Author: John Van Horn

National HIV Testing Day-June 27

Posted on by John Van Horn

National HIV Testing Day - June 27th

Beyond Traditional Testing: How Innovative Dispensing Solutions Are Redefining HIV Testing

Section 1: Thembi’s Road to Recovery

Thembi’s journey is a testament to our progress in the battle against HIV. In the late 90s, when her husband started showing symptoms of the fatal virus, Thembi was terrified that she too might have contracted it. But despite her fears, she gathered the courage to travel 20 miles to a clinic to get tested. However, before receiving the results, she began experiencing symptoms of the virus and eventually fell into a coma after contracting tuberculosis.

Against all odds, Thembi woke up from her coma after two weeks and discovered she had tested positive for HIV. However, she was determined to fight back and start her journey to recovery, which she did with remarkable success. Though Thembi was grateful for a second chance at life, she understood that early detection of her illness gave her a fighting chance.

Today, as a mother of two, Thembi spreads hope to the people around her with her smile and unwavering positive spirit. Thanks to advances in HIV testing and treatment, people living with HIV can now live normal, fulfilling lives. 

June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, an annual event in the United States that aims to raise awareness about the significance of getting tested for HIV and knowing one’s status. This day aims to promote education and understanding about the disease, to reduce its stigma and discrimination.

Section 2: The Importance of HIV Testing

Early detection of HIV is crucial because it allows for early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), significantly improving health outcomes and life expectancy. According to UNAIDS, early initiation of ART can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by up to 96%. It can also reduce the risk of developing AIDS-related illnesses by up to 75%. However, in 2020, an estimated 38% of people living with HIV globally were still unaware of their HIV status, highlighting the ongoing importance of HIV testing.

Thembi was lucky to get a second chance at life, but it may not be so for many. Early detection is the safest way to stay ahead in the fight against HIV.

Section 3: Challenges with Traditional Testing Methods

In the past, getting tested for HIV was a daunting task that discouraged many from testing. The process involved a range of physical and emotional obstacles that made people hesitant to face the reality of their situation. The fear of societal judgment and the stigma of a positive diagnosis often left individuals unaware.  

Some of the challenges associated with the traditional method of testing were:

  • Accessibility
    Traditional HIV testing methods require individuals to visit a clinic or hospital, making it difficult for those living in remote areas or with limited mobility to get tested, leading to lower testing rates and early detection.
  • Stigma
    Visiting a clinic or hospital for an HIV test can be stigmatizing. It may discourage some individuals from getting tested, especially those from marginalized communities. Such negligence can lead to a higher prevalence of HIV in these communities and delays in early detection.
  • Cost
    Traditional HIV testing methods can be expensive, especially for those without health insurance, preventing individuals from getting tested and leading to delays in early detection.
  • Time
    The time required to get tested and receive results with traditional methods can be lengthy, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

In general, the drawbacks of conventional HIV testing techniques may cause a decrease in testing frequency and delayed diagnosis, which may result in increased transmission rates and poorer health outcomes for people living with HIV. 

Therefore, it is critical to create testing methods that are more easily accessible, free from stigma, inexpensive, and timely to boost testing rates and identify the disease early.

Section 4: IDS’ Harm Reduction Supply Dispensers- Providing a Solution

IDS’s iQ Technology software and harm reduction supply dispensers are helping save lives across the United States. Harm Reduction Supply Dispensers provide a low barrier and easy access to life-saving medical kits, hygiene kits, safer sex kits, Naloxone, HIV self-tests, and other harm reduction supplies and testing 24/7. To access the machine, clients can receive a unique code to enter and dispense the medical supplies they need quickly and efficiently. 

IDS-powered harm-reduction dispensing solutions for HIV testing are revolutionizing how individuals access HIV testing. These innovative technologies offer a discreet way to get tested, providing privacy and confidentiality to those who may fear the stigma or discrimination associated with HIV testing. 

Through IDS’ harm reduction machines, organizations like H.O.P.E Testing provide individuals with free self-test kits and other harm reduction supplies such as safer sex kits,  safe injection kits, first aid kits, Narcan, and pregnancy tests. “IDS’s equipment and technology have created a low-barrier entry point for those individuals needing our services. It provides easy access to supplies and prevention education without engaging with a staff member,”  said Executive Director Taryn Norman. For more information on how H.O.P.E. Testing has improved accessibility and tracking of harm reduction supplies by using vending machines, you can watch their testimonial here. 

Not only do these dispensing solutions for HIV testing provide a convenient way to get tested, but they also play a crucial role in increasing HIV testing rates and early detection. They are especially vital for marginalized populations facing barriers to accessing traditional testing methods. By reducing the spread of HIV, these machines significantly contribute to public health.

Section 5: Conclusion

HIV is no longer a death sentence, and people living with HIV can live full and healthy lives. 

Early detection and treatment of HIV is important because it can significantly improve an individual’s health and life expectancy while reducing the risk of transmitting the virus to others. IDS harm-reducing dispensing solutions aim to minimize the negative consequences of drug use and infectious disease transmission by providing quick and easy access to medication-assisted treatment supplies, like HIV self-tests. To learn more about IDS’s harm reduction dispensers and technology, click here to check our website. 

References

Provide Anytime, Anywhere Access to Office Supplies with iVendTech

Posted on by John Van Horn

IDS - iVendTech

Do your employees have easy and convenient access to the supplies they need without any hassle? Many studies have shown that employees can waste significant amounts of time searching for necessary supplies and equipment in the workplace. This time spent reduces employee productivity and can incur hidden costs for your business. iVendTech, an inventory management software developed by IDS, can help companies balance the convenience of having readily available and accessible supplies and obtaining the level of control and tracking necessary. 

Why The Traditional Supply Closet & Service Desk Is a Time & Productivity Killer 

Today’s supply requirements are varied and include charging cables, earbuds, adapters, monitors, and more. Hence, an open closet can prove a financial disadvantage to employers due to overuse of supplies and shrinkage caused by a lack of inventory control. Some employers responded by having their supply closets locked. Alternative suggestion: But as it turns out, this setup is a productivity nightmare. Who wants to waste time tracking down the keyholder for access? A service desk might seem like a solution. However, it can end up causing even more chaos and wasted time. Why have your talented employees bogged down with supply management when they could be working on high-value tasks instead?

The Solution, iVendTech 

iVendTech is an all-in-one solution that combines IDS supply dispensers and lockers with inventory management software. It offers real-time visibility and alerts for optimal inventory and asset management, available 24/7. This solution can be tailored to fit the unique requirements of users, managers, IT professionals, and other stakeholders. iVendTech technology streamlines the dispensing of IT and office equipment and resources to your staff and, as a result, reduces the time spent searching for supplies. In addition, it saves costs by reducing shrinkage from lost, untracked supplies. You can set limits on who can access specific items. With real-time transaction reporting, you can track who uses which supplies and how much they are using, ensuring an accurate chain of custody and accountability. Learn more about iVendTech by watching this video. 

Benefits That Matter 

Secure, Comprehensive, Productive

SECURE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL

Employees often leave their desks to pick up items, which are given out for free without any record. These transactions result in unreliable and inaccurate data for reordering or accountability purposes. Without attendants, managers develop innovative ways to obtain required supplies, like using open store rooms or free-issue bins, which leads to uncontrolled and untracked consumption. 

iVendTech vending machines are equipped with advanced technology to help decrease costs by preventing shrinkage caused by unaccounted supplies.

COMPREHENSIVE REAL-TIME REPORTING

You can achieve total control over your inventory and have a clear idea of its status, thanks to the platform’s real-time reporting system and administrative accountability features. Our reporting tools provide access to sales data, restocking lists, user visibility, and alerts when inventory levels run low. 

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

Using iVendTech office supply vending machines can reduce employees’ time in IT departments and on phone calls searching for office supply replacements. It enables employees to quickly obtain necessary items such as a mouse or keyboard, thus enhancing productivity and convenience. 

iQ Technology 

The iQ Technology software serves as the central processing unit of the IDS systems, empowering managers to take control of a typically complicated inventory scenario and customize it according to their liking. For example, they can track sales remotely and create a unique point-of-sale display that caters to different customers. Notifications will be sent through email or text, providing information on a low stock position, power loss, connectivity issues, etc. Users can access office supplies from any iVendTech machine, and managers have real-time inventory and warehouse control. This is not something you find in the many advanced machines that roll out daily, as not all are equipped with this iQ technology. 

Final Words 

iVendTech is among the many solutions IDS offers to make your inventory support easier, better, smoother, and more efficient. Let’s do the math and learn how profitable you can be with this technology. 

 

https://iottag.com.au/how-much-time-do-staff-waste-searching-for-equipment/

RX & Illicit Drug Summit – An Overview

Posted on by John Van Horn

IDSvending - RX Summit Blog

Since the start of the opioid epidemic, more than one million people have lost their lives. Across the nation, organizations are utilizing Narcan-stocked vending machines as a preventative solution, as these medications can reverse a drug overdose. IDS has been at the forefront of developing life-saving dispensing solutions and technology. Recently, IDS was a proud Silver Sponsor of the RX & Illicit Drug Summit. This influential event addresses the opioid crisis. From April 1st-4th, IDS and a global community of stakeholders and professionals gathered to share and learn about the latest prevention, treatment, and law enforcement strategies.

IDSvending - RX Summit Event

IDS Joins The Global Community in Strategizing The Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery of Opioid Overdoses

During the RX & Illicit Drug Summit, IDS had the opportunity to showcase our Intelligent Dispensing Solutions Equipment and iQ Technology Software. IDS’s Harm Reduction Supply Dispenser is an innovation designed to minimize drug use-associated health risks and serve as a lifeline for those who may have overdosed. 

Our Harm Reduction Supply Dispensers provide a low barrier and easy access to life-saving medical kits, hygiene kits, safer sex kits, Naloxone, and other harm reduction supplies and testing 24/7. To access the machine, clients can receive a unique code to enter and dispense the medical supplies they need quickly and efficiently. Our iQ Technology and real-time tracking software provide transaction and inventory reports to make your reporting easy and efficient. 

Today, we cater to many customers to fight against the opioid crisis and its consequences. Our sponsorship of this year’s RX and Illicit Drug Summit and our future Bronze Sponsorship of the RX & Illicit Drug Summit in 2024 further indicates our objective.  

IDS Harm Reduction Supply Dispenser 

IDSvending - RX Summit IDS’s Harm Reduction Supply Dispenser is an innovation designed to minimize drug use-associated health risks and serve as a lifeline for those who may have overdosed to dangerous proportions. The machine also helps health officials to promote safe injections, safe smoking, and safe sex in communities. 

“These machines have been really popular and have taken off in a way that we never anticipated or hoped for. We are distributing or dispensing safer sex and harm reduction supplies which include condoms, self-test kits, safe injection kits, Narcan, first aid kits, COVID-19 kits, and pregnancy test kits. The machine helped us to create a low-barrier entry point to our organization. This means users can access what they need without getting in touch with any staff. The backend software made reporting very easy, as we were able to realize the impact and outcome very quickly” – Taryn Norman  – Executive Director, Hope Testing. 

 

The benefits of the device extend beyond this, and here’s a preview.

A Few Highlights From The RX & Illicit Drug Summit

The event hosted numerous speakers and exciting exhibitions showcasing how technology can control the drug epidemic. We noted an increased number of vending machine enthusiasts, who had purchased our machines, and those looking to secure funding. The life-saving capability of these machines, coupled with their ability to gather data, created a buzz that emphasizes how these harm-reduction vending machines can save lives. For more information on IDS’s harm reduction dispensing solutions and iQ technology, visit here!

IDS – Rx and Illicit Drug Summit

Posted on by John Van Horn

IDS - Rx and Illicit Drug Summit

 

“More than one million lives have been lost since the start of the opioid epidemic.” 

The Rx and Illicit drug Summit is the largest and most significant event addressing the opioid crisis.  IDS joins the global community of stakeholders aimed at prevention, treatment, and cure as a proud silver sponsor. This event is where prevention strategies are shared and put into action. 

Highlights of the Event

This event embraces innovation. Strategies are shared among allied professionals and decision-makers to gain knowledge about the latest in prevention, treatment, and law enforcement. Over 3,500 participants are expected to participate. The event is held in Atlanta, Ga, and starts on April 10th and lasts through the 13th. 

Who Should Attend?

Experts from across the nation will lead the event providing extensive educational experiences. This attracts many different stakeholders, including:

  • Physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, dentists, and pharmacists
  • Counselors, therapists, social workers, interventionists, and psychologists
  • Law enforcement personnel
  • Advocates, families, and people in recovery 
  • Public health and prevention officers
  • First responders
  • Researchers and Education specialists
  • Federal, local, and state officials and lawmakers
  • Attorneys
  • Treatment center operators and owners 

IDS’s Harm Reduction Supply Dispensers and Technology

IDS’s iQ Technology software and harm reduction supply dispensers are helping save lives across the United States. Our Harm Reduction Supply Dispensers provide a low barrier and easy access to life-saving medical kits, hygiene kits, safer sex kits, Naloxone, and other harm reduction supplies and testing 24/7. To access the machine, clients can receive a unique code to enter and dispense the medical supplies they need quickly and efficiently. Our iQ Technology, real-time tracking software, provides transaction and inventory reports to make your reporting easy and efficient. 

Through our Harm Reduction Vending Machine, H.O.P.E, Testing, an organization based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, provides safer sex and harm reduction supplies, HIV self-tests, safe injection kits, Narcanm first aid kits, and pregnancy tests. “Our machines have been really popular and took off in a way that we hadn’t even anticipated,” said Executive Director Taryn Norman. “IDS’s equipment and technology have created a low-barrier entry point for those individuals needing our services. It provides easy access to supplies and prevention education without engaging with a staff member. All they have to do is fill out a small form online.” To learn more about how implementing harm reduction vending machines has enabled increased accessibility and better tracking of harm reduction supplies for H.O.P.E. Testing, watch their testimonial here. 

IDS is a proud silver sponsor at this year’s event. 

“Overdose deaths have reached record rates, and we can’t afford for more lives to be lost. It’s time to turn the numbers around”. Join IDS and the global community at the RX and Illicit Drug Summit to address innovations, strategies, and technologies to help manage and prevent opioid overdoses. We will be at booth #300, displaying our harm reduction dispensing solutions. To learn more about the RX and Illlicit Drug Summit, visit here.

Harm Reduction The Life-saving Role Played by Outdoor Machines

Posted on by John Van Horn

Harm Reduction: The Life-saving Role of Outdoor Vending Machines

The United States faces a challenging situation due to the opioid epidemic. Statistics suggest that close to 108,000 people succumbed to this epidemic last year alone. To counter the destructive effects of these drugs and avoid further loss of lives, cities and aid organizations have proposed an innovative harm reduction solution – utilizing vending machines to dispense Narcan, the leading opioid reversal medication. This article contains an in-depth analysis of these vending machines and their ability to save lives.

Harm Reduction Programs & Vending Machines – An Overview 

Harm reduction programs are created to reduce deaths related to addictions, overdoses, and other medical complications. One way to achieve this is a Harm Reduction Supply Dispenser, an initiative gaining popularity across the United States and Canada for its life-saving capabilities. This automated dispensing solution has proven effective in reducing the risks associated with overt drug usage. Medical kits, safe injection kits, harm reduction supplies, first aid kits, and life-saving medications are just a few examples of the many items that can be dispensed. 

There is a Need 

The opioid crisis progressively worsens every year. Factors contributing to this include the overuse of opioid prescriptions, the illegal production and sale of opioids, and the accessibility of potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The presence of fentanyl in cocaine and fake pills is responsible for the deaths of those unaware of its existence or potency. This has caused an epidemic of overdoses throughout our society, claiming the lives of far too many.

Fulfilling That Need 

An approach by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to supply vending machines with nasal sprays that can reverse an overdose. Narcan, an opioid antagonist, is a medication that can bind the opioid receptors in the brain and nullify the effects of opioids. This medication comes as a nasal spray and is simple to administer. These vending machines, found in public places, can save lives. The availability of Narcan also serves to lessen the stigma associated with addiction, making it a more socially accepted issue.

AIDS Care Ocean State is a service agency in Rhode Island that has found success with our harm reduction vending machines. “If people don’t want to come into the office or don’t feel like traveling 20-30 minutes to come to us, they are able to go the vending machines to get the things they need and not have that face-to-face contact,” said Ray Joseph, ACOS Prevention Supervisor. Harm reduction vending machines make distributing these life-saving medications to clients easier and more accessible. Click here to view the AIDS Care Ocean State customer spotlight.

“These organizations, they may be closed at five but with a machine that could be outdoors or placed in a variety of places,” “Now the end users can access the machine regardless if it’s four o’clock during business hours or two o’clock in the morning [to] access the supplies when they need them.” – Ashley Hubler, Chief Marketing Officer of the Wittern Group

Benefits of iQ Technology

USI’s harm reduction supply dispensers are powered by our advanced iQ technology, providing an easy, 24/7 supply management solution.  Control and manage harm reduction inventory supplies virtually. With the passcodes feature, you can give a one-time use code to an assigned individual and include an expiration date and specific product access. It provides real-time accessible product usage data and makes pulling reports easy. 

One of our valued customers, H.O.P.E Testing, has found iQ technology beneficial. “It’s been really easy for us due to the back end software to track the number of clients who are enrolled and the number of supplies. So it makes reporting really easy for us, really helpful to be able to show that impact and those outcomes very quickly”. -Taryn Norman, Executive Director at H.O.P.E Testing 

You can watch H.O.P.E Testing’s full customer spotlight here. 

IDS – A Proud Silver Sponsor

At IDS, we are at the forefront and a pioneer in facilitating the accessibility and availability of harm reduction and health supplies for users 24/7. We are honored to be a silver sponsor for the 2023 Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, held April 10th through the 13th in Atlanta, GA. It is an opportunity for a global community to share innovations, strategies, and technologies to help manage, treat, and prevent opioid overdoses. Visit IDS at booth #300 to check out our innovative harm reduction supply dispensing systems and technology.

Exploring the Possibilities at PROMAT 2023

Posted on by John Van Horn

A Guide to Maximizing Your Benefits

PROMAT 2023 is an exciting opportunity for anyone looking to gain insights, make connections, and explore the possibilities of a constantly evolving industry.  From interactive workshops to thought-provoking keynotes, attendees can learn from the industry’s brightest minds and gain invaluable insights. PROMAT 2023 is from March 20th through the 23rd at the iconic 2.6 million square feet McCormick Place, North America’s largest and most flexible-use convention center. 

If you want to make the most of your time at PROMAT 2023, this guide is for you!

Benefits of Attending PROMAT 2023

With hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services, attendees will have the chance to get an up-close look at the latest distribution industry trends. PROMAT 2023 features 150 educational seminars, special exhibits, intriguing hands-on demonstrations, and four keynote speeches, with 1,000 leading manufacturers and supply chain providers over three days under a single roof. 

With networking events and thought-provoking discussions, attendees will be able to make meaningful connections that can help achieve the many meaningful goals they’ve set. PROMAT 2023 will also feature many special events, such as cocktail receptions and industry-led panels, providing attendees a unique opportunity to interact with industry leaders.

Keynotes and Workshops to Maximize Your Benefits

PROMAT 2023 will feature various keynote speakers and interactive workshops that attendees can attend to maximize their benefits from the show. The keynote speakers will provide attendees with insight into the latest trends, technologies, and strategies to help them stay ahead of the competition. 

Visit IDS At PROMAT 2023

IDS is excited to be an exhibitor at PROMAT 2023. We are eager to display the latest innovations in distribution, supply chain management, manufacturing, and technological advancements in vending and dispensing solutions. Here is a preview: 

SD5000 for Inventory Control 

Drive productivity and gain insight into how supplies and products are being used throughout your manufacturing and warehouses with IDS’ vending solutions and technologies. It’s time to experience a device that can take over complete control of your inventory with our most popular smart supply vending machine, the SD5000. SD5000 is a versatile solution for wide-ranging products allowing item-specific visibility and control. Access real-time supply usage and inventory anytime, anywhere with its iQ technology feature.

Adjustable Locker for Asset Management & Dispensing 

IDS’ Adjustable Lockers are versatile and perfect for managing and securing your larger assets. They can also be used for single-dispense, multi-dispense, will-call, check-in/check-out, and storage of high-value or user-specific items containing sensitive information. Eliminate inefficient operations with adjustable lockers.  IDS’ adjustable lockers allow employees to have complete access to supplies without sacrificing security or productivity. 

Virtual Tracker for Inventory & Asset Management of Backroom Items

Powered by iQ Technology, IDS’s Virtual Tracker alerts supervisors whenever supplies are running low or in danger of expiring. Virtual Tracker tracks who is consuming what supplies in real-time and what for. This information eliminates the overconsumption of products and not having enough products when you need them. Virtual Tracker, provides an efficient and quick process for checking supplies in and out, speedy auditing, real-time reporting of stock levels, and integrated alert systems.   With the right balance of convenience and control, you can provide better quality services at a reduced operating cost. 

Make Your Registrations Today 

Let March be the month that keeps you up on the path of innovation. Visit IDS at booth #N8517 to learn about inventory control, asset management solutions, and more game-changing vending trends that provide the uplift that your business needs.

How Harm Reduction Vending Machines Are Savings Lives

Posted on by John Van Horn

 

Harm reduction vending machines

 

A Harm reduction vending Machine Closer Look

In recent years, there has been a shift in the way addiction is viewed and treated. Instead of relying solely on abstinence-based models, many organizations are developing harm-reduction strategies to help those struggling with addiction and other health-related issues. Among the most promising public health technologies gaining traction is the use of harm-reduction vending machines, which aim to provide access to life-saving resources to those in need. In this article, we will take a closer look at how these innovative machines are changing the lives of countless individuals worldwide and how they can help create a healthier, safer environment for all.

Overview Of The Harm Reduction Model

The harm reduction model is an approach to health and social issues that seeks to reduce the negative consequences of certain behaviors. Primarily used with drug use and other areas of health, such as the spread of infectious diseases, and in situations where individuals are unable, unwilling, or unlikely to stop or reduce their harmful behavior without assistance. It seeks to reduce the harm these behaviors may cause to the individual, others, and the community through various preventative, supportive, and other interventionist strategies. 

These strategies may include introducing safer alternatives or reducing the behavior’s negative consequences. Harm reduction models can be used for anything from providing clean needles for individuals who are intravenous drug users to providing education on preventing the spread of infectious diseases to reversing the deadly effects that drug consumption could induce.

What Are Harm Reduction Vending Machines?

Harm reduction vending machines are a relatively new yet effective public health technology to provide access to life-saving resources, like overdose response kits and naloxone, to those who need it most. These machines dispense medication like naloxone and other essentials that may help reduce the risk of injury or infection. Unlike other vending machines that offer goods and services for a cost, these vending machines are free, intending to reach the most vulnerable populations that may not be able to access these resources otherwise.

These machines are usually placed in high-risk areas like homeless shelters, drug use/shooting sites, and other locations where individuals are most likely to consume drugs or be at risk of contracting an infectious disease. They are also placed in areas where individuals fear accessing government or community-based support due to stigma.

“There’s times that these users — there may be, like, a stigma associated with getting these types of supplies, so they don’t want to interact with someone face to face. And so that’s another way that our machines kind of alleviate that concern or that hesitancy,” – Ashley Hubler, chief marketing officer for the Wittern Group

These machines are getting increasingly popular in America. The story behind it is quite comprehensive, but it generally allows anyone to access these resources, regardless of whether they have a prescription, health insurance, or any other requirement. It is an anywhere, anytime facility that can be accessed whenever needed. Since they are on wheels, they can be moved, dropped off, and set up in different locations, allowing them to serve a larger population. 

The Impact Of These Machines On Communities

Their overall impact can take time to measure. While it’s challenging to collect data on the effects of harm-reductionvending machines, there is one area we can look at to get a sense of their impact: overdoses.

Data from Vancouver and surrounding areas show that Naloxone dispensed by vending machines and given out by emergency responders and health care providers saves lives. In Vancouver alone, emergency responders have administered Naloxone over 5,000 times since the beginning of 2016.

“They’re putting them in fire stations, jails, churches, places that are public,” said Julie Burgess, head of a division Wittern created to handle higher demand from groups distributing Narcan.

The Potential

Harm reduction vending machines testify to the role vending machines can play in expanding access to critical health resources and information. In time, we will likely see even more vending machines popping up across the globe, dispensing a range of essential resources to those who need them. This will even include medications like insulin for those with diabetes or other life-saving resources like water in areas where clean water is scarce. To learn more about harm reduction vending machines, click here.

iVendTech – A Smart Way to Manage and Track Your Office Supplies

Posted on by John Van Horn

Banner showcasing an IT equipment vending machine alongside smart lockers, promoting a solution to manage and track office supplies

When productivity and uptime are at stake, the penalties can be expensive, especially when there is no instant access to IT supplies. By providing your employees with 24/7 self-service access to an office vending machine or computer equipment locker, IDS’s office IT vending machine will enable you to reduce wasted time in the IT department and supply room. It does this by resolving your employee’s supply needs with a convenient and exciting solution to this problem.

Our office tech vending machines and supply lockers provide instant, self-service access to IT and office supplies. With our asset and inventory management vending solutions you can provide employees with instant, self-service access to IT and office supplies and a place to securely store devices for repair, replacement, and procurement with a hi-tech device that streamlines your office supply portfolio. This article introduces you to iVendTech, a smart way to manage and track your office supplies. 

What makes iVendTech unique?

The availability of IT assets and supplies is one of IT support’s most significant burdens. Failing to address issues immediately affects the entire company. A lack of IT and office supplies can be frustrating for employees. The pressure of looming deadlines and the inability to check their support requests’ progress can worsen the problem.

iVendTech allows the support team to easily collect requests for new assets, ensure controlled distribution, a document distributed assets, and collect for repair or replacement. With iVendTech’s IT asset management system, all stakeholders can track progress across the entire support lifecycle via web and mobile interfaces.

iVendTech combines supply dispensers, lockers, inventory management software, customizable visibility, and mobile and web alerts into one comprehensive platform. Such an IT asset and supply management solution makes IT hardware disbursement, maintenance, and support intelligent and transparent. 

How Will You Benefit? 

Here’s a glossary of how you would benefit from this platform: 

SECURE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL – iVendTech’s high-tech vending machines help save money by cutting down on unaccounted supplies. 

Comprehensive Real-time Reporting – In addition to real-time reporting, our reporting features include sales data, re-stock lists, visibility of users, and alerts when inventory runs low.

Increased Productivity – As employees spend less time searching for replaceable office supplies in IT departments and on telephone calls. 

How to Use iVendTech?

Many organizations have adopted the solution of dispensing IT peripherals as needed without supervision. Providing tools and options allowing workers to perform their duties without being bogged down with admin protocols makes them better equipped to increase productivity and effectiveness. Companies can significantly reduce expenditure by providing users with accountability for such resources and products, notably those in IT departments. This is achieved by inspiring staff to be mindful of utilizing supplies and directing their attention towards achieving company objectives rather than personal undertakings.

IDS leverages local employee ID technology to control access to dispensing machines. Administrators can set restrictions based on the user and/or department while also allowing them to track usage trends or misuse. iQ Technology’s IDS software platform can export or integrate transaction data daily, weekly, or monthly into other systems. Custom real-time integration solutions are available for instantaneous data transfer.

Areas of Applicability 

iVendTech can be used across the following areas:

  • New user/repair 
  • Consumables 
  • Travelers 
  • Broken items 
  • 24×7 remote pickup 

Need of the Hour

The inventory management requirements of today pose unprecedented challenges to organizations, which implies that methods of the past may be less effective in today’s complex, error-prone demands and work structure. This is where iVendTech can provide a solution by streamlining your inventory, making it more efficient and profitable. For more information, contact us today!

Inventory Management vs. Warehouse Management

Posted on by John Van Horn

Inventory Management vs. Warehouse Management - Idsveding.com

The terms ‘inventory management’ and ‘warehouse management’ are mistakenly used interchangeably since they both deal with products and operations within organizations in the distribution and manufacturing industry. Despite their similarities, many factors differentiate them. 

 Business owners and warehouse managers should understand the differences between the two terms because the management system utilized to track inventory depends on several factors that can impact your company’s efficiency and profitability. In this article, you will learn the similarities and differences between warehouse and inventory management. This article also compares warehouse and inventory management and explains how they function together. 

What is Warehouse Management? 

Warehouse management is the process of controlling and maintaining the operations in a warehouse. The process includes receiving the inventory from the seller, moving the goods inside the warehouse, and allocating storage space for the products in the warehouse. It involves all the activities that take place inside a warehouse.  

Warehouse management includes the following: 

  • Managing equipment and inventory effectively
  • Educating and training employees at the warehouse
  • Demand forecasting
  • Scaling warehouse operations from a business growth perspective
  • Maintaining relationships with courier companies to deliver items to customers on time
  • Obtaining licenses and certifications from concerned authorities
  • Keeping track of everyday outbound and inbound shipments and other activities

Businesses opt for a WMS or Warehouse Management System in their warehouse to make their warehouse operations easier. A WMS helps maintain the inventory levels and avoids stock out situations to allow you to get the best ROI (Return on Investment). It also enables you to forecast demand accurately by giving you information on which products are selling the most and which are not moving from the shelves.

What is Inventory Management? 

An inventory management system is how a company keeps track of its stocked inventory. It helps channel the inventory accordingly and deliver to the customers without delay. The process also monitors the dimensions, weight, and amounts of the inventory in stock.  

Having a good inventory management system helps eCommerce businesses prevent time lags in processing orders to the final delivery, as it will accurately track the goods in the storage. In today’s competitive world, you must always have your inventory levels data on hand because only then will you be able to provide your customers with a spectacular shopping experience. The process effectively performs your business’s inventory checks without losing potential sales. 

What Do Warehouse Management and Inventory Management Have in Common? 

Inventory management and warehouse management are similar activities, as both aids in moving inventory from the supplier to the consumer efficiently. Each involves shipping, storing, and reordering stock. They have the following features in common: 

Offer visibility into all stock for one warehouse or the whole company. 

Use barcode tools, software, and radio frequency identification (RFID) to enhance accuracy and efficiency. 

IDS is here to assist you in optimizing your supply chain with manufacturing inventory control, productivity and tracking.

Differences between Warehouse Management and Inventory Management 

Inventory Management System Warehouse Management System
Tracks inventory across all locations Tracks locations and stock movement within a warehouse
Focuses on maintaining inventory levels to fulfill orders Focuses on packing, picking, and shipping stock
Provides information about all inventory Generates reports on the status of stocks

 

Other Differences

Complexity 

Inventory Management system is a simpler process than a warehouse management system. Inventory management provides you with a record of the total inventory in a particular storage location. Warehouse management is the process that businesses perform to manage storage systems inside a warehouse. For example, if a warehouse has multiple storage bins for the same product, warehouse management helps you manage your items. In contrast, inventory management can only inform you about how many items you have. 

Integration 

Typically, inventory management is the first activity in a holistic warehouse management strategy. Warehouse management strategy includes several processes, including, but not limited to, order fulfillment, such as sales, distribution, product supply, and so on. In other words, warehouse management is more essential to everyday operations in the order fulfillment process when compared to inventory management. 

 Control  

Inventory management will only provide information about the quantity of a specific item in your stocked goods. Managing that inventory in a warehouse is done with warehouse management, which enables you to dedicate particular locations for the inventory. Warehouse management gives an organization more control over its operations since it gives them more information than inventory management to complete other tasks in the order fulfillment process. 

 Solutions 

WMS allows businesses to analyze and change storage and inventory when needed, while inventory management does not provide this option. Communication devices used in Warehouse Management make it possible to make these changes and gain a better understanding of the inventory and product locations, which results in a more streamlined and efficient operation.

 Final Say 

Now that you have noted the differences between inventory management and warehouse management, take the next step in deciding which process is best for your business. While both methods increase efficiency and reduce manual efforts, they do so in their own unique ways. Let us know your requirements, and we will guide you in making the best choice for your business.

VendSafety – 24×7 Access to Critical Supplies

Posted on by John Van Horn

VendSafety - 24x7 Access to Critical Supplies - IDSvending

Improve Productivity with our VendSafety Application

In today’s fast and changing work environment, optimal productivity is essential. Organizations that want optimal productivity must have easy access to all supplies. With VendSafety, employees will have 24/7 vending supply access without compromising productivity or security. It eliminates inefficiency in operations by placing your supplies in a supply locker or supply dispenser. 

Using this tool dispensing system, you do not have to spend valuable time counting your supplies or searching for your supply closet’s key. Instead, you can use the supply lockers and dispensers with an integrated tracking system for vending machines to ensure your employees always have the necessary products.

IQ TECHNOLOGY FOR MANUFACTURING

Manufacturing facilities face the challenge of providing easy and safe access to personal protection equipment (PPE) and tools for lowering costs and enabling employees to work efficiently. IDS’ iQ Technology, a cloud-based system and intuitive software platform, increases employee productivity and helps managers reduce expenses. IDS’ iQ Technology helps reduce costs by eliminating shrinkage and hoarding and assists managers in making data-driven executive-level decisions through real-time analytics.

IQ TECHNOLOGY – TOOL AND PPE TRACKING SYSTEMS

Any manufacturing environment with assets and employees would benefit significantly from VendSafety and iQ Technology. It could include warehouses, manufacturing facilities, factories, and the list goes on. Manufacturers must comply with various rules, regulations, and best practices to ensure employee productivity and safety. To achieve this task, they work with multiple departments. IDS’ tool and PPE tracking systems assist stakeholders with the following:

  • Insight into whether the desired organizational goals are being fulfilled or missed
  • Real-time and future information about resources and their utilization
  • The platform to gain an understanding of how to optimize resources or course-correct

For example, several consumables are needed on the floor, from safety goggles and simple gloves to sophisticated machinery or tools. These require real-time tracking and controlled supply access for effective utilization, safety, and security.

Benefits of VendSafety and iQ Technology

VendSafety and iQ Technology benefits:

  • Productivity of manufacturing operations
  • Easier compliance for HR
  • Management understanding the value of their investment
  • Supply chain and admin teams get more usable mileage from their budgets
  • Manufacturing floors in gaining visibility into resource availability

VendSafety Hardware- Hardware that effectively prevents the loss of assets

With its versatile hardware, VendSafety allows manufacturers to take complete control of their inventory supply room and securely track, store, and dispense various Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) products. VendSafety hardware helps manufacturers manage inventory, accountability, and access control over the PPE and MRO supply lifecycle. VendSafety hardware includes supply lockers, supply dispensers, and virtual trackers.

Supply Lockers

PPE tools and supplies can be retrieved or returned using VendSafety supply lockers. You can attach our safety locker to a standalone supply locker or supply dispenser for additional capacity. All locker bays can be individually programmed, adding electricity to charge devices, including drills and tablets. 

Depending on your requirements, our supply lockers are easily adjustable from three to eighteen compartments. They are perfect for larger equipment, such as boots and hard hats. IDS’ access-controlled supply lockers allow you to store essential consumable products, reusable assets, and other inventory in a safe and secure location, ensuring your team has access to the resources it needs 24/7. Our smart supply lockers provide transparency and total control of your inventory.

Supply Dispensers

VendSafety supply dispensers enable manufacturing facilities to dispense MRO and PPE supplies, safety products, and tools to authorized staff. They provide a single point of access for your team and keep your inventory organized, safe, and secure.

With VendSafety supply dispensers, you can increase productivity and reduce employee downtime by expanding your single point of storage to your point of use. Supply vending machines are essential for facility supply management, retail, healthcare, IT, and more. 

IDS’ automated retail machines offer secure machine-based management of consumable and returnable tools, supplies, and other assets. Our automated supply dispensers ensure your team has what they need, when and where they need it, 24/7.

Virtual Tracker

Using the virtual tracker, you can track your assets on almost any device, including Android, iOS, or IDS mobile computer devices. Use the virtual tracker to maintain stock counts accurately, avoid time-consuming manual entry of products and location bins, select orders, reduce errors, and receive inventory.

Our virtual tracker hardware is versatile in any environment. Virtual tracker scanners are your solution for all your inventory tracking needs. Having a single system across your organization makes it easy to maintain all information.

Virtual tracker has vast capabilities such as:

  • Setting up role-based restrictions
  • Managing a large number of employees and users
  • Unlimited asset management
  • Vehicle checklists and management
  • Product expiration actions and alerts
  • Complete backroom management
  • Transaction logs and alerts

Our virtual tracker packages include 100% compatible hardware, including scanners, iQ Technology, and its cloud-based software, training, support, and implementation services. At Intelligent Dispensing Solutions, we take the time to understand your inventory requirements and create a customized solution that suits your needs. Contact us today!