5 Effective Ways to Manage Service Truck Inventory System
1. Implement a preventive maintenance strategy
This one deserves to take the first spot because incorporating technology has become quintessential for businesses today. The competition is getting increasingly tough and no field service business can afford delayed operations and low customer satisfaction rate.
Using a powerful, easy-to-use service parts management software like FieldEquip helps field service businesses completely digitize and streamline their field operations, which also includes managing inventory on trucks. The software gives managers and field technicians a 360-degree inventory visibility in real-time, from anywhere, on any device.
FieldEquip’s service parts management software easily interacts with ERP platforms to manage order requests, track parts transfers, and capture consumption. All the information available on a single dashboard helps managers and field service with the following:
- Automatic generation of a purchase order
- Reduce unnecessary delays
- Cut down miscommunications of outdated information and locations
- Track the location of each part
- Manage inventory lists from anywhere
- Mobile app allows for quick accessibility to field technicians and backend staff
2. Implement a preventive maintenance strategy
Many organizations practice predictive maintenance i.e. it is performed only when required, as per assets’ current condition. However, this method can cause problems if you want to optimize your truck inventory management as this maintenance happens only when the equipment has broken down or is not performing properly.
On the other hand, preventive maintenance of your service truck inventory takes place at regular intervals to ensure optimal assets performance and condition. This solution is implemented by businesses to make sure that any potential mechanical issues are identified and resolved before they occur.
3. Provide training to field service technicians
A report from SHRM, 2022, mentions that 76% of employees prefer to stay in a company that offers on-site training and development. It’s surprising how many organizations still don’t take employee training seriously, but your company should not be the one among them.
Your field technician crew should be well-trained and learn to use the latest technology like that of service truck inventory management software. Doing so will enable your field technicians to track parts movement and usage, manage work order requests, etc.
Maintaining accurate inventory records through a service truck inventory app will help your field technicians to control and ensure that the right parts are available at the right place and at the right time.
4. Have a robust warehouse security system
If you think you can trust all your staff and do away with a bare-basic security system for your inventory stockhouse, you need to think again. No way we are telling you to have a skeptical eye towards your staff, but since they are preoccupied with other crucial tasks, it would be too much to expect them to closely monitor your inventory stock all the time. Inventory inaccuracies can lead to chaos in your service truck inventory management system.
Here are a few steps you can take to make your inventory security system more robust and efficient.
- Install high definition CCTV cameras in your warehouse in a way that every part is easily captured 24*7.
- Install lockable cupboards and lockers to prevent unhindered access to spare parts and equipment.
- Make employees present in the warehouse aware of the importance of regularly checking and updating inventory levels.
- Restrict employee access to inventory warehouses
5. Integrate inventory management with work order sharing
Only top-rated field service management software allows for seamless integration of inventory management with work order systems. Such useful functionality allows your on-site technicians to perform multiple tasks like creating truck safety walkaround and completing a work order while easily updating both forms to a replenishment request form.