technology · Page 10 of 15

How to Simplify Your Inventory Management

It doesn’t matter how large your company is, or how much information technology that you have to maintain and collect, keeping it organized can be challenging. To this end, having a way to simplify your inventory can be helpful for keeping track of where your devices, and more importantly, your data is.

With any company with a lot of different and important operations, it’s crucial that you have processes put into place that documents where and how each of your moving parts is being used.

What Your Inventory Does

An inventory is typically used for businesses to track their assets and resources in a way that makes sure you have an accurate count of what your company owns.

Inventory is commonly used for countless types of organizations, from fast food to retail. Keeping track of what is on hand is critical to the success of any business, as it helps you manage your assets.

A detailed and easily updated inventory record helps you determine just how your resources are being used, allowing you to shift priorities when needed.

So, how can your organization take advantage of inventory management for your technology solutions? We’ll discuss some of the best ways that you can use this approach to keep close watch on your technological assets.

What Should Your Inventory Include?

When you’re building an inventory system for your organization’s technology, you should include a comprehensive record of what’s included under this term. Ask yourself the following questions:

What Technology Do You Have?

You’ll first need to identify which resources should be tracked. Since technology often has long and drawn-out names or titles, you should instead abbreviate them in a way that is easy to keep track of.

This technique, often called shorthand, is what will help you keep track of the technology components that you possess.

One example of different components performing different tasks is the hard drive. Chances are that you have all kinds of devices just sitting around, waiting for the moment where they see the light of day.

Instead of listing off exactly what each device is, create a system for tracking what they are to make inventory easier to look at.

Let’s say that your organization has seven spare hard drives. One of them is blue with 1 terabyte of capacity, three of them are red solid-state drives with 1 terabyte each, two of them are black with 1.5 terabytes each, and one of them is purple with a 2 terabyte capacity. Use a shorthand method to list them as such:

1 HDD – BLUE – 1TB
3 SSD – RED – 1TB
2 HDD – BLACK – 1.5TB
1 HDD – PURPLE – 2TB

Where is the Technology Stored?

Once you know what technology to track, you need to determine where you are keeping track of it; specifically, you need to know where it is being stored, as well as who might possibly be in possession of it (if it’s been checked out).

Be sure to mark which building, room, or closet it is stored in, as well as the shelf location.

1 HDD – BLUE – 1TB (MAIN LOCATION/BASEMENT/SHELF A)
3 SSD – RED – 1TB (MAIN LOCATION/BASEMENT/SHELF E)
2 HDD – BLACK – 1.5TB (SAT-OFFICE1/ROOM4/SHELF B)
1 HDD – PURPLE – 2TB (SAT-OFFICE2/ROOM2/SHELF D)

Additional Details

There are other details that you may want to include in your inventory processes. For example, you can monitor pricing for specific components in the event that insurance needs to come into play at any point. You also might include the date at which you purchased the technology.

1 HDD – BLUE – 1TB (MAIN LOCATION/BASEMENT/SHELF A) – $95 (May 9, 2017)
3 SSD – RED – 1TB (MAIN LOCATION/BASEMENT/SHELF E) – $250 (June 30, 2017)
2 HDD – BLACK – 1.5TB (SAT-OFFICE1/ROOM4/SHELF B) – $160 (August 18, 2017)
1 HDD – PURPLE – 2TB (SAT-OFFICE2/ROOM2/SHELF D) – $355 (February 2, 2018)

Other Considerations for Your Inventory

There are ways to make sure that you’re using the best technology inventory process out there, and one of them is using bar-code technology to scan a device or component into an inventory management system.

There are other ways to do this, such as using a spreadsheet system or clipboard, but these are typically more prone to human error than relying on a bar-code scanner.

Does this sound like something you would be interested in implementing? Don’t waste any more time, get started today by reaching out to us.

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What to Do With Your Old Power Converters, According to Star Wars

From Anakin being the possession of Watto the Toydarian junk dealer in the Phantom Menace–to Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewy being stuck warding off the Dianoga inside a trash compactor in the first Death Star in the original–to Rey picking junk off the crashed Star Destroyer and selling them to the Crolute Unkar Plutt on Jakku in The Force Awakens–Star Wars lore is filled with junk technology. If the back room of your business is starting to look like Watto’s shop, you may need to adjust the disposal strategies of your old power converters.

We completely understand that there are those people out there that like to fidget with old technology. The longer you can get use out of your tech, the more money you can avoid spending on it. The problem becomes when you don’t need the technology anymore, and don’t have any other plans with it. You can’t exactly put it on the curb for the garbage service to pick up, can you?

That’s Trashy

Old technology makes for a lot of trash, so much so that it has its own name. “E-waste”, as it is now known, is becoming a major issue both in developing nations as well as in developed countries. The United Nations estimates that between 20-to-50 million metric tons of e-waste is discarded every year. For the Jawas, Watto, or Rey that may be paydirt, but in reality, it can cause several environmental problems; and, with technology production at all-time high levels, the problems that e-waste causes is not going to go away.

What Is E-Waste?

The concept of e-waste is that once a computer, phone, or any other electronic device becomes antiquated, or breaks (as technology is known to do), it has to be disposed of. These products are a mix of several hundred materials and feature wiring and components that, in a perfect world, would be recycled. Products tend to have toxic metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and beryllium, as well as hazardous chemicals–effectively poisoning the land they are disposed in; and, often seeping into drinking water, ultimately damaging ecosystems.

Since it is a relatively new problem, a lot is being learned about the environmental impacts of e-waste. With estimates suggesting that only a quarter of e-waste is currently being recycled, it may be time for people to start considering enforceable regulation that calls for the mandatory recycling or proper disposal of these devices. The U.S. has passed the National Computer Recycling Act, but with the current Environmental Protection Agency all but defunded, there is truly no authority backing this program at present.

One problem is that even the companies that deal in e-waste aren’t all the same. Some recycling companies will properly recycle the electronics. They will disassemble and strip out all the components and repurpose them or sell them to manufacturers who can do the same. Some “recyclers” don’t function to those high standards. These organizations will take the e-waste and ship it to developing nations, inefficiently strip out the parts that they can sell back, and dump the rest, effectively polluting villages and cities in nations that don’t have formal disposal regulations.

What’s this Junk Worth?

Like the worlds depicted in Star Wars, the old components picked out of this e-waste are worth a pretty penny. A U.N. study referenced above suggests that the minerals, metals, and other useful components from the 44.7 million metrics tons of e-waste collected in 2016 were worth a staggering $65 billion. Rich deposits of gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, lithium, cobalt and other materials were recovered. With people replacing their personal technology every two-or-so years, it seems to be a growth industry.

In a study titled, “The Global E-waste Monitor 2017” e-waste is the fastest growing part of the world’s waste stream with each person averaging 13.5 pounds of e-waste per person, which is over three times less than the average for the typical American/Canadian. With so much e-waste accumulating, and such a small percentage of it being recycled (around 30%), there are significant opportunities for investment in companies that want to take on the growing e-waste menace.

Beyond that, some places like Agbogbloshie, a huge area outside of the Ghanan capital of Accra, is known for being the world’s largest e-waste dump. It sees thousands of children, some as young as five, working the landfill, burning the trash that had been dumped to expose anything of value. The people there burn plastic away from wires and collect metals and other valuables from the scrapyard, just as Rey did in Jakku’s Starship Graveyard, as means to eat for that day, but the myriad of contaminating materials produced by this practice is killing people fast. The local economy of Agbogbloshie is based on one of a traditional onion market, where people sell their wares, many picked directly from the dump. There are cattle raised there, and more disturbingly, it’s home to the biggest produce market in West Africa– located literally across the street from Agbogbloshie. Sickness runs rampant, and death to residents comes decades faster than people that live in more affluent parts of Accra.

What You Can Do

When it’s time to throw away your old technology, there probably isn’t a Crolute junk dealer you can cash your old technology into for quarter portions. As a result, you’ll want to consider the following strategies to help minimize e-waste problems that are at work today.

Donate to a Needy Organization

If your technology isn’t quite old, just old to you, there are several charities and other organizations that would take useful technology. For this you can earn a tax deduction for a charitable donation and avoid adding to the e-waste problem. GreatNonprofits.org maintains a list of charities in need of office equipment.

Donate to Goodwill

If you can’t find an organization to take your technology donation, donate the technology to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, which will sell it through their vast network of stores. You can also check out Freecycle, which is a free service that helps find homes for unwanted tech.

Donate to Schools

You can try to donate your old tech to local schools. Many times students can benefit from discarded technology more than professionals can. There is an organization that can help put your old tech in schools called iLoveSchools.com.

Responsibly Recycle It

If you can’t get anyone to take your old technology, many of today’s largest retailers and technology manufacturers are cognizant of the e-waste problem and can suggest reputable recycling services.

With e-waste becoming a major problem home and abroad, it’s crucial that you do your part. Understanding what your options are equally important.

May the Fourth be with you!

Also, check out our cabling services!

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Will New Technology Really Change Work and Home?

If you’re ever bored on a Friday night, go back and read dated doomsday articles. Whether these articles are related the tempest in a teapot that was Y2K or the fear that e-books will wreck the publishing industry, after a while, you’ll notice that no matter the tech being discussed, many of the arguments start to sound alike.

From a historical perspective, what strikes home is not the evolution of these social concerns, but their similarity from one century to the next, to the point where they arrive anew with little having changed except the label (Slate).

While it’s not clear that emerging technologies will wreck society, it is clear that they will definitely impact life–particularly at work and in the home.

Work

Clearly, the introduction of computers and automated phone systems had a huge impact on the workforce. Since their introduction, further technological developments have produced exponential change.

For example, it’s just a matter of time before self-driving cars are delivering pizzas, and augmented reality projection technology such as Lightform are applied industry-wide, from enhancing live entertainment to helping interior designers pitch ideas to clients.

Home

With services like Amazon Prime Air stepping up the online marketplace by using drones to deliver packages, and smart fridges helping out in the kitchen by letting you check its contents while you’re at the store and then pulling up recipes for you once you’re done shopping, it’s clear that changes at home will keep pace with those in the workforce.

While the pace of the changes may seem dizzying, the changes themselves are exciting. With everything moving so quickly, sometimes it’s hard to feel that you’re keeping current. Fortunately, you have us.

We Can Help

Here at 4 Corner IT, we’re proud to be South Florida’s best provider of managed tech services. We have what you need to reach the next level. By availing yourself of our expertise, you can focus on what you do best and let us take care of the tech.

To hear more about this or discuss our services, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to serving you.

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5 Safety Tips When Using Public Hotspots

Do your work needs force you to stay connected on the go? Fortunately, public Wifi hotspots are everywhere. However, it’s important to know how to stay safe when using public hotspots. Keep these tips in mind when using public Wifi.

Connect Safely

Not all networks are equal. Make sure you’re connecting to the right network and not to a spoofed network that’s been set up by a hacker. Don’t connect to networks with suspicious names. Try to use hotspots that are semi-private, such as hotels that only give out their password to their guests. If you’re in an airport, look for airport cafes that offer their own, smaller, network.

Surf Safely

When surfing the internet, try to use an HTTPS connection whenever possible. If possible, use a Virtual Private Network to encrypt your data.

Be smart about what you do online. Avoid entering passwords on public networks. Don’t download software when using public Wifi. Push off your online banking until you get home.

Turn On Your Firewall

Make sure you have an antivirus installed, and make sure your firewall is on. In addition, turn off file sharing if you are on a Windows PC. On Apple devices, turn your Airdropping settings to “Contacts Only.”

Avoid It When Possible

You don’t always have to use public Wifi. Some things can be done offline and synced later. If your plan allows it, you may be able to use your phone’s mobile data to create your own password-protected mobile hotspot.

For more tips for staying safe online, contact us today!

6 Reasons to Switch to VoIP Today

Given the benefits of VoIP, there’s no reason your business shouldn’t switch to it today. Here are all the reasons you should drop what you’re doing now and switch to VoIP systems:

Better customer service

VoIP offers excellent call quality, and this makes an impression on customers. According to this BCW article, it also helps you keep track of customer information:

“Have your customers ever complained of poor voice quality?…. You may struggle with managing a fleet of phone numbers or leaving your staff without communication resources at all. Employing a VoIP system can help you resolve all of these problems. The technology allows for commercial phones with a designated IP, and it enables the stress-free communication that is essential to providing your customers with a positive experience.”

Businesses commonly cite this as the benefit with the most surprising impact.

More cohesive internal communication

Poor internal communication prevents teams from working together. With VoIP, employees can use the company phone system to get in touch with anyone in the business. It’s easier and faster than sending an email.

Mobile employees

Mobile employees have access to VoIP systems, which allows them to stay in touch with clients and employees when they’re outside the office. VoIP frees your employees to leave the building without worrying about an incoming call.

International calling

VoIP offers free international calling which, depending on your business strategy, can make a big difference in your communication costs. If you’re thinking about entering a foreign market, then VoIP is pretty much a necessity.

Save your money

Aside from international calling, VoIP is overall cheaper than traditional landline systems. There isn’t even any installation fee or relocation fee if you move.

Save your time

And finally, there’s virtually no training associated with VoIP. Employees can stay focused on their jobs without having to take the time to learn a new system. It’s a simple as using any other phone.

For more reasons why you should switch to VoIP, contact us today.