Time to Cancel Your Scanner Company

If you’ve been using expensive handheld scanners to track assets and inventory, it is time to cancel your scanner company. Let’s discuss why …

A lot of companies are still relying on handheld barcode scanners to upload assets. While they are “mobile” and can move with the employee who is using them, those scanners are expensive and need replacement when they break down, are lost or stolen. Due to their high cost, most companies can’t afford to keep a large inventory of them, and employees are usually trying to track them down. This inevitably creates a backlog of work until a scanner can be obtained. And in some instances, employees may even forget about the task and items that need to be scanned and they are never entered into the system.

Handheld scanners are still very popular and are frequently used by companies that have large quantities of inventory and asset tracking products. They do make scanning large items more palatable, and they are easy to use and capture basic data. But just like any type of hardware, they break down and will ultimately require servicing, repair or even replacement – and that’s at the expense of your company. As technology advances, the traditional handheld scanner really doesn’t have the capabilities to keep up. Today’s scanning capabilities are going way beyond those offers by the handheld scanner company and are giving users many more options and features to make the overall process of tracking and managing assets and inventory much easier.

Companies are moving more and more towards mobile technology to provide all-in-one solutions for their clients. Modern barcode scanners can now capture all the necessary and most up-to-date data on an asset for its entire lifecycle as opposed to traditional handheld scanners created by a scanner company. Many of the asset tracking software platforms available on the market today come with associated mobile apps that allow users to turn any smartphone or tablet into a fully functional barcode scanner.

With one scan of a barcode, the scanner sends data to the tracking software and enables users to access and maintain the data anytime, from anywhere. The data recorded allows others to know where an asset is, who has it, the check in/check out status, and a complete maintenance history. Guesswork is no longer an issue. No additional hardware or software is required, which is a big cost savings and a huge benefit. Other benefits of the built-in barcode scanner include:

• Speed and reliability
• Reduced employee training time
• Versatility
• More accurate data
• Fewer errors/omissions
• Ability to include photos, video, notes, manuals, etc.
• Reduced employee time spent entering assets

When it comes to asset tracking, companies need to bring all of their stakeholders into the communication loop. With that goal in mind, Asset Panda has included a built-in barcode scanner into its free mobile app. There’s no need to reach out to a scanner company to order more expensive hardware to go along with your asset tracking program. With Asset Panda, it’s all packaged together. If you have access to the web, or you have a mobile device, you’re ready to go – it’s that simple!

Because Asset Panda syncs with the cloud, your information is served in real-time, all the time, which allows you to skip the guesswork and make informed decisions about your assets. Once you enter an item with the mobile barcode scanner, you can add supporting documents, photos, voice notes, and videos. Within seconds, you can track an item’s exact location, the identity of the person who has it, its check-in/check-out status, insurance policy information, lease/purchase information, complete maintenance history and appreciation/depreciation figures, and much more.

Asset Panda is ready to help businesses of all sizes by providing substantial time savings and financial benefits thanks to its built-in scanner versus the expensive hardware from the scanner company. Take a closer look at Asset Panda with a free 14-day trial by visiting www.assetpanda.com.