Asset Management Software Barcodes Signal Upcoming Internet of Things

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Asset management software barcodes are empowering companies to monitor and manage their vital fixed assets as they move within and outside respective organizations. Those barcodes are helping remove a lot of the mystery surrounding the whereabouts and condition of equipment, so companies can maximize the lifespan of those items and be better stewards of their finances. These barcodes are the harbinger of a highly anticipated phenomenon called the Internet of Things. By now, most of us have heard this buzzword, which sometimes is shortened to the acronym “IoT.” While we don’t yet have a timetable for when this phenomenon will transform our work and our lives, IT experts say the IoT is no longer a question of if, but when.
Within that forthcoming reality, most of the items within your home and office will be microchipped for quick, easy identification and tracking. Those everyday objects will be able to send and receive data. Theoretically, if those items can “talk” to each other, we stand to become more efficient individuals and organizations. What if, for example, the printer on your desk could sense that it was running low on toner and automatically place an order for more? What if there were a system in place that could recognize that you would soon run out of inventory, and then, through notifications and alerts, trigger a process for replenishing it? It’s a fascinating prospect.

In a May 2014 article (“A Simple Explanation of ‘The Internet of Things’”), Forbes magazine contributor Jacob Morgan described this anticipated phenomenon like this: “Simply put, this is the concept of basically connecting any device with an on and off switch to the Internet (and/or to each other) … if it has an on and off switch, then chances are it can be a part of the IoT. The relationship will be between people-people, people-things and things-things.”
While leaders at a lot of companies are still trying to get their heads around what IoT means for their businesses, Asset Panda already is prepared, with easy asset management barcode software designed to help business owners take the first step toward the IoT. Powered by free mobile iOS and Android apps the sync with the cloud and include a mobile barcode scanner, Asset Panda enables stakeholders at any stage of an asset’s lifecycle to communicate with one another. With Asset Panda, items are quickly scanned using the app, and the tool requires no additional hardware or software to use. Cloud technology allows quick access to real-time, accurate data 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Details including an item’s whereabouts, its check-in/check-out status, condition and maintenance schedule, and even the figures your accounting and compliance departments need are as near as the palm of your hand. All that’s needed to use the tool are the mobile phones or tablets you already carry.
In the past, asset tracking has been plagued by human errors and a lot of guesswork – and that’s due largely to the fact that companies were relying on manual spreadsheets to log this data. Asset Panda effectively eliminates guesswork, which in turn cuts down on loss and waste. Thanks to features like custom notifications and alerts, you’re able to make informed decisions about when items require maintenance and replacement. You know when an item is scheduled to be returned and what kind of condition it’s in. You can quickly reference its lease/purchase and insurance information. The bottom-line savings of these increased efficiencies include lower insurance costs and lower property taxes – not to mention an incredible savings of time now that your employees no longer have to spin their wheels searching for items that are lost, stolen or simply mismanaged.
Best of all, Asset Panda is a flexible tool that will allow companies to incorporate new technologies as they become prevalent, and further adapt to the IoT as it becomes more mainstream.

Ready to get a leg up on the future? Try Asset Panda free for 14 days. For more information, visit assetpanda.com
By:

Courtney Roush

Courtney Roush is a freelance writer, editor, and communications strategist with 25 years of experience. Her favorite discipline is crisis communications – and it’s a highly relevant one in our present times.

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