Inventory Services Network Builds a Powerful, High-Speed Inventory Data Capture Solution with Alpha Anywhere

Business Challenge

The inventory services industry lacked a modern hardware solution necessary for the high-speed capture of inventory data.

Traditional high speed counting hardware utilized antiquated technology that is more than a decade old. Furthermore, companies lacked the flexibility to customize the software that runs on it, despite the evolution of new mobile and data innovations that could speed inventory management.  Furthermore, these traditional hardware platforms came with a high cost, and competitors were always creating expensive new technology to create competitive advantage’.

Solution

To better serve its members, ISN has developed dynamic inventory software (modas) that allows for significant customization while providing the same high speed keying and scanning capabilities of traditional data collection hardware at a fraction of the cost.  Through this new software and its high-quality member companies, ISN can serve a large, nationally based client throughout the United States using common procedures, processing, and reporting.

Alpha Anywhere provided ISN with the ability to utilize affordable, off-the-shelf mobile device hardware and develop a customized solution for high-speed counting. The solution also gave ISN the flexibility to modify the software features in the future, based on members’ needs and to keep pace with industry and technology innovations.

‘We found the cost of developing the first release of to be 40% of the cost it would have taken to develop a custom handheld device.  Moreover, the time to market was twice as quick as the alternative,” said Steve Palmer of Badger Inventory Service and President of ISN. “We anticipate future functionality that will further enhance the information available to end users through the mobile app, and that will continue to revolutionize inventory counting processes.”

The Alpha Anywhere-based modas system provides the ability to collect inventory data in real time, both online and offline, and allows ISN to integrate seamlessly with corporate systems or databases of record. It also gives members using modas the flexibility to leverage their mobile device(s) of choice with the software, allowing users to realize dramatic savings on hardware and opening up BYOD possibilities.

"‘With Alpha Anywhere, we knew we were getting a cutting-edge technology and development community," said Mark Stenberg, President of Monarch Inventory Services and ISN member. 

"What we didn't expect was the tremendous support we received from Alpha Software Corporation to help make the idea become reality,” said Adam Panter, Advanced Inventory Solutions and member of ISN.  “We knew the ability to develop a high-speed counting solution would come with many challenges. The collaborative nature of the Alpha Development Community and Alpha Software Corporation has helped us to solve all of these technical challenges during the development phase."

Results/Benefits

ISN is leveraging the power of modas to better serve the industry and grow its membership base. The ability to customize the modas application to meet the unique needs of our prospective member companies, which will lead to competitive differentiation and increased revenue for ISN.

Modas users, including Monarch Inventory Services and Badger Inventory Service have realized significant time and cost savings with the software. “We anticipate a more efficient work process which will result in reduced labor cost, thanks to Real-Time Data Transmission.  More efficient processes are allowing us to utilize smaller teams to manage inventory, which improves customer satisfaction,” said Stenberg.  “By having the ability to utilize a range of up-to-date hardware options, we can now use Bluetooth ring scanners and wireless capabilities built into the hardware, which increases our team’s productivity during inventory counting.”

"In the end, Alpha Anywhere delivered on its promises and exceeded all expectations," said Stenberg. "In the initial roll-out of modas, ISN has attracted three new members to the organization who are interested in utilizing this new technology, and we know that this is just the start of widespread use and existing results of this app.”