When looking for ways to improve business, Owners and their Management team spend a great deal of time looking at inefficiencies and how to better their operations so that they can make more money. They don’t have to look too hard to find that there is a lot of waste within their equipment fleet. Whether that’s underutilization, downtime due to emergency repairs, or unnecessary rentals because the folks in the field didn’t know about an available [fill in the blank] the clues are in the costs. When it’s decided that a better construction asset management system is needed, the challenge then becomes figuring out what the right solution is for your business.
There are many Fleet Management, Equipment Management, Tool Tracking, Inventory Tracking, and a mix of options out there on the market. To determine what system best suits your needs, read this white paper to learn more on suggested steps and tools to use to help navigate and assess the options, and ultimately make the most-informed buying decision.
Before looking at software solutions, it’s best to start by asking yourself (and your team) questions to determine the real business need so you can evaluate your options accordingly.
After you have established your business needs, you then need to determine what the system should do for your team.
As you summarize your systems requirements, it’s a best practice to identify which functionality and/or feature is a “must have” vs. a “nice to have.” You may get swooned by bells and whistles and lose sight of what you really need.
In addition to the basic system requirements, there are other usability factors that must come into the decision-making process that can make or break a solution being successful. Don’t underestimate the impact these have on the adoption and full utilization of the system. If your end users are struggling and frustrated with the system, you’re wasting time and money.
Remember that the cheapest solution may not be the best solution.
Be mindful during the quote/proposal stage that you truly understand the cost-benefits. Many solutions will throw down numbers that are hard to resist but be sure there aren’t any hidden costs and terms that will make it virtually impossible to switch the system.
Getting to the point of shortlisting your options requires you to cover a lot of ground. Having done your homework, you will be able to make an educated decision and implement the right solution for your company.
