How To Run A Successful Asset & Tool Tracking Pilot Program

A Guide for Contractors and Utility Companies

Asset and tool tracking is a hot topic these days, and for good reason. It can help contractors and utilities gain operational efficiencies – often large efficiencies.

At Recon Dynamics, we’ve been developing and employing asset and tool tracking systems since 2005 and have significant experience implementing everything from small pilots to large-scale programs. We call our unique combination of smart sensors and AI “Operational Intelligence”.

Here are the five key actions required to help make a program successful.

1: Set clear goals and success metrics for the program

When starting the pilot, clearly defined goals and objectives should be established to prove out the technology and achieve what you set out to accomplish. You and your provider both should know what success looks like, so the correct go/no go decision can be made about implementing the system on a wider scale.

Is it saving the time and money expected? Are you able to complete projects faster? Will your operations be safer and more efficient? These objectives should be defined in advance. It’s also important to avoid specification creep, which is when more objectives are added as the pilot progresses, making closure difficult and success harder to define.

2: Understand the strengths and limitations of the technology

It’s important to understand both the capabilities and the limitations of the technology you’re implementing. There’s a wide range of technologies available, and some might limit the amount of information to make effective decisions. For example, some sensor technologies, such as RFID, limit their data collection to location and a time stamp, while others also collect temperature, accelerometer, and magnetometer data.

How the information is collected is also important. Does the data ride on its own network, or does it require a local network to be installed? Can the data be collected automatically, or must it be manually scanned with a smartphone or tablet? How useful will it be? Will the vendor help interpret the data to drive clear actions?

3: Decide on a length of time

Once you've determined the pilot’s objectives, the length of time it needs to run should be defined. How long should the new technology be put through its use case? Thirty days? Two Months? Ample time should be allotted to evaluate the technology as it will normally be used in a day-to-day setting, as well as for additional use cases you may not need as frequently. Be sure these are defined in advance so your pilot can be completed on schedule.

4: Plan the implementation and make it happen

The on boarding plan you develop is critical for success, particularly with any type of tracking technology. Getting the buy-in from all your personnel is key to making sure the technology will be used when it’s rolled out to the entire organization. Many rank and file employees will be skeptical of such technologies and might resent being tracked so closely. Open communication with your employees about the objectives of the program will help alleviate their concerns.

It’s important the vendor of the equipment and/or software provide adequate training and resources throughout the program to help all users get comfortable with the technology and understand its benefits. You’ll want to make sure the benefits reveal themselves clearly throughout the program, and that there’s a go-to person to contact in the event of any problems. There should be no surprises as you set your organization up for success; you have to be sure the technology makes everyone’s jobs easier. You want the successful users to become company champions.

5. Get feedback and adjust accordingly

A pilot is a really a chance for trial and error, and to learn how the technology can be implemented effectively in your particular organization. Each construction company has its own strengths and concentrates on specific types of projects, so the data collection and event reporting will likely need to be tailored for each organization or even each project. Not every technology will benefit every situation. Here, getting feedback from stakeholders is key to building an Operational Intelligence platform that meets your objectives.

How will you know if your pilot program was a success and if the technology should be implemented on a wider basis? By evaluating the data collected, measuring how well you've reached your objectives, and judging how flexible the vendor was in making sure your organization’s goals were reached.

If your organization is considering implementing a tool and tracking system to increase productivity and lower project costs, Recon Dynamics will do everything possible to make it a success.

I’m here to help: Gene Bohensky, VP of Enterprise Solutions, Recon Dynamics

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[email protected]

973.368.7726

www.recondynamics.com