Expert Panel: Equipment Tracking Methods That Work

One of the challenges that many cleaning and restoration owners face is keeping track of all the equipment they own. Thorough equipment tracking can help businesses save on time and costs, increase customer satisfaction, and drive scalability. 


We reached out to industry experts and asked them to weigh in on their successful equipment tracking methods and here’s what they had to say.

Lisa Lavender

“It begins with a warehouse design. I recommend a system that allows areas, rows or shelfs, and sections. Think about a grocery store and looking at the signs that help you find the SOUPS, CEREAL, ETC. All the shelves are labeled and sectioned. All the mustard is together and then organized by brand. This is establishing a designated location, allows people to find things with ease, and allows those shelves and sections to be properly restocked. Similar concepts can be applied to the warehouse and vehicle design in a restoration company. Once you have a design and designated locations, using a digital tracking system, like the one built into iRestore, helps manage and track the movements and the exact location of the entire inventory. The design and designated location concept is a key ingredient both for effectively employing a digital tracking system and getting equipment back where it belongs. An added benefit is that it gives you a visual reconciliation tool; for example, if the air mover section is empty, you can see that the inventory level is problematic and react accordingly. Preventing equipment from walking off the shelves starts with the cliché, ‘A place for everything and everything in its place.’ Strong operational systems and using a digital tracking system for efficiency can help manage the inventory with ease.” – Lisa Lavender, COO of RTI and iRestore

As we all know, in the restoration industry, there are a few common denominators that seem to plague nearly every company. It’s our experience that in the top three of any business owner’s list is equipment and tools management. If you’re like most companies then you’ve at some point received that call from a homeowner asking your office staff when you are going to pick up the equipment you left behind. Or perhaps you’re missing equipment and tools and have no idea when you even last had the equipment or where it was previous. These are just a few of the many struggles with equipment and tool management. This was a huge problem for my company, so I created Inventory Shield. I believe the most important things in managing equipment are the following: 

 

  1. Making sure each piece of equipment is clearly defined.

  2. Putting custom tracking labels with your company logo on each piece of equipment or tool.

  3. Finding an easy way to stay organized.

  4. Being able to locate every piece of equipment or tool on a map instantly.

  5. Having an advanced tracking method in place.

– Eric Clark, CEO of Cleanup Services

Eric Clark

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