Construction workers typically experience harsh weather conditions and are all too familiar with dust and mud on a daily basis. For this reason, paper-based tags used to track your assets will be unsuitable as they will be unreadable and likely to fall off.
We recommend hardware that can be applied to physical assets - ideally this would be a robust barcode that can withstand rough handling and tough weather conditions.
Construction managers and their workers are always on the move, from one job site to another, so it’s important that the software you choose isn’t constrained by a desktop or limited to one mobile device.
The software you use needs to be portable, so it can be used on site and on the move, and on any device. As an added bonus, if it can be used on devices such as iOS and Android smartphones, the hardware costs will be lower and you won’t be dependent on expensive proprietary devices.
Alongside device flexibility, look for a solution that uses the latest cloud technology. If it is cloud-based, it will provide each user with real time information and you’ll no longer have to rely on manual, time-consuming and inaccurate spreadsheets or paperwork.
Is the software well established? Is there a risk it could let you down? To get a good indication of this, look at the supplier’s track record - what do their existing customers say?
Expert support from a supplier could include uploading data, asset tagging, on site training and should have a helpline as a bare minimum.
Ask yourself, how much support are you going to get on the phone or on site? While it might seem great on day one, what about ongoing support or staff training? Some asset management software suppliers may have great customer service, but no on site support. Having a responsive vendor means that should an error occur, you’ll know you’re in good hands and the problem can be solved quickly, minimising any downtime on site.
Reliability is absolutely vital to keeping your operations running smooth. If you’re unsure, take a look at our article that provides advice on how to choose a good asset management software supplier!
One of the most important questions you should ask yourself is whether the system is flexible enough to meet the needs of your business or is it plugged as a one-size-fits-all solution?
Some asset management software can be customised to suit your existing processes, such as the way the data is structured. Is the application able to organise assets into categories or sublocations? Can it be tailored to your internal systems for added security, for example, to give limited access to certain employees?
Once you identify the key areas you want improve on in your business, you’ll be best placed to decide which solution is suited to you.
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