Fastest Input!

One customer converted 50k items into Evidence Tracker and performed a complete inventory within 6 months.

Print Barcode Nouns

First you will print out the common nouns that describe the assets you intend to enter for the first time. In the example below the user created a list of different types of tables;

You are able to create a barcoded list of all of your locations and employees in the same way.

Now, you will use the barcode label dispenser shown in the picture below to apply a label to each asset.

It is easiest to think of barcode labels as being like license plates in your home state. They are simply a string of unique numbers and letters printed onto a highly durable material. You will apply one label to each unique asset.

Once the label is applied you'll use your Pocket PC to scan in the location and item description. As shown above you simply insert your SDIO scanner into any Pocket PC to begin collecting information. All asset descriptions can be created in the form of Code39 barcodes that can be scanned upon original entry. Barcoded nouns eliminates spelling errors. Similarly, barcodes can be printed out for shelf locations and employee names. All entries are made when and where the event or transaction occurs to increase accuracy.

Mission Accomplished!

You now have uniquely identified each asset by location and description and performed the first year's inventory by declaring asset location by date/time. Your asset is in the system with 100% accuracy because you were able to visually check all information while you entered it.

Barcodes encourage repetitive high speed entry. Whenever entry values remain the same they never have to be re-entered. If the next new entry has the same description you need only enter the serial number (if it exists) and barcode label. Only when the description has changed will you re-scan new descriptive nouns. This strategy is also used to eliminate repetitive entries for location and entry personnel.

Next years inventory will be accomplished using similar high speed entry methods. The field entries below will be scanned from a barcode template;

The first three fields are the same at each location, you will simply scan assets as fast as you can. Remember that each entry is automatically being date/time stamped. When you get back to the computer you will download the data and print out a list of all items that were missed. Quickly printing your exception report will allow you maximum time for finding misplaced assets.

"Free Agent"

Inventory Trackers believes that every business should be given the freedom to establish their own priorities. This means you should have the freedom to measure what information makes your unique organization more profitable. If it is your management desire, you can simply use Asset Tracker to perform your yearly physical inventory. Those wishing to gain more information about their assets can easily group them by "super-parents". Examples of these are;

Super-Parent	Description
Account	The account allows you to associate inventory items by departmental account code.
Category	Assets that have attributes in common can be grouped by category to reduce redundant data entry and allow you to deal with assets as one product family (or category).
Cluster	Often times assets such as computer systems and vehicles aren't really one asset but a group of physically related assets. In situations such as these you are able to build clusters which describe all of the constituent assets that make up the main cluster or asset.
Maintenance Contract	We maintain full maintenance history for each asset. Sometimes you will want to maintain one maintenance contract for multiple assets. In this case you will record the period and vendor who is providing the contract and be able to associate all assets that are covered during this time period.
Vendor	If you wish to maintain vendor accountability you can associate all of the assets purchased from each vendor.

If you wish to associate an asset with a super-parent you simply scan the super-parent identifier and then scan the asset(s). This method allows you to associate assets with their super-parents using a minimum of effort.

View Asset

If I wish to see all of the transactions associated with this IBM Aptiva computer just click on the "Transactions" tabsheet to see the following screen;

You can see in this instance how this one asset has been "inventoried" or physically scanned for the last four years. Although it has stayed at the same location any movements would be displayed here. All of these entries were made using the PocketPC.

If you wish to see the maintenance transactions associated with this asset you would click the "Maintenance" tabsheet. Resultingly, you will reveal the following screen;

Maintenance Transactions

It is important to note here that the description of each maintenance task was recorded using the BCU. As an example, if "Bolinski" were going to virus scan all of the computer disk drives in the entire company he would simply make one entry into the Pocket PC and then scan each computer as he performed this operation. This is another example of using the most efficient method for data entry.

Report Strategy

Anytime the user wishes to view any information about an asset they click on the "REPORT" button and a full report is displayed or printed. Here is an example of a report describing one IBM Aptiva computer.

Quick Report

Management statistics are maintained each month to provide a graphic depiction of how the operation is progressing and highlight possible areas of interest. Here is one such graph.

Management Graphs

You have seen the automatic reports created with A.T. when you click on the "REPORT" button. If you wish to perform special queries you would use the "Find Anything" report. Here is how the user interface looks;

Find Anything

These reports allow the user to select on any field in the database to exactly determine their report search. There is no limit to the number of fields you can search by. Not only can you determine exact matches with upper and lower limits, but you can also search for character strings inside description and memo fields. An example of the screen where the user makes these selections is shown above.

Custom Query Reports

Our reporting strategy is intuitive and allows users to quickly find answers to the most elusive management information. When you wish to print out enterprise level reports that include information from systems other than A.T. we offer a comprehensive ad-hoc report generator. Now you can combine information from A.T. as well as any other SQL, Dbase, Access or ASCII file based system. This tool allows you to integrate A.T. with other management systems.

The possibilities of what you can accomplish with this product are endless.

Common Features

Code Strategy

All I.T. systems are designed to be "soft" software. In other words each user is able to define exactly what information they wish to capture by declaring the "codes" (or questions) that will be asked during data entry. The scanner allows you to scan the appropriate response (from a barcoded template you print).

Create/Scan Nouns

Our systems allow you to quickly and easily print Code39 barcodes on any laser or bubblejet printer supported by Windows 98/2000/XP. These are wonderfully clear and will be used for all data entry tasks including name tags and shelf locations. You can see in the picture that many nouns can be scanned to create one long description. Pocket PC entries can be any combination of scanned or hand-typed entries.

Pocket PC Features

For those wishing to have wireless communications we offer our PocketPC with Mobile Windows 6.0.

Maintain Pictures and Documents

Now you can use all popular digital cameras and flatbed scanners to save images of your inventory. Complete editing facilities allow you to accentuate these graphic resources for more effective presentation. You now have the ability to scan and maintain original source documents. Multi-page .tiff documents can be scanned using any Twain compliant flatbed scanner. There are no limits to the number of documents stored for each item.

Unlimited digital photos for each item are maintained. As with documents these can be stored and accessed from a secure server whereas manipulation of the original source is impossible.

Custom Report Layouts

When you download the demo from our website you will see that each report is the "soup to nuts" variety that shows every field of information. The 'System Setup' under the main 'File" selection allows each user on a network to decide exactly which fields will show up on their reports. This is a great aid when management is looking for concise answers or to withhold secure information.

Custom SQL Reports

When you wish to print out enterprise level reports that include information from systems other than Asset Tracker we offer a comprehensive ad-hoc report generator. Now you can combine information from Asset Tracker as well as any other SQL, Dbase, Access or ASCII file based system. This tool allows you to integrate Asset Tracker with other management systems.

Documentation

Our manuals are written through the eyes of the end user. Whenever possible pictures and examples are used to guide the user through their daily tasks. There is a "Hands on Training" section that allows the new user to practice their skills in a "Training" database to gain confidence before "going live". We have written the manuals in a "layered" fashion so that the new user can quickly find the key concepts and how they are used. There are special technical sections for management and network administrators.

Company History

Inventory Trackers installed the first barcode based evidence system in 1986. Since then we have worked with over 600 customers to focus on the tactical and strategic issues facing the law enforcement professional today. We have fashioned ourselves as a complete provider of all inventory systems for law enforcement. We feel that inventory, and especially evidence is the last "black hole" in the law enforcement business and we are pledged to practically and affordably guide our customers into the next millennium.