Inventory management is a much greater topic than simply inventory listing or inventory tracking — any spreadsheet software can list and track items.
Product details, compliance standards and supply movement add a dynamic element into the equation that a static spreadsheet simply cannot support — let alone report out on. Inventory management boils down to more than supply tracking, it equates to supply chain management and involves the dynamic ability of items to be moved, consumed, refilled and compliance checked. Inventory management, like your fire department or EMS agency, is a living, breathing operation that can’t just wait until the first business day of the week or month to garner your attention.
Logistics keeps operations moving, and accountability is what keeps logistics on track. Inventory management is more than just the “what” of the equation, it’s also the “who,” “where,” “why,” “when” and even “how” of the equation. It’s durable versus disposable, controlled substance versus prescription, asset versus non-capital and static versus dynamic accountability.
The big question your department needs to ask itself is: “are we statically tracking, or dynamically managing?”