Q1 2009 / Asset management software puts time and resources in just the right place

For years, distributors have successfully tracked and managed cylinders by the balance forward (ships and returns) method. Although this control method still remains the most widely used, advances in cylinder tracking software now offer distributors an arsenal of asset tracking and management options for even higher levels of control in the fill plant, out on the dock, in the truck, and at the customer site. This increased level of tracking also provides a gold mine of business intelligence that can uncover underperforming assets within seconds, maximize cylinder use across multiple branches and increase overall gas and rental profitability.

Single system control

Today’s advanced asset management systems maintain one centralized repository for all asset information and transactions and eliminates the need to maintain multiple software systems. In

today’s challenging business climate, a single, integrated software system – one that manages the entire business operation, including the cylinder delivery cycle – from filling to billing – is the best way to minimize ongoing computer and IT costs and streamline business operations.

Flexible Startup Options

New advances in cylinder tracking and management give the distributor a variety of tracking options at the branch, customer and gas ID level. These advances make it easy and cost effective to roll out an advanced asset management solution custom suited to a distributor’s business and operational needs.

Distributors can now implement advanced cylinder tracking (i.e. bar code tracking) to win a new account, exceed customer demands, or make smarter capital investments in new cylinders. It’s easy, affordable, and causes minimal impact to the existing business operations.

Maximize workflow management

Today’s advanced cylinder tracking systems allow distributors to create user-defined workflow rules and statuses. With defined workflows in place, distributors can identify important processes and statuses to track and measure cylinders based on their own company’s business requirements. This operational data is essential in determining the cost of a cylinder transaction as it moves from filling, to loading, delivery and pick up. This activity-based costing provides the ability to measure cost at 

each stage of a workflow cycle, which is extremely valuable when measuring true profitability by product line. 

Mobile computers link delivery and tracking

Today’s mobile computers make synchronizing delivery and asset information a breeze. Mobile computers guide drivers through the entire delivery process, from loading and branch transfers to customer deliveries, truck reconciliation, and cylinder audits. This provides management with complete and accurate tracking of all assets at all stages of the delivery cycle. With the ability to review order details and delivery instructions, scan cylinder bar codes, perform on-the-spot invoicing, electronic proof of deliveries, and GPS tracking, clumsy paper delivery documents are becoming a thing of the past.

Mobile computers also give customers the ability to track cylinders inside their own facility. This is a capability increasingly required by customers like universities, healthcare facilities, and government environments, or other operations in which departmental asset control is required and may be administered by the customer.

More advances ahead in business intelligence

Today’s advances in asset management software generate an abundance of operational data that can transform into a wealth of business intelligence for complete cylinder tracking and management and profitability analysis. From high level dashboards, scorecards, key performance metrics to activity based costing, today’s powerful and easy to use analytical tools provide the missing link to maximizing the bottom line. SGR

All photos © Computers Unlimited

David Schaer

David Schaer is a director at Computers Unlimited. He can be reached at: david@cu.net