Fastest Input!

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


Fact	Inventory Tracker offers the quickest method possible for entering and tracking your inventory!
Problem	The classic problem with implementing most inventory systems is that they expect you to freeze operations and then manually enter all of the inventory records with their beginning on-hand balances. Who can afford to freeze inventory and stop their business? Why does the dream of improved inventory accuracy have to start with disruption and chaos? Those who have survived implementation of a new inventory system know there must be a better way.
Solution	Inventory Tracker is designed to promote the fastest most reliable method of entering and tracking your inventory. We offer a method to enter and count inventory items by category where they reside using the Pocket PC. This friendly approach allows you to quickly realize the benefits in profit and morale of an accurate inventory count.

Getting Started

Create and Print Category Codes

It is difficult or impossible for an inventory manager to spend an adequate amount of time and effort evaluating each distinct inventory item. There simply are not enough waking hours in a day. Instead, the smart manager groups his inventory items into “categories” and then makes assumptions about each category in general. For example, items in each category typically observe these common traits:

1. Similar lead time to build or purchase

2. Similar ordering strategy (ex: build to order)

3. Similar reorder point

4. Similar unit of measure

5. Similar “cycle” count strategy

6. Similar environmental concerns (“shelf life”, temperature, etc.)

Print Barcode Nouns

First, you will print out the common nouns that describe the first category of inventory items you wish to enter. Entering your information by category creates an implementation 'game plan' that is easily followed by all. In the example below the user's first category is "Tables" and here he creates a list of different words to describe them:

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

You will either use the existing barcode already on the product or create your own in the same way you created nouns, locations and employee names. In many inventory operations you will put the barcode identifier over the location(s) where it resides instead of actually sticking it to the inventory items.

When scanned the barcode label will reveal the inventory part number.

Once the inventory item's barcode label has been scanned you will use the Pocket PC to scan in the location and item description and beginning quantity. All item descriptions can be created in the form of Code39 barcodes that can be scanned upon original entry. Barcoding 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 inventory item by location and description and beginning on hand quantity. Your inventory items are entered into the system with 100% accuracy because you were able to visually check all information while you entered it. Now if you chose you can immediately start performing issue and receipt transactions using your Pocket PC.

The barcode scanner encourages 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 on hand quantity and barcoded part number. 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.

The first three fields are the same at each location, you will simply scan items 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. This strategy allows you to quickly and accurately capture inventory transactions when and where they occur.

"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.
Home Location	This is the main location where you expect this part number to reside.
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.

Multiple Inventory Locations

It is important in many operations for one item of inventory to have many distinct locations. Besides having multiple warehouses there can also be locations where items are "non-netable" or not available for use. Examples of these non-netable items can be damaged or discontinued products. Each location maintains its own complete transaction history. Here is an example of all of the transactions for one item residing at one location.

You can see in these transactions that we are also performing "Transfers". This reduces one locations on hand balance and increases another. It is important to note that all these records were collected using the Pocket PC and automatically date/time stamped when and where the event occurs.

I.T. is also designed to deal with rapidly moving inventory such as emergency relief or parishable items. In operations like this the system will automatically delete locations when they drop to a zero balance (if desired).

Report Strategy

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

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

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.