Why Sanitation Industry Needs an Asset Management System in a Global Pandemic Scenario

During a global pandemic, people are making sure their offices, buildings, factories, warehouses are cleaned regularly. It has become everyone's responsibility to maintain a clean and sanitized workplace.

Sanitizing is a great habit, but it becomes doubly essential in circumstances threatened by a pandemic. In such a scenario, not only healthcare but the entire sanitation industry comes into high demand in the face of increased workload and the need for more effort and equipment.

Why the Sanitization of Commercial Places is Important?

As working people spend more time in their workplaces like offices, schools, hospitals, shops or other commercial centers, such places have very high chances of playing host to different types of microbes.

As these places are intense hubs of public gathering, the threat of sickness and infections looms large. It, therefore, becomes crucial to ensure that all vulnerable surfaces and areas are not just kept clean but sanitized too.

Sanitizing all physical touchpoints is important to kill microbes that potentially cause infections and illnesses like flu.

Cleaning and Sanitizing

Cleaning and sanitizing are different tasks. Cleaning ensures removal or displacement of dirt and dust from surface areas.

Sanitizing generally follows the cleaning process and is carried out using heat, radiation or chemicals to make sure all microbes and pathogens get eradicated.

Cleaning agents are divided into four categories:

• Detergents - dishwashing detergent, automatic dishwasher detergent

• Solvent cleaners - degreasers

• Acid cleaners - sulphuric acid

• Abrasive cleaners - sandpaper, nylon meshes

The cleaning process is necessary as an uncleaned surface can give rise to major contamination.

Sanitization includes 2 methods:

1. Heating - There are 3 methods for heat sanitization including hot air, steam, and hot water.  Hot water is the most common method used in restaurants with varying temperatures for different types of objects and machines i.e. 171°F, 180°F, 165°F, etc.
   
   
2. Chemicals - The chemicals used for sanitizing are chlorine, iodine, quaternary ammonium.

Chemical sanitizers have different effects depending on factors, like:

• Concentration - Too little sanitizer proves inadequate and too much can be toxic.

• Temperature - Chemical sanitizers work best between 55°F to 120°F.

• Contact time - The contact time of sanitizer with the surface depends on the nature of the sanitizer.

It is clear that there are lots of chemicals and equipment used in the process of cleaning and sanitization.

It thus becomes necessary for a sanitation industry to keep a proper record of all of the chemicals and equipment used so they do not exhaust all the materials when they are needed. A proper track of materials in operations ensures that supplies are ordered well in advance.

Why asset management is necessary for the Sanitation Industry?

Keeping track of chemicals and equipment is a basic necessity of the sanitation industry. This ensures they know about the physical stock, its location, etc. so that they can be retrieved when needed.

Inventory Management is the process of managing, storing, issuing and reordering inventories. The stock management generates the lead time on raw materials, components, and finished products, along with warehousing and processing of such items in the industry.

The following are the functions of asset management software for managing the inventory of sanitation industry:

1. Improved Productivity and Efficiency

The asset management software enables us to increase productivity and efficiency by automating daily manual tasks and in the process of helping to maximize productivity and business growth.

The solution saves uncountable hours and enables printing labels, processes and dispatches purchase orders, manages stock and keeps the system updated for all listed items.

2. Avoid Stock-outs, over-stock and out of stock situations

When it comes to maintaining the balance sheet of inventories and its management, it is quite a difficult task to handle. Shortage of stocks leads to stock-out which not only disrupts the sanitation process and customer relationship but also can cause potential losses. In cases of over-stocking, there are storage issues.

However, when asset management software is installed to discard the sanitation issues. The system enables to set a limit for re-ordering of stocks of sanitization when their levels drop below the defined threshold limits.

3. Reducing Inaccuracies

Inventory and Stock Management consist of an array of internal management processes. When these tasks are performed manually, there are chances for inaccuracies like wrong data or duplicated data.

The system automates all data recording and tracking processes, leaving no room for errors.

4. Quality Management

The software has the ability to identify and track issues that potentially cause delayed deliveries of materials. Using the already fed data, the system provides analytics and guidance to the quality processes of the organization.

5. Easy Inventory Management

The inventory tracking software makes the process of inventory a lot easier and results in saving both time and money. It assists by automating the business processes and provides actionable information to make smarter decisions.

6. Planned Management

You can identify the possibilities of opening multiple stocks at any location. This goes on to increase efficiency and improve service levels.

7. Balanced Supply and Demand

When it comes to delivery, time is of prime focus. In the business of sanitization, no delay can be accepted. Services have to be provided on time, with the least cost and maximum features.

8. Inventory Reports

Asset management software is programmed to generate automated reports. You can get a variety of reports such as low stock reports, inventory validation reports, inventory forecasting reports, etc.

9. Inventory Tracking

Inventory tracking is the most beneficial function and feature of asset management software. The software keeps the track of unlimited serial numbers from when the inventory is received until the time it is issued.

10. Data Security

With an asset management system, you can manage users as required. You can restrict every user or give them rights to ensure there is no cause for mistakes. The other very important benefit is the security the system provides at all levels.

For example, a worker inputs data about items and the manager approve the same if everything is in the correct order.

In the system, it can be defined which user has the rights to view which data, which the user can retrieve and access what level of information. As every user is controlled, there is no chance for data loss or leakage.

11. All-in-one Solution

Asset management software is a comprehensive solution when it comes to providing services. It provides order management, listing management, shipping management and also enables streamlined operations.

Conclusion

A good asset management software empowers you with an elaborative status of supply and demand, movement of inventory, and delivery times. It is meant to ensure maximum customer satisfaction at minimal costs.

Easy reporting and analytical views are essential for asset management software. It provides a complete list of all inventories, materials, etc. that need to be ordered so stock levels can be maintained.

The requirement of asset management software has become indispensable in the sanitation industry to meets the requirements of customers and making all the records and reports available to the management. It is all the more critical in a global pandemic environment.