During these tight economic times, trimming costs and streamlining operations can mean the difference between needed profits and unnecessary losses. One of the best ways to add dollars to your bottom line may be simply having a manageable and understandable inventory control process.
Most EMS agencies only realize what their expenses are when it comes to inventory. Out of necessity many EMS agencies are now being forced to do what other industries have done for years, “provide more with less”. By implementing LEAN manufacturing processes coupled with electronic inventory software management, agencies are seeing 40-50% decreases in inventory costs.
One of the leaders in providing an EMS specific inventory management software solution is EMS Technology Solutions (ETS). ETS was contracted in 2005 to build a customized solution for Puckett EMS, based in Austell, Georgia. In 2007, ETS released AmbuTRAK, a web based inventory management solution designed for Fire and EMS agencies. “Puckett EMS started getting calls from other agencies that wanted a solution that would work for them and was affordable to use, so we started working on a web based solution that met the needs of what agencies needed”, says ETS President Shane Garrison, “I think the thing that appeals to most users of the AmbuTrak solution is that it’s so easy to use. As a general rule, inventory software has always been really difficult to manage and very expensive to implement. For most EMS agencies they can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on expensive software and hardware and smaller agencies never could afford the implementation cost. That’s the beauty of AmbuTrak, because its web-based software, most people already have the hardware that they need. The software is based off of the total number of licenses you require. Our smallest customer has 3 ambulances and our largest customer has 110 ambulances.”
Since the first software license sold back in 2007, not one customer has been lost. They have over 800 licenses and forecast a double in size for 2009. “We are fanatical about the service we provide our customers. Our technical support team is amazing, they know how important each and every customer is and they go out of their way to make sure that they are happy with the software. I make sure each customer has my direct line and cell phone number, if they don’t feel like they’re being taken care of by our support team; I want them to know that they can always call me directly and I’ll make sure that they are taken care of.”
Besides providing a robust supply room management feature that includes bar code scanning and purchase order management, AmbuTRAK also provides a Fixed Asset Manager and a Check In-Check Out Manager. “We provide much more than just standard warehouse inventory management software”, says Garrison, “AmbuTRAK provides solutions that are common for this specific industry. Our customers shape the software based on what they need, their feedback is critical to making sure we’re always on the cutting edge.”
Since they started selling the AmbuTrak solution, ETS has never required any of its customers to sign an upfront payment schedule. Customers pay as they go each month. Their philosophy is that if they are providing quality software, coupled with great customer service and affordable prices, customers will stay.
- Shane Garrison, Vice-President, Puckett EMS
