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NMR Staging and Events cuts computer loss in half
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
- Networks & Connectivity - WiFi
- Sensors - GPS
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases
- Fleet Management
- Theft Detection
- Track & Trace of Assets
Services
- Cybersecurity Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
An inability to track laptops along the way has been problematic, as devices are largely unaccounted for between barcode scans. It was difficult to efficiently recognize when a laptop went missing or was stolen, and as a result, equally difficult to effectively respond. This delayed response time was of increasing concern since around 30 laptops were lost or stolen each year. With each laptop valued between $1,200 and $2,500, it was too expensive a trend to continue. NMR knew it needed to enhance its computer tracking capabilities and implement a more effective theft reduction strategy.
About The Customer
NMR Staging and Events (NMR) is a prominent leader in the audiovisual industry, supplying technology for corporate meetings, special events, and tradeshows. Their extensive inventory of rental assets includes laptops, desktops, large screen displays, projection, interactive media, and the latest LED technology. NMR supports events all across the country ranging in size from the smallest booth to full-scale event productions. To keep track of its extensive inventory of rental laptops, NMR uses an inventory barcode scanning system. These scans are valuable in documenting machines as they depart and arrive at their assigned locations; however, they provide no means to track laptops while in transit. With as many as 1,000 computers rented out to events across the United States, laptops will often be traveling for days at a time.
The Solution
Nicholas Mazzola, NMR’s Head of Inventory Management and Logistics, enlisted Absolute. Geolocation tracking, which leverages GPS and Wi-Fi technologies, can pinpoint laptop location on an internet map. 'I know which location our laptops are assigned to and where they should be headed, so I use geolocation to help verify that they are in the right place at the right time. I no longer need to wait for a laptop to fail to show up at its destination to know there’s an issue. If the map shows that a device is located outside of its expected route, then I know I need to investigate further,' Mazzola explains. Alternately, if he is unable to verify the laptop’s location and suspects theft is the case, Mazzola enlists the support of the Absolute Investigations team. Once a theft report is received, the team uses Absolute technology to identify the stolen laptop’s unauthorized user and track its whereabouts. They then work with local police to recover the computer and apprehend the thief. 'It’s great to finally have recourse to theft,' says Mazzola.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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