The Advantages of an Inventory Database

On this page you will find information on the following topics:

• How Does Inventory Software Manage the Entered Data?
• Is There an Inventory Database That Is Open Source?
• Software Specialised in Inventory Quickly Pays Off

How Does Inventory Software Manage the Entered Data?

Maintenance deadlines, equipment locations, operating instructions, statistics and other inventory data are always requested. Often, certain employees have the authorisation to access a collection of such data and inform their colleagues. But where is the best place for a company’s object data? – In an inventory software that can be accessed decentrally. The heart of such software is the inventory database.

The task of an inventory database is inventory management in a compact and concentrated form. Such a database contains all information on the company inventory that authorised employees have entered into the inventory software. When employees have questions about details of inventory items, they call up the database entries via the graphical interface in the app or browser.

At its core, an inventory database works similarly to other databases: each inventory item has a data sheet on which parameters and file attachments are stored. The inventory software transmits user queries in database language and in turn outputs the database’s response in human-readable form.

Unlike a library, medical or commodity database, an inventory database records parameters such as licence expiry dates, states of fixtures and fittings, reservations for loans, historical usage times or test dates for electronics.

If you manage office furniture, IT assets, machines and other company inventory in an inventory software, you reduce the effort for the annual inventory, but also support a smooth workflow on every other working day.

Digitising inventory in a sustainable way is a prerequisite for more efficient facility management, a better helpdesk and value-added processes such as internal cost allocation. For such purposes, the inventory database provides information on where and when company objects are located and how they are equipped.

Is There an Inventory Database That Is Open Source?

In order to economise on the company budget, many people look for freeware solutions, also in the field of inventory management. There are certainly free inventory databases that can make sense for very first inventory attempts. Usually, users realise during such freeware experiments which database fields and software functions they actually need.

Open source inventory databases are usually not helpful, especially for sectors that are not IT-related. They are often only available in English. Customisation to individual company needs requires own programming skills. In case of problems, there is no permanent support team, but at best a forum where enthusiasts try to give you tips out of their spare time.

To ensure that your inventory is reliably accessible and fits your needs exactly, you should therefore rather go for a professional product whose purchase price is justified by services and higher quality.

With modern inventory software, all company assets are stored in a central inventory database and are available to you in real time. Thanks to the easy-to-understand user interface, employees from different departments can access the database and use it via the inventory app or in the browser. After all, data is a valuable resource of your company that should be used efficiently.

A customer-focused, proven inventory software like Timly leads to increased efficiency by, among other things, making better use of existing inventory assets. In addition, a good inventory database helps with disposition and timely maintenance. You also benefit from professional audit date management and have the list of inventory items directly at hand for the auditor if required.