Asset Software in Use at ARGE – the Large Construction Site “Train Station Bern”

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

• Asset Software From Timly Supports All Assets
• Asset Software Comparison: Which Functions Should Be Included
• IT Inventory: Hardware Inventory and Capturing Information On Site
• Inventory of Tools and Equipment: Down to the Last Detail
• Use Asset Software With Barcode Scanner
• Professional Asset Software Contributes to the Success of Large Projects

The Bernese newspaper calls it the construction site of the century. It refers to the construction project at Bern’s main railway station, in which an additional underground level with four tracks and a subway for the existing tracks will be created during ongoing operations.

Looking at the facts, one quickly comes to the conclusion that the responsible editor of the newspaper is not exaggerating: Planned costs of 600 million Swiss francs, 12 years construction time, creation of a double-track tunnel with a length of about 1 kilometre and the execution by a consortium (ARGE), with the participation of the major companies Kibag, Wirz, Walo and Kästli, are only some of the key points of the mammoth project.

A look at experiences with comparable projects shows that it is not a matter of course that the construction progress is within the time schedule and the pre-planned costs. This requires perfect organisation, in which many small cogwheels must mesh. One of these proverbial cogs concerns the cooperation of hundreds of construction workers and the management of their materials.

The constant availability and functionality of machines and tools are an essential basic requirement. The executing consortium uses software from Timly for the inventory. In the following, we would like to show how the asset software can be used to optimise processes and save costs on a large construction site.

Asset Software From Timly Supports All Assets

The asset software from Timly is cloud-based. Compared to an on-premise solution, the ARGE does not have the administration effort for its own servers. The administration and processing of the data takes place on appropriately secured Timly servers, which comply with the strict data protection regulations of the EU. Access is possible for authorised persons from almost any end device.

Countless workers from various companies are at work every day at the large construction site in Bern. Flexible user management in the asset software allows for fine-grained allocation of necessary rights and the creation of different roles, such as that of the dispatcher or a simple user of tools.

Tools and machines can then be assigned to a user or specific construction sections by means of a simple QR code scan. It is also possible to record the location via GPS signal.

In this way, it is easy to keep track of tools and consumables, even on a large construction site such as the Bern railway station, with cooperating construction companies and subcontractors.

A barcode scanner is integrated in the Timly app. This makes it possible to transfer tools flexibly between employees. Personal responsibility for handed-over machines that can be tracked in this way often leads to more careful handling.

It is also possible to rent out machines in an uncomplicated way. There is both proof of takeover and handover, as well as minute-by-minute recording of the duration of use and performance data. On this basis, the participating companies of the consortium write each other invoices for loaned material – virtually error-free. This ensures more flexibility and the reduction of unnecessary redundancies.

By creating a tool and machine pool, all companies involved in the construction site ultimately save time and money. The loss of work equipment can be minimised with an asset management tool. It is also easy for workers to report damage or malfunctions, simply by using their smartphone and precisely at the location of the equipment. With Timly you can manage and track asset data, physical assets, fixed assets simply via mobile app – in real time.

In practice, this is often not done out of malicious intent, but because the associated administrative effort is shied away from. Especially on large construction sites, there is often time pressure and broken machines and equipment are often put aside for later repair, but then forgotten. With a simple QR code scan and the “Report defect” function, this problem is a thing of the past.

Asset Software Comparison: Which Functions Should Be Included?

ARGE chose software from Timly as their asset management software. One reason was the required range of functions (e.g. tracking assets via mobile devices) offered by the software compared to other solutions. To decide whether an inventory should be carried out software-based, the most important comparative features must be taken into account:

IT Inventory: Hardware Inventory and Capturing Information On Site

Construction sites of the size of the Bern railway station project now function digitally. On such large construction sites, it is a challenge to keep track of the inventory in use, such as tools, equipment and machines, as well as the vehicle fleet, hardware and installed software. In addition to the hardware and software inventory, there are also various accessories, such as scanners, printers and special devices.

Licensed software can also be used for planning and processing operations in everyday use, where runtimes and licence extensions play a role. Compared to manual recording, there are several advantages to using software for deadline management of all kinds (for inventory). This gives you a central overview of your licences.

Deadline and maintenance planners integrated into the asset software relieve on-site staff and avoid downtimes due to software assets, hardware or machines that are no longer running, as maintenance and services can be better planned and deadlines can be kept in mind.

At the Bern railway station construction site, responsible persons such as foreman Daniel Schmid can find out at any time, at a glance in the Timly dashboard, when which equipment needs to be serviced or which deadlines need to be observed.

Use Asset Software With Barcode Scanner

The tools, equipment and machines to be recorded can be marked with a space-saving QR code as an individual feature. Afterwards, easy access to the data record is possible via barcode scanner. Any commercially available smartphone is suitable for this purpose, as the integrated QR code scanner can be accessed via the web-based app under both iOS and Android.

If a tool is issued by a foreman, it can be assigned to the corresponding employee when it is handed over – even with location recording. This information is stored for all assets and can thus be historically tracked. Employees also have the permanent option of accessing or adding information from the inventory list.

Professional Asset Software Contributes to the Success of Large Projects

Planning and coordination of a large construction site are essential for success. If the work on one trade stalls, this often has an impact on subsequent construction phases. This causes delays and increasing costs for the project. We recommend that you use highly specialised software as a tool for such projects.

Ideally, you should use Timly software for the inventory, which has already proven itself on large construction sites and is optimised for the work processes there. This is how asset management for tool & equipment management is simple.