometrics is a way your employees can access the products they need with their fingerprint, and it enables the machine to track the number of products accessed when they were accessed, and who accessed which products. iQ Technology also allows organizations to connect directly to your existing employee management system. For more information, contact us by clicking here.

The advantages of using smart lockers for mobile asset management over manual methods

Posted on by John Van Horn

 

The advantages of using smart lockers for mobile asset management over manual methods - idsvending.com

Manual asset management – Fraught with many limitations!

A clipboard full of checkboxes for each asset that gets passed around and is shared by several users can very quickly become a nightmare for all maintenance, operations, and supply chain professionals. The data gathering is tedious while preparing summary reports and reconciliation with stores is often fraught with errors. It is the perfect scenario for Murphy’s law.  

This article is not going to be all gloom and doom. Still, it is essential to understand the disadvantages of manual asset management before we discuss how iQ Technology paired with smart lockers can make your inventory management efficient and effortless. Some of the key disadvantages of manual asset management over mobile are discussed below.

  • Cumbersome

Manual asset management involves data entry at several points, often by several people. Even with the use of computers and spreadsheets, the task does not become any easier. Hundreds of devices, tools, and consumables need data entry at several points, such as procurement, check-out, check-in, and disposal.  Summarizing the data gathered to generate meaningful reports is a difficult challenge. Finally, more effort is required to make this data flow to other systems.

  • Human Error is inevitable

Data is only as valuable as it is accurate. Human involvement in gathering and processing data makes the data prone to errors. Erroneous data can be more dangerous than having no data at all. Poor data has a bad habit of contaminating insights in downstream processes and making data from upstream processes unreliable. It is impossible to eliminate human error, especially when it involves tedious yet precise manual entries that are repetitive.

  • Delayed Asset Status

Manual asset management delays data gathering, rendering the data unavailable for tactical and business decisions. Just as serving justice, data delayed is data denied. 

  • Non-Standard Data

Another challenge with manual data gathering is data can be interpreted and reported differently depending upon the methodology and source of the analysis. To combat this, radio buttons and objective options are oftentimes used, however, this approach diminishes the amount of intelligence that can be gathered. Unstructured data analysis, visualization, and big data can help with data analysis, however, these methods are most applicable when the volume of data is high.

  • Resistance to Modifications

When gathered manually, data tends to resist any structure, resolution, or data type changes. Even a tiny change in a set of constrained inputs can disrupt data gathering for many. The workforce needs to be trained in the need for changed data and the process of acquiring it. Considering that the data is seldom acquired by someone dedicated to this purpose, people may view such retraining as a distraction from their responsibilities.

  • Employee Motivation

Tracking and monitoring asset information manually cause difficulties for employees at various levels. The process is tedious and susceptible to errors, as often the task of entering data is not a measure of success, but can considerably impact decision-making considerably. This means more work for no direct outcome for the employee. Inaccurate data can also confuse employees, causing frustration.

Smart Lockers and Mobile Asset Management

Smart lockers automate the management of your assets. Workflows can be written to provide role-based or need-based access to assets through precise authentication mechanisms. And yes, there is minimal to no manual data entry involved. Data is made available in real-time as and when it is created. 

When combined with tagging and tracking solutions like RFID, Bluetooth, Keycard, or Passcode-based authentication, establishing the chain of custody becomes automatic. Smart lockers are a combination of three pieces of technology.

  • Hardware

Adjustable Lockers serve as a pickup and drop-off center that stores your assets when not they are not in use. Users can use the electronic panel or their ID cards to check out and check in devices or equipment. The access interface can be customized to authenticate various methods like User PIN, Employee Keycard, RFID, or even passcodes delivered to mobile phones.

  • Software

iQ Technology software from IDS serves as the backend brains behind the hardware. The software is where you set up employee limits and authorization as well as view real-time data that includes who used what assets, when and how many.

  • Integrations

Mobile assets are used in various processes in the enterprise. Different functions use enterprise systems like ERP, SCM, and Procurement systems. Asset tracking can be complete only when the supply lockers can integrate with different enterprise systems and ensure a single source of information.

 

Smart Lockers Vs. Manual Asset Management – Is it even fair to compare?

 

Particulars Smart Lockers Manual Asset Management
Profitability Profitability improves due to better efficiency, higher uptime, improved productivity, better use of assets, and lesser hoarding/ shrinkage. Asset management initiatives focus on existence and not excellence, resulting in higher inefficiencies.
Process Continuity Real-time asset trackability ensures mission-critical assets’ visibility and continuity in the process. The lead time to data visibility can cause a massive disparity between the actual status and the recorded status of the asset.
Asset Utilization Information on available (unutilized) assets helps allocate assets around the clock to drive higher utilization. Poorer utilization of assets as data is neither current nor accurate.
Accountability Accurate chain-of-custody ensures responsible usage of assets. Manual data entry allows missing or invalid entries, thereby reducing accountability.
Reliability Logging and scheduling maintenance can be automated through workflows, making equipment more reliable. The asset maintenance is relegated to individuals and prone to human error.
Actionable Insights The software layer in smart lockers can trigger instant reports to empower decision-makers.. Manual consolidation of data and reporting may not be available in time to make decisions.
Seamless Interoperability Data is gathered and stored digitally, allowing integration with other enterprise systems. Data is gathered and entered manually into spreadsheets, limiting interoperability to a few systems.
Employee Experience Employees can focus on creating value for the business by executing their responsibilities better. Employees are burdened with data gathering and the consequences of inaccurate data.

 

Mobile Asset Management with Smart Lockers – The No-brainer Decision

Your devices and equipment contribute as much to the business process as fixed assets like buildings, if not more. Ensuring their condition, availability, and uptime is critical for efficient operations. Smart lockers help manage mobile assets effortlessly and accurately. The three layers of technology – hardware, software, and integration applications come together to ensure better availability and utilization of mobile assets leading to time saved and increased profitability.

IDS Vending is the industry leader in smart lockers and controlled dispensing technology. Talk to our experts to see how our lockers can help you manage your mobile assets. Click here to learn more or call us at 1-866-409-2978.

Tips and Tricks to Track and Manage Your Organization’s Inventory

Posted on by John Van Horn

 

idsvending.com - Tips and Tricks to Track and Manage Your Organization's Inventory

A well-managed inventory is key to successful operations. If you are looking for ways to take your business to a new level, an inventory management system can help. An inventory management system will streamline your supply chain processes and keep you organized. This article discusses different inventory management tips to help you track and control your supplies more effectively.

Categorize Inventory Carefully: Inventory categorizing is crucial when dealing with physical goods because it safeguards your profit margins and reduces the risk of write-offs and losses from spoilt stock inventory. It also marks the initial stage in demand forecasting, increased costs, supply chain optimization, and the slight decrease of obsolete inventory. 

By organizing your inventory into different categories, you may quickly determine which items need to be purchased more frequently. It helps identify the quantities and priority of items required for smooth operations in a business. Experts recommend categorizing your inventory into A, B, and C categories. Items in the A category are more expensive and in limited supply. Low-cost, high-turnover products fall under the C group. Items in the B category are in the middle; they are reasonably priced and move out of the door slower than C items but more rapidly than A items. An ABC analysis is an efficient approach for a business to assess the worth of its stock and inventory. Using specialized software can further streamline the inventory management process. 

Track Your Inventory Accurately with Real-Time Data: Understanding the status of an organization’s inventory is essential for achieving efficiency and speed in operations today. Warehouse Management System (WMS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems are three inventory management solutions. You may not need to utilize all three, but they perform best when combined. A WMS system helps keep track of your current inventory levels. It can also decrease human error and increase efficiency by automating your inventory management processes.

An ERP system is best for tracking your production schedule, ensuring you produce enough finished goods to meet demand. Making sure you have the correct quantity of items can help you avoid waste. This can be accomplished by setting up a replenishment process that tracks your inventory levels and produces a schedule to order materials. An MRP system may be used to track any timing issues in your supply chain. This can help avoid any stock-outs, which can cause a lot of disruption to your business. 

Set up a Replenishment Process to Avoid Wastage: Replenishment is one of the most important aspects of inventory management. You may have the perfect number of items, but if you do not order more when they run out, you will be out of stock. This is where a replenishment process comes into play. Use the (first in, first out) process when managing commodities that can spoil, such as materials, food products, chemicals, pharmaceutical inventory, or other items with a dated shelf life. To prevent spoilage, pay close attention to the expiration dates on your products. There are several ways to automate your replenishment process. You can set up digital barcoding and GPS-enabled RFID tags to increase security against loss and theft. This will also provide immediate inventory alerts, notifications, and real-time tracking. Another option is to create a manual system, where a person manually orders materials when needed. Always ensure that your system is based on accurate data. If your inventory is inaccurate, you will order more products than you need, resulting in extra costs and waste.

Invest in Inventory Management Software: There will undoubtedly be some challenges as you manage your inventory. Timely detection of these issues enables you to address them as quickly as possible. A problem with your system or data input practices may cause erroneous inventory data. You must find a solution if your system is not configured correctly, or your data is input incorrectly. The easiest way to solve these issues is by investing in inventory software. Inventory software automates many of the manual processes, which can reduce human error. It can also track the data, so you can make sure your system is accurate. Most companies purchase inventory management systems or use specially created databases to manage their inventories. The supplier can modify the database with inventory management software to meet their specific and overall business requirements. 

Complete Asset Tracking and Inventory Management Solution: Asset tracking systems can help with the entire inventory management process by making it easier to track inventory assets. Asset inventory management tracks all equipment and devices inside an organization – from one location to another. Managing your inventory is challenging and time-consuming but is critical to running a successful organization. 

An efficient inventory management automation program simplifies implementation by using a single vendor for hardware, software, and support. Intelligent Dispensing Solutions offers all the required hardware, software, and support to help you regain control of your inventory. IDS offers not only the most feature-rich inventory management solution but also the most comprehensive solution by a single provider. Call us today to know more.

Utilizing lockers and dispensing equipment to access office supplies is more than just an asset management initiative.

Posted on by John Van Horn

The benefits of utilizing lockers and dispensing equipment - idsvending.com

Resource availability and its impact on the modern office environment

Timely availability of necessary office supplies is essential for a business to maximize productivity. Sometimes missing a $40 computer mouse can ruin everything when deadlines are tight. Not having the necessary IT and office supplies can also lead to unplanned downtime, a.k.a. waiting. The Ponemon Institute’s annual report concludes that the average cost of downtime could be anywhere between $137 a minute for small businesses to $17,244 a minute for large corporations. [1]

The cost of lost productivity is just one of the impacts of unavailable office resources. Approximately one out of every eight employees who participated in a Paychex survey claimed to be very dissatisfied when they felt they had too much downtime. [2] Safety-related supplies and materials can impact the well-being and morale of the workforce, too.

Addressing these and other potential challenges due to inadequate supply of resources can be easily overcome using controlled dispensing solutions. This article discusses the benefits of smart inventory management technology like Supply Lockers and Supply Dispensers for the modern office environment.

Controlled dispensing as a solution to resource availability challenges

Controlled dispensing solutions can provide access to necessary resources by validating the user based on prox cards, barcodes, keypad and mag stripes. This ensures timely access to supplies for employees instead of waiting at a help desk or for IT to respond to their request. This also allows the business to track the consumption of supplies by employee, department, branch, or any other level of designated personnel.

A comprehensive smart inventory management solution has two essential components – hardware and software. The hardware consists of Supply Lockers and Supply Dispensers that hold the supplies. The software layer is the backend brain behind the hardware. In our case, iQ Technology software sets access workflows, product restrictions, as well as alerts and reporting. There are several applications for controlled dispensing in an office environment. Some of them are listed below:

  • Service Desks

IT support professionals are busy fending off external attacks, evaluating device performance, asset monitoring, network connectivity and other essential tasks for business continuity. Providing IT supplies to employees who need them is important, yet does not require the skills of a trained IT expert. Controlled dispensing can help eliminate service desks and free up valuable IT bandwidth.

  • Procurement Systems

Efficient businesses are always in the pursuit of maintaining the right level of inventory. Purchase departments are tasked with ensuring the availability of necessary materials while keeping the cost of inventory as minimal as possible. Inventory management modules of controlled dispensing solutions help maintain an optimum amount of supplies in stock. The solution can provide real-time information about reorder levels that help maintain the best amount of inventory.

Benefits of Controlled Dispensing

Controlled dispensing solutions deliver direct benefits to IT support desks, procurement departments and employees. Factors like business continuity, operational efficiency, and real-time insights create value for large organizations. This translates to business benefits like:

  • Profitability

Businesses can enjoy cost savings and operational efficiency by using controlled dispensing technology. Lockers enabled with inventory management software can track and optimize the usage of assets. Shrinkage due to hoarding, loss, and expiration can be avoided by implementing controlled dispensing technology.

  • Accountability

iQ Technology software makes sure only designated individuals can access certain supplies. Administrators can track who is taking what items, when and how many. The system establishes a transparent chain of custody for valuable assets and drives accountability at all levels.

  • Reliability

Supply Lockers and Supply Dispensers can improve resource availability. This creates a reliable process and eliminates resource-related uncertainties. Automated alerts about PAR levels can preempt purchases to avoid unplanned downtime.

  • Efficiency

Controlled dispensing minimizes downtime and keeps employees on task. It also reduces human effort, freeing up bandwidth for more important activities. By minimizing downtime, the inventory management component of the dispensing solutions improves the efficiency of capital utilization. The availability of real-time information about resources allows for better workload planning. 

  • Safety

Controlled dispensing results in fewer touchpoints, decreasing the likelihood of transmitting viruses and bacteria. This will translate to a safer workplace in the age of fast-spreading contagions. 

  • User Experience

Employees can now avoid the need to line up to collect essential supplies. Frustration that arises due to the unavailability of the necessary tools and supplies for day-to-day operations can be avoided with dispensing equipment. Employees can plan better with the help of real-time visibility and inventory alerts, to keep on hand the tools and resources that are essential for executing their responsibilities.

Conclusion

Controlled dispensing solutions can deliver value across the entire organization. Different stakeholders like production employees, IT support teams, procurement divisions, administrations and maintenance departments participate in the flow of inventory and the value creation process. Dispensing technology delivers value to all these stakeholders by ensuring the availability of resources and acting as a single source for all inventory-related information.

Implementing the proper hardware and software is the key to realizing these benefits. IDS has helped large Fortune 100 businesses and small enterprises harness the power of controlled dispensing technology to achieve business benefits.

Talk to our experts at 1-855-459-4536 to learn how we can get you started on empowering your office with the best controlled dispensing and inventory management solutions.

The System Your Manufacturing Floor is Missing

Posted on by John Van Horn

As a supervisor in a manufacturing company, it is your job to look for ways to cut overhead costs without reducing employee productivity. One of the most efficient ways to do this is by considering your inventory management system. Do your employees have to rummage through a supply closet looking for gloves? Are they spending precious minutes searching a bin in order to find safety glasses? If so, you are wasting time and money that can be easily resolved with an efficient production floor management system.

Inventory management systems, such as Vend Safety from Intelligent Dispensing Solutions, determine how and when an employee accesses an item. In order for an employee to access a safety mask, for example, they must first swipe their employee ID card. Then, their item will be dispensed to them and it will be detailed for you in a report. Additionally, it can be set up in such a way that employees must enter a PIN number or even through biometrics. This set of safety precautions saves you money through controlled production floor inventory management.

Vend Safety allows for more accurate inventory management. It eliminates the need to spend countless hours tallying the number of face masks or gloves you have on hand. Instead, administrators are able 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. 

iQ Technology, Vend Safety’s proprietary software, saves you time by cutting down on inventory management. Eliminate the hours spent on counting inventory and organizing your supply closet. iQ Technology has reporting that details inventory information for you. This eliminates wasting money on unnecessary supplies and allows you to reallocate your time to something more important. 

“The integration of IDS’ iQ Technology software with our existing point-of-sale (POS) system drives the success of our 300 machines healthy vending program. Plus, the software’s real-time reporting and alerts allow us to manage the program efficiently and effectively,” states Julie Hedine, Director of Food and Nutrition Services at Pasco County School District.

In addition to offering automatic dispensing solutions, many companies are looking into offering personal protective equipment to supply to companies to stock their equipment. Offering both dispensing equipment and the PPE supplies to stock them moves the responsibility of maintaining your equipment and supplies from you, back to us. It reduces the time you spend with PPE replenishment. 

Inventory management solutions can come in the form of an automatic supply dispenser or a supply locker. Supply dispensers allow employees to increase productivity and reduce employee downtime by spreading out your storage to your point of use. They ensure your team has exactly what they need, when and where they need it. Supply lockers provide secure accountability for reusable assets and consumable products. Single and multiple item dispense, check-in/check-out, loan periods and asset management are all possible with supply lockers. 

Supply dispensers are useful for products of varying shapes and sizes. They are especially useful for one-time-use products or products that should not be shared amongst employees, such as safety glasses and face masks. Trays within the dispenser can be configured to provide employees with large items, such as boxes of alcohol wipes, to something small, such as earplugs.

For items of various shapes and sizes that need to be returned for others to use, such as tools, you may find a supply locker to be more useful. Supply lockers are adjustable and can be made to have anywhere from 3 compartments to up to 22 compartments. Additionally, select supply lockers include interior lighting and chargers within each compartment. This allows your employees to recharge tools, if necessary before someone else needs to use them. Both supply dispensers and supply lockers can be attached, with the help of a satellite supply locker.

“Our vending machines are great and perform like they’re brand new,” says Daniel Bolens, Desktop Services Specialist at JAMF Software. “IDS is the perfect solution and working with them is a very positive experience. We evaluated other suppliers and IDS had the best technological solution. The machines are embraced by the team and popular in the office.” 

Implementing an inventory management system in your manufacturing company allows you to cut back on time and money spent organizing supply closets and ensuring your employees are not hoarding supplies. Whether you are on the lookout for supply dispensers, supply lockers or a combination of both, Intelligent Dispensing Solutions has an inventory management solution to help cut overhead costs within your manufacturing company.

For more information about Vend Safety, or any other IDS products, give us a call at 1-877-771-4446.

The Time-Saving EMS Technology You Can’t Afford to Skip

Posted on by John Van Horn

When it comes to pharmaceuticals and EMS equipment, you can never be too careful. It is essential that you have the ability to track products and expiration dates, in order to avoid overordering and shrinkage. UCapIt has the ability to do this, and more, in order to help organizations stay on top of their supplies, without breaking the bank.

Cost-Saving Capabilities

UCapIt’s Supply Room feature saves you time and money by eliminating the need to manually take inventory on the products in your supply room. Instead, your supply room can be accessed anytime and anywhere with just a click of a button. You are also able to see what products are close to expiring, which is beneficial for audits and risk reduction.

The issue of hoarding products can also be eliminated with UCapIt. Thanks to UCapIt’s tracking capabilities, managers are able to track who accesses each product. This cuts down on hoarding products and reduces shrink wastage. 

Product Tracking

Nothing is more frustrating than reaching for Ativan, only to find that it expired two weeks ago. This means that more product has to be thrown out, without even being opened. This is not only frustrating but also a waste of money. By being able to track the expiration dates and lot numbers of products, you save time and money. You avoid over-ordering products and medications. Instead, UCapIt simply tracks products to ensure they are used by their expiration dates.

In addition to tracking expiration dates and lot numbers, UCapIt allows managers to track the medication and medical disposables’ chain of custody. Doing this gives managers the ability to tie the dispense to a specific EMS incident, as well as the placement on a particular med unit.

Interface Options

It is crucial that access to pharmaceuticals and narcotics is limited. That is why UCapIt gives managers the ability to set up multiple interface options to access products. They are even able to set up two-form factor validation, in order to ensure that products are being accessed by the right people. Interface options include biometrics, prox card, bar code, magstripe and/or pinstripe. Knowing who accessed what keeps your employees accountable. It ensures that people are only accessing what is needed, as opposed to hoarding products, saving your organization money. 

Every moment counts in the world of EMS and pharmaceuticals. That is why UCapIt is here to help you track products and save you time and money. To find out more about the benefits of UCapIt and how it can assist your organization, call 1-877-771-4446.

Say Goodbye to Outdated Inventory Management Solutions

Posted on by SaravanaKumar@wittern.com

Nothing is more frustrating than opening a supply closet, only to find an unorganized room filled to the brim with computer monitors and office supplies. Instead, streamline your inventory management system and take back control of your inventory with an automated inventory control system from Intelligent Dispensing Solutions.

Whether you are in the education, pharmaceutical, fitness or textile industry, Intelligent Dispensing Solutions can help you find a system that works best for you and your inventory goals. Watch the video below to see how IDS can help you and your employees today.

https://vimeo.com/452227496/af364949f1

To get started with an IDS system or for more questions, call us today at 1-877-771-4446.