In the construction and work-truck industries, equipment users are incurring unneeded costs and lost work time due to a multitude of issues including lost or missing tools, not having the tools needed to do a job when users are at a project, inability to provide documentation for needed certifications or inspections, and excess or underutilized tooling. Other challenges include managing tool rooms, lay down yards, static assets, and materials.
For example, in the electrical utility industry alone, there are an estimated 100,000 heavy trucks like bucket trucks and derrick diggers. The average cost of the tools on these trucks is approximately $30,000 or more. Several sources have stated that the loss rate for tools is around 30 percent, which translates to nearly $1 billion dollars a year of costs in just this one industry segment.
Aware Innovations has applied technology and expertise to address these issues with ItemAware.
ITEMAWARE
ItemAware is a powerful asset and material management application that supports multiple technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), passive and active RFID, GPS, barcodes, ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi and RTLS. ItemAware synergizes this data, allowing for tracking and managing of any asset related to your
business in an easily digestible real-time format. ItemAware has a proven track record, having been in use at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) since 2017 to track and manage over 130,000 IT assets in more than 20 buildings with over 180 floors across six states, saving the USPTO over $1.2 million a year in inventory costs.
ItemAware has been tailored to become a unique tool and asset tracking system to tag tools or other items and pair them with a beacon location (truck, shed, jobsite, etc.). ItemAware is then used to see each item’s location and last-seen status in real time. Clicking on individual items gives the user a detailed history of the item including locations, manufacturer, and more.
ItemAware prioritizes precision. Tools located just outside a truck or on a job site will not be listed as being on the truck. The ability to know the exact location of equipment cuts down on time spent looking for tools as well as the cost of replacing tools that aren’t actually lost.
Compliance isn’t an area you want to overlook. Failure to remain OSHA-compliant can result in significant financial penalties as well as unwanted legal issues for your company. Prevent these fines by allowing ItemAware to aid in keeping safety-related gear current with their certification and inspection dates.
TRANSFORMING THE TRACKING PROCESS
Testimonials speak volumes, and Concurrent shares how ItemAware has revolutionized the asset tracking and inventory management fields.
Ring Power Utility Equipment began an ItemAware pilot program in early 2022 with South Florida utility contractor, Concurrent Group.
Mike Beauregard, senior VP and director of utilities, crane and truck, at Ring Power Corporation, describes ItemAware as “technology [that] far surpasses anything major that has come to the industry in a while.”
Since adopting the ItemAware technology, Concurrent has seen a marked decrease in lost tool assets. The intuitive software has helped Concurrent reduce asset bleed by giving their fleet managers more control and visibility of tools and equipment in real time.
Steve Sarno, VP power delivery and principle at Concurrent Group, describes just how ItemAware has revolutionized its company’s ability to track essential tools and equipment: “As the tools move around from truck to truck, we’re able to hold those accountable that had borrowed a tool, but also reduce the amount of tools that we’re replacing, this was the first system that worked.” Steve adds, “After implementing the system, I found $175,000 of duplicate tools.”
This huge cost savings has not only allowed Concurrent Group to protect their bottom line but has also given them the ability to focus on their most profitable goals.
The software is also easy to install with a team of qualified professionals who work around the clock to support the system.
With the success of the pilot program at Concurrent, Aware Innovations has established pilot programs with two other major utility contractors in the state of Florida, Pike Electric and Mastec TSG. In addition to tracking tools on trucks, Pike is using the system to track and inventory line blocks as they’re deployed to ensure full recovery of these expensive assets.
ItemAware is an intuitive asset tracking and inventory management system which allows you to predict issues, reduce theft, and flag items that need repair before they interrupt your work cycle. Think of the time you’ll save if you eliminate the need for manual asset tracking.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more, email Aware Innovations at info@awareinnovations.com or call 937.528.5858.