Efficiency Improvement: So Busy, Too Many Screens

I chose the college I attended for many reasons, one of which was the centralization of resources it provided.  From the class buildings and recreational areas to the dorms and food halls, everything I needed was within easy reach. Not having to ride a bus or trolley or walk for 20 minutes to get from one place to another made campus life simpler, easier and more enjoyable.

When it comes to asset management for construction, waste management, landscaping and other industrial companies, centralization of software and data is a key driver of cost reduction and efficiency. Logging in and out of different software systems and multiple accounts – as many non-integrated platforms require – is a tedious and inefficient way to access and manage data. And with every add-on system having its own unique screens, dashboards and metrics, the programs often don’t speak the same language.

That’s why more and more industrial companies are turning to Tenna’s One Platform approach to streamline and simplify their asset management process. As a busy constructional or industry professional, you don’t have the time to learn all the different systems. There’s nothing more frustrating that having to go one place for your barcode items, another for your Bluetooth items and yet another for your cellular GPS-tracked fleet and heavy yellow iron. Plus, having multiple software vendors dramatically increases the administrative time and effort (billing, troubling shooting, maintenance, upgrades etc.) required to get the job done.

Why spend so much time and effort chasing down data from so many locations when you can have it all on one platform with Tenna?

The Advantages of One Integrated Platform

Have you ever installed a new software program (at work or at home) and wondered, “What were these people thinking when they designed this software?”  This typically occurs when the developer is more concerned about stuffing the software with bells and whistles that will impress the IT people rather than focusing on how customers will actually use the system.

When building our software, Tenna took a different approach. We started by making sure the software had all the right features and functionality. Then we focused on building a user-friendly interface so people can focus on doing their jobs efficiently rather than trying to figure out how to navigate the system. Over time, we’ve added plenty of bells and whistles as the technology has grown more sophisticated. But our first priority is always making the software easy for our customers to use, because we know that if it’s not, people won’t use it.

Some of the advantages of having an integrated asset management platform include:

• Intuitive interface. Good software offers a simple layout, logical workflow and ease of navigation. We took the time to learn what data is most important to our customers, how they like to organize it and how they use it. Then we designed and built our system to provide fast access to that data with a minimum of mouse clicks and navigation.
• Quick learning curve. With Tenna, asset managers only have to familiarize themselves with one software system, which dramatically reduces the learning curve. In most cases, a short 30-minute training session will have your office and field personnel ready to begin using the system.
• Fewer mistakes. Using multiple add-on software programs often requires importing and/or cutting and pasting data from one program to another. Having all your data in one integrated platform eliminates the need for those inefficient and error-prone tasks.
• Fewer interruptions. Most asset tracking systems offer automatic alerts and service requests from the field – a convenient feature until the volume of alerts gets out of hand. Tenna lets you set low, medium and high priority levels so that office personnel don’t get overwhelmed by events that distract from the real work of delivering what your clients expect on time and within budget.
• There’s no point in having a single-platform system if it can’t hold all of your data. Tenna software lets you track thousands of assets while offering the ability to grow with your business. You won’t have to worry about upgrading to a larger system at some point down the line.

Easy Integration to Add What You Need

No software system, even one as robust as Tenna, can do it all. That’s where the ability to integrate with third-party applications that can add capabilities asset tracking systems aren’t designed to do can be a real asset. For example, in order to streamline the accounting and financial side of asset tracking, many of our customers integrate their Tenna software with QuickBooks Online. Tenna easily integrates with other systems through the Zapier network, a recognized leader in facilitating network integrations.

In addition, Tenna users will soon be able to log in with AEMP-standardized information from CAT VisionLink, John Deere Link and Komatsu telematics. All are provided in a simple, easy-to-use format that shows all the key metrics and locations on a sleek, user-friendly interface.

If you ask our customers what they like most about having one integrated platform, you’ll get a different answer depending on who you talk to. IT personnel consider the software’s robust features and functionality and ease of maintenance as the main advantages. Senior management focuses on the ability to cut costs and operate more efficiently, as well as the excellent return on investment from the software. But for the people who use the system day in and day out, it all comes down to the simplicity and intuitive ease of use because it makes their jobs easier.

Stop wasting time hunting down data in multiple places and paying service fees on systems.  For smarter, more cost-effective asset management, think Tenna!