ASTS Inventory Software

What Is a Certificate of Networthiness (CoN)?

ASTS Team — Thu, 17 May 2018 13:42:47 +0000

In general, the federal government — and specifically, the Army — makes security a top priority. Contractors who intend on working with government agencies or military operations in some way will soon realize that strict standards and regulations must be followed to the letter. The U.S. Army has standardized a process to ensure that bidders and contractors follow specific procedures that fit in perfectly with their network infrastructure and offer the top level of security. If you expect to secure a government bid, you must prove that you’re up to that challenge.

Enter: the Certificate of Networthiness, or CoN. This certificate shows that an organization’s products meet or exceed the Army’s standards for security, integration, and reliability. Say you run a warehouse that, like 67% of warehouses nationwide, plans to use mobile devices to manage inventory. You must prove that the software you use (whether for mobile or other devices) falls in line with the standards set by the Army. The CoN shows that not only are your operations compliant, but you take great pride in providing the highest level of service. If you rely on software that doesn’t meet these standards, you will not be considered for a given project.

It’s important to note that navigating this process can be tough, given how rigorous the standards are. But keep in mind that you don’t have to meet these standards on your own. By ensuring that your source for inventory tracking software has that coveted Certificate of Networthiness, you’ll have peace of mind that your property tracking abilities will be up to the standards of the U.S. Army and other federal agencies. A CoN tells both you and the Army that the property tracking software on which you rely has been rigorously tested for security and incorporates seamlessly into an existing government system.

When it comes to government inventory, entities like the Army cannot — and will not — take any chances. Working with a property tracking software company with a CoN is the only way to be assured that stringent guidelines are met. To find out more about how our software can help you in your endeavors, please contact us today.

The post What Is a Certificate of Networthiness (CoN)? first appeared on ASTS Inventory Software.

3 Current Public and Private Industry Automation Technologies

ASTS Team — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:39:04 +0000

Warehouses are becoming more important to the American economy by the minute. This is reflected by the number of warehouses in the United States, which has risen by 6.8% in the last five years. This could be due to the increasing dominance of large online stores. As more products and information move online, bigger warehouses will be needed to accommodate the demand. Likewise, warehouses will need to run more efficiently in order to keep pace with product costs.

Automation is generally talked about as the next best thing or as if it was a dark looming cloud. For those who value efficiency, accuracy, and less expensive consumer goods, automation is a dream come true. For workers, not so much. But it could work for everyone. Here are a few examples.

Audit Automation Software
Does anyone ever want to go through the audit process? Audit automation software takes the legwork out of any audit by crunching numbers, tracking receipts, and processing data concisely. This will leave government officials and businesses more time to attend to other matters. Not only does this save money, but automated systems don’t lie or make human errors.
Government Inventory Management Software
The government often gets associated with overspending for simple items. While the verity of this association might be questionable, an inventory management system that automatically and accurately updates inventory at government warehouses would put them to rest. Automated inventory management is the first step to a more broadly streamlined warehouse.
Asset Tracking Solutions
Whether your industry is public or private, shipping and tracking will certainly be a concern. The power to automate asset tracking and visualization puts the control back into your hands, preventing lost or stolen goods. It can also help to authenticate shipments upon arrival. Overall, automated supply chains are groundbreaking.

Automation isn’t some dark cloud threatening working class jobs. It is meant to improve the lives of individual people every day. By lowering the costs of production, simplifying solutions to problems, and broadening the global technological horizon, the world will find greater prosperity. Talk to us if you are interested in learning more about automation solutions for your business or agency.

The post 3 Current Public and Private Industry Automation Technologies first appeared on ASTS Inventory Software.

Asset Tracking Vs. Inventory Tracking: Differences Explained

ASTS Team — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 19:28:19 +0000

Businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies need a way to accurately keep track of products and equipment in their possession. Otherwise, these items can easily be misplaced, stolen, or damaged without their immediate knowledge, resulting in numerous kinds of financial loss. These entities often find that employing asset or inventory tracking software provides them with up-to-date information on which they can rely. While the terms “assets” and “inventory” are often used interchangeably, they actually aren’t synonymous. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between what asset tracking and inventory tracking actually refer to and how this knowledge can help you run your operations more effectively.

What is Asset Tracking?

First, it’s helpful to define exactly what assets are. Assets, also known as fixed assets or physical assets, are unique items of value. Typically, they are owned by the company and are used to produce the company’s income. They are also used internally and are not considered to be expendable or temporary. Examples of assets might be an organization’s computers, machinery and equipment, furniture, and other kinds of property.

An asset tracking system allows proper personnel (often, a property manager) to establish and monitor these items with a unique asset ID. Within the asset tracking system, you can add extra information to the database including a description of the item, the manufacturer, the model, the serial number, its cost (minus accumulated depreciation), its condition, its location and/or department, and more. When this information is regularly updated and used in conjunction with inventory assessments, your asset tracking system presents an accurate picture of a company’s asset availability and can even prohibit overpayment of taxes or insurance, in some cases.

What is Inventory Tracking?

Again, let’s take the time to define what inventory means. Simply put, inventory refers to items produced by your organization and the materials used to create those items. They are non-unique items of value like stock, supplies, and product parts. For example, raw materials and the final products available for sale would fall under this category. At first, this might seem like it pertains only to manufacturers; however, this designation also applies to “consumables” like pens, paper, notebooks, and other merchandise purchased from other suppliers to conduct your business.

An inventory tracking system is key for maintaining accurate records of stock and supplies, as this can help keep operating costs lower and minimize inventory loss. In fact, the cost of carrying inventory is usually around 27% less in an automated environment that utilizes tracking software. That’s because these items are assigned an SKU (or stock keeping unit) which can be easily printed and scanned for easy tracking. It’s an incredibly easy way for a manager to instantly know what they have in stock and where it is in the warehouse, for instance. Again, inventories are essential for ensuring these systems are truly up-to-date and precise.

Now that you understand the difference between asset tracking systems and inventory tracking systems, you’ll be in a better position to determine which kind of software will fit your needs. For more information on our inventory and asset tracking solutions, please contact us today.

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What Types of Audits Does DCAA Perform?

ASTS Team — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 21:02:49 +0000

It’s common for contractors to enter into agreements with local, state, and federal government agencies to provide these agencies with goods or services. When this occurs, the contractors in question must comply with government acquisition regulations (the specifics of which are based on the type of contract used in specific situations). The Defense Contract Audit Agency, or DCAA, is in charge of assessing contractor compliance with these aforementioned regulations. Contract audits are performed to ensure contractor compliance. To find out more about these audits and how to prepare for one, read on.

What Types of Audits Does DCAA Perform?

There are more than 50 kinds of audits performed by DCAA to ensure contractor systems are transparent and accurate. The two main categories of DCAA audits are pre-award audits (which take place before a contract is signed) and post-award audits (which can occur any time after a contract is signed).

Some common pre-award audits are proposal pricing audits, forward pricing rate audits, and accounting system surveys. Post-award audits are meant to determined whether or not the contract price negotiated between the agency and contractor has increased significantly due to a failure to disclose or submit accurate and complete data pertaining to cost and pricing information.

There are many different kinds of post-award audits, including accounting system audits, provisional billing rate audits, cost accounting standard (CAS) audits, incurred cost and annual overhead rate audits, floor checks, material existence audits, voucher/progress payment reviews, contract closing audits, Truth in Negotiation Act compliance audits, and more.

In addition to these two main categories of audits, there are also contractor business system audits, which investigate the internal processes and controls used by contractors. Many government contracts include supplemental clauses involving detailed criteria pertaining to accounting, estimating, purchasing, material management and accounting, earned value management, and property/equipment. Audits may be conducted to assess whether these regulations are being accurately followed.

How Can Contractors Prepare For a DCAA Audit?

Statistics show that warehouse management systems can decrease errors by up to 70%. For this reason, many warehouses have adopted property inventory management software systems. For government contractors, it’s even more imperative to incorporate the use of government software systems to ensure compliance.

Contractors must establish and maintain internal controls and comply with regulations outlined by the agency in question. To ensure compliance, audit automation software is necessary. These audit automation tools ensure that all regulations and controls pertaining to efficiency and reporting are adequately followed. Since contractors must provide detailed demonstrations and walk-throughs of system processes, audit management software can provide contractors with the information they require.

While audit automation software is not the only safeguard contractors need to put in place, it’s certainly a vital one. To find out more about how our audit automation software can help you establish and/or maintain compliance as a contractor, please contact us today.

The post What Types of Audits Does DCAA Perform? first appeared on ASTS Inventory Software.

The Benefits Of Government Inventory Management Software For State Contractors

ASTS Team — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 18:39:52 +0000

Although it’s widely understood that retail locations and warehouses can greatly benefit from using inventory tracking software, statistics show that these businesses could be doing a better job at managing their stock. In fact, less than 30% of all warehouses are considered efficient. When it comes to government inventory, the rules about tracking and management are much more stringent. That’s why it’s key for even state and local outfits to use government inventory management software. For state contractors, this can make their jobs easier and ensure their work is more productive. Here are just a few benefits that government software for tracking and managing inventory can provide.

Better cost management — Strict budgets require contractors to do more with less. Government inventory software allows local governments to keep costs to taxpayers low without compromising the quality of tracking. Fewer mistakes means lower costs overall. When you need to keep operational expenses in check, you literally cannot afford to misplace or lose your inventory, lest you want to incur a fine. You can reduce the risk of inventory loss while keeping operating costs low by using a software system for tracking.

Improved training and security — In any industry, mistakes are costly. But in state and local government organizations, a simple inventory mistake could lead to more than increased costs; it could also compromise security. Having a comprehensive government inventory software system will allow for higher quality training across all sectors. This improved training will not only have a positive impact on employee and contractor experience, but it will also keep property more secure and ensure compliance.

Upgraded accuracy and integration — Above all else, inventory tracking for government outlets needs to be accurate at all times. Supply chain visibility is an absolute must, especially when state contractors are involved. With more traditional means of tracking, you may not know where a piece of equipment is stored or who has it at any given moment. Given that government organizations are subject to rigorous regulations, poor inventory tracking is a risk you cannot afford to take. However, inventory tracking software increases accuracy by following inventory in real time. This takes the guess-work out of management, which is vital for government outlets. In addition, this software is easy to integrate into your existing operations due to its ease of use, which means less downtime and a better system overall.

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How Barcode Scanning Improves Government Inventory Tracking

ASTS Team — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:40:08 +0000

For local, state, and federal government organizations, asset tracking solutions are a must. For example, government software systems allow for equipment to be managed in real time to ensure compliance. But tracking options don’t stop with computer software. Barcode scanners can allow you to track inventory out in the field or during transport and delivery to ensure you’ll benefit from up-to-date management. Best of all, these barcode scanners integrate seamlessly with your existing government software.

The world is more mobile than ever before
In the digital age, it’s no longer acceptable to conduct government inventory management with a simple spreadsheet. Not only will this not meet compliance regulations, but its simply ineffective and prone to a multitude of errors. Having a comprehensive software system is an absolute must these days. But many organizations also find that they need additional tools to ensure accuracy. It’s no surprise, then, that approximately 67% of warehouses plan to use mobile devices to manage their inventory. Barcode scanners can support asset tracking in real time, regardless of employee location or other circumstances. With more convenient solutions like these, organizations don’t have to compromise on accuracy and risk making a mistake just because an employee or contractor is doing work elsewhere.

Faster data retrieval leads to better decision-making
Whether it’s something as simple as keeping necessary life-saving equipment well-stocked or a more complex task like ensuring compliance and reducing asset loss or theft, utilizing a barcode scanner can yield more complete information. Having access to more detailed data at any time can inform the decisions made by government organizations, allowing them to make smarter choices more quickly. Even audits, which used to require manual spreadsheets that were prone to errors, can be improved by using barcode scanners. That’s because scanners can easily keep track of when and to whom equipment is loaned, when new equipment is purchased, and whether it’s in good working order. When these circumstances can be easily verified, corrected, and added, organizations come out on top.

Ensuring accurate government inventory management hasn’t always been easy. But by using software systems and devices like barcode scanners, it’s a lot simpler and more accurate than it used to be. To find out more about how our software and our barcode scanning devices can help your organization, please contact us today.

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How To Stop Inventory Shrinkage From Impacting Your Organization: Part 2

ASTS Team — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 08:00:51 +0000

As you may already know, inventory shrinkage is a problem across virtually every industry. Retailers often have to deal with the after-effects of stolen or misplaced inventory, but warehouses and government organizations will suffer the consequences when products or assets are lost or damaged as well. In our last post, we discussed some of the main contributing factors that lead to inventory shrinkage. In today’s post, we’ll be talking about some of the best practices you can employ to prevent inventory shrinkage, including the use of inventory tracking software.

Tips To Prevent Warehouse Or Government Inventory Shrinkage

Improve hiring and training
One of the best ways to protect your organization from inventory shrinkage actually doesn’t have much to do with safeguarding the actual inventory itself. Because a substantial portion of inventory theft can be attributed to employee theft and human error, it’s vital to screen your employees and train them properly. You’ll need to contact a candidate’s references and conduct a thorough background check on them, regardless of your industry. And although those who deal with government inventory are already subject to stricter guidelines, it’s important to not make assumptions about a candidate’s employment history or values. Comprehensive on-boarding is a must as well, since this training period can educate an employee on your organization’s policies pertaining to theft and inventory shrinkage prevention procedures.

Install surveillance and security systems
The reality is that no one has eyes in the back of their head. Even with careful hiring and training practices, there may be some employees who try to take advantage or who are simply careless about accident prevention and inventory loss. Whether you’re dealing with government inventory and assets or you run a warehouse or retail location, surveillance systems can keep you informed about everything that goes on. You can install security cameras in main areas (particularly in spots that aren’t readily visible) and other precautionary measures (like doors with security codes) to make sure only certain persons can access specific areas. You may even want to consider hiring security guards if you suspect inventory shrink is due to employee theft.

Use inventory tracking software
Security systems and an emphasis on hiring and training can certainly help to reduce the risk of inventory shrinkage, but you’ll still need a comprehensive system for government inventory management or warehouse inventory tracking. Because you ultimately don’t have complete control over what others in your organization will do, you’ll benefit from a system that keeps track of everything in real time and that isn’t prone to human error. In fact, inventory accuracy increases by approximately 20% with a warehouse management system. Not only do these systems make it simple for you to know exactly where an item is at any given moment, but when employees are more informed (and know you have access to that information), they’ll pay more attention to the behaviors that can lead to shrinkage and take steps to avoid them.

How Does Inventory Tracking Software Work?
For government organizations (such as police departments), following strict regulations about inventory tracking is a must. In other words, using a standard spreadsheet for government inventory tracking won’t do. When you use a system to keep track of your warehouse or government inventory, you’ll have automated software that provides you with an easily searchable database and real-time updates. This means you’ll know exactly where a given piece of equipment or product is at any given moment, whether it’s being transported to another facility or is being used by an employee. These systems track an item’s location as well as the person who last used it and how many of these items there are. You can even give unique barcodes to each piece of inventory.

It’s likely that you now understand just how important it is to prevent inventory shrink within your organization. To find out more about our software and how it can help protect you, contact us today.

The post How To Stop Inventory Shrinkage From Impacting Your Organization: Part 2 first appeared on ASTS Inventory Software.

How To Stop Inventory Shrinkage From Impacting Your Organization: Part 1

ASTS Team — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 22:30:22 +0000

Inventory shrinkage is a constant threat in the retail sector, costing the U.S. retail industry over $45 billion every year. And considering that U.S. retailers are currently sitting on $1.43 in inventory for every $1 in sales they make, that translates to a significant issue. But it’s also a problem that impacts warehouses, government organizations, and virtually any enterprise that deals with inventory on some scale.

Our two-part series on inventory shrinkage will discuss some of the reasons this pervasive problem occurs and exactly what you can do to prevent it (including the use of inventory tracking software). This post will discuss exactly what inventory shrinkage is and what can cause it. Our second post will explain how you can stop inventory shrinkage and how inventory tracking software works.

What is inventory shrinkage?

In the simplest terms, inventory shrinkage refers to a discrepancy between the physical assets or inventory you actually have and what your records say you should have. It’s a loss of inventory that hasn’t been accounted for, like stock that cannot actually be sold to a customer or products that should be in your warehouse but have gone missing.

What are the main causes of inventory shrinkage?

Ultimately, inventory mismanagement is usually to blame for shrinkage. However, there are some specific contributing factors that can lead to inventory shrinkage.

Theft: Although theft is often more problematic for retailers and warehouses, government inventory can be subject to theft, too. Unfortunately, employees or business associates could be involved. Government organizations are generally more likely to screen employees thoroughly prior to hiring, but that doesn’t mean insider theft is out of the question.

Administrative inaccuracies: Although we all try our best, no one is perfect. Human error makes up a significant portion of inventory shrinkage, especially if you don’t have a comprehensive inventory tracking system in place. It could be a simple mistake (like a transposition of numbers or an unintentional omission), a case of vendor fraud, or an instance of using an ineffective property inventory system like a spreadsheet program. When these errors happen repeatedly, your operations could suffer as a result.

Unexpected damage or accidents: Accidents and subsequent damage to inventory happen in many ways. Items can be crushed or dropped during transport, or they can be damaged due to a structural failure that exposes these items to the elements. Poor employee training and subpar property maintenance often cause damage and/or accidents of this nature, but they can happen unexpectedly too (as with natural disasters or unpreventable incidents). That said, taking every precaution can help to reduce the risk of an accident that results in inventory shrinkage.

Lost items: Temporary misplacement or total loss of inventory can have a big effect on your organization. Usually, product loss can ultimately be attributed to human error or theft, but poor training can play a part, too. Inventory might get lost during transport, for example, if this action isn’t performed often or is done poorly. For example, moving your organization or warehouse’s location without a high-quality property inventory system in place could easily result in loss of inventory.

The truth is that inventory shrinkage is incredibly common. However, that doesn’t mean it should be a given. In our next post, we’ll discuss some ways you can minimize inventory shrinkage, like with inventory tracking software, and explain how these methods work.

The post How To Stop Inventory Shrinkage From Impacting Your Organization: Part 1 first appeared on ASTS Inventory Software.

What To Keep In Mind When Choosing Your Inventory Tracking Software

ASTS Team — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 22:01:58 +0000

Although only 30% of the 600,000 warehouses located in the U.S. have a warehouse management system installed, this type of asset tracking and inventory tracking software is actually a necessity. If you are in the process of assessing your options for property inventory management software, you must remember that not all asset tracking systems are created equal. In addition, you’ll need to zero in on your own expectations and existing resources before making your decision. Below, we’ll explore the most important considerations when you decide on software for inventory and asset tracking.

Your “Must-Haves”
There are certain requirements that your asset tracking software can help your warehouse to meet; these features should be on your “must-have” list. These should address vital business tasks that directly impact your daily operations. Conversely, features that you would like to have but aren’t completely necessary from the onset should be put on your “wish list.” These “wish list” features may require a larger budget or more extensive resources that you may not currently have. Typically, it’s better to address those necessary items first. You can always add in those “wish list” items after you’ve put your system in place. If that’s your plan, make sure that your software company can accommodate additional requests later on.

Your Technical Experience
If your business leaders don’t consider themselves to be particularly tech-savvy or you have concerns about warehouse-wide implementation due to a lack of comfort with technology, make sure you express these concerns to your software vendor. While some vendors do offer some level of tech help, you won’t necessarily want to rely on that. You should opt for a system that is intuitive for users, even if they have limited technical experience. If warehouse staff have to spend too much time trying to figure out a system, this can take away from other aspects of your operation and can lead to errors in asset tracking. Since you want to use a system to make your operations easier and more accurate, you’ll want to use a system that allows you to easily implement this into the routine.

Your Support Requirements
People like to work with small, local businesses because this often gives them the chance to have a more personal connection with a given organization. If that support service is of great importance to you, you may want to choose a company that has a local presence (or at least, a local partner). This will allow you to get help in a timely manner. However, that may not be your biggest priority. Some would rather work with a company that has a reputable presence on an international scale, as this can speak to stability and experience. These larger companies may have more resources that will allow you to grow with them as your needs evolve. No matter what your preference might be, it’s important that you ask these kinds of questions when choosing a software vendor; in the end, it’s not only about how the system itself works but how the entire process is executed.

When you need improved inventory tracking and management, our software can help streamline the process in an easily comprehensive way. We possess the capacity to fill gaps in existing systems and manage your inventory in a more effective manner. Contact us today to learn more.

The post What To Keep In Mind When Choosing Your Inventory Tracking Software first appeared on ASTS Inventory Software.

Government Asset Management System: The Essentials

ASTS Team — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 21:49:27 +0000

Did you know that around 7% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product is tied up in inventory, accounts receivable, and accounts payable? This shocking quantity of capital amounts to $1.1 trillion in cash! When you consider how much a typical warehouse management system can decrease errors — up to 70% — as well as the added costs of managing government inventory, you might want to start considering what government software solutions are available.

Asset Tracking Solutions For Government Contractors and Agencies
When developing asset tracking software for governmental use cases, it is essential to have software built for the government from the ground up. Here are some necessary features for government software.

Standardized Inventory Process
Accountability
Management Controls
Automated Processes
Transparency
Needless File and Storage Reduction
Automatic Government Form Generation
Purchase Tracking
Asset Location Tracking

The list could go on, but there are a few noteworthy processes in the ASTS inventory management system that require elaboration. The accountability system involves hand receipts at many levels. This allows for those with different credentials to access accordingly, but also leaves an automated hand receipt, like a digital signature, which allows for a trustless system. You will know who has input, accessed, or altered any data due to this feature. This security feature adds to the safety of the system, while the built-in automated government form generator streamlines the system for specific government use.

With purchase and location tracking, this system also gives knowledge of who is buying how much of which asset, and where that asset is located. Transparency, besides being convenient for finding assets, plays an important role in accountability. If your asset management system is locked down to the outside, but totally visible on the inside, every employee is connected in a social contract of visibility. You can see everyone’s orders and receipts, and they can see yours. This information is useful not only because it adds security and transparency, but because it saves costs in employee hours that might otherwise be used to locate this information in other inventory management systems.

When deciding upon government software for an asset management system, keep in mind that a specified system that was built for the government will function in the most secure and beneficial ways. ASTS will help you track smarter, securely saving money and time.

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