Now Reading: Perth Panthers Blog 6: Managing Inventory and Purchasing with Dynamics 365 Field Service
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Perth Panthers Blog 6: Managing Inventory and Purchasing with Dynamics 365 Field Service
Perth Panthers Blog 6: Managing Inventory and Purchasing with Dynamics 365 Field Service
Perth Panthers Blog 6: Managing Inventory and Purchasing with Dynamics 365 Field Service
What is Inventory and Purchasing Management in Dynamics 365 Field Service?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service provides an integrated system for managing inventory and purchasing, ensuring that businesses can track stock levels, manage product consumption, and reorder parts when necessary. For organisations that rely on physical assets—like arenas, sports teams, or large venues—inventory management is crucial for keeping operations running smoothly. By tracking available stock, setting reorder levels, and automating purchasing processes, Dynamics 365 ensures that technicians always have the right parts and materials on hand to complete their jobs.
For the Perth Panthers, keeping track of the physical assets at their ice hockey arena, the Enclosure, is critical to their daily operations. Whether it’s plexi screens around the ice, goal nets, moorings, or venue seating, having an efficient system for managing these assets ensures that repairs can be completed quickly without delays.
The Problem: Managing Stock Levels for Arena Equipment
The Perth Panthers face several challenges when it comes to managing inventory at the Enclosure:
- Tracking Asset Usage: The arena has a range of physical assets that can get damaged during games or events, such as the plexi screens around the ice, the goal nets, and moorings. Without an efficient system in place, tracking the usage of these assets becomes a manual and error-prone process.
- Stock Shortages: If key items—like replacement plexi screens or seating—run out of stock, repairs are delayed, potentially affecting the schedule of games or events. Manual inventory tracking often leads to stock shortages going unnoticed until it’s too late.
- Lack of Automated Reordering: The operations team has previously had to manually reorder parts when stock ran low, resulting in delays and miscommunication. Having an automated system that triggers purchase orders when stock levels fall below a certain threshold is critical to keeping everything in order.
- Inaccurate Stock Levels: Without real-time updates, the operations team often struggles to know the exact stock levels of critical parts. This can lead to over-ordering or under-ordering essential materials.
How Dynamics 365 Field Service Optimises Inventory and Purchasing:
With Dynamics 365 Field Service, the Perth Panthers can now efficiently track their arena’s assets, manage stock levels, and automate purchasing processes. The platform allows the operations team to monitor inventory in real-time, ensuring that they never run out of critical items needed for repairs and maintenance.
Here’s how the system solves the Panthers’ key challenges:
- Real-Time Inventory Tracking: Dynamics 365 tracks inventory levels in real-time. As technicians use items such as plexi screens, moorings, or seating parts, the system automatically updates stock levels. This allows the operations team to always have an accurate picture of what’s available and what needs to be reordered.
- Automated Reorder Points: For critical items like plexi screens or goal nets, the Panthers can set minimum stock levels in the system. When the inventory falls below this threshold, Dynamics 365 automatically generates a purchase order to replenish stock, ensuring that the team never runs out of essential parts during the season.
- Tracking Consumption by Job: When a technician uses parts for a repair, such as replacing a broken plexi screen or installing a new mooring, the system records the consumption against the specific job. This helps the team understand which assets are being used most frequently and forecast future needs.
- Centralised Purchase Management: Dynamics 365 simplifies the purchasing process by centralising all purchase orders in one place. The operations team can quickly review current stock levels, see which items are on order, and track delivery dates to ensure that all needed parts arrive on time.
Real-World Example: Damaged Plexi Screens During a Game:
Conclusion
With Dynamics 365 Field Service, the Perth Panthers have transformed how they manage inventory and purchasing for critical arena equipment. From tracking the consumption of plexi screens, nets, and seating parts, to automating purchase orders when stock levels run low, the system ensures that the Panthers’ operations team is always prepared for repairs and maintenance. By automating inventory management and purchasing, the Panthers can focus on keeping their arena running smoothly and safely, ensuring that every game and event goes off without a hitch.
In the next blog, we’ll explore how the Perth Panthers can implement IoT (Internet of Things) technology to proactively monitor their equipment and perform predictive maintenance, avoiding breakdowns before they happen.
Check Rachel McManus’s original post https://proximo3.com/perth-panthers-blog-6-field-service-inventory-management/ on proximo3.com which was published 2024-12-04 10:14:00
