From Feedback to Feature: The Addition of Inventory Management in Titan

Over the years, Titan has evolved by listening closely to the needs and feedback of our customers. As a company that values continuous improvement, we've made it our mission to ensure that our solutions address the real-world challenges faced by our users. Recently, our customer success team, during conversations with many of our existing customers, noticed a growing demand for a robust inventory management feature.

Initially, we assumed that there were plenty of corporate inventory management solutions available in the market and that organizations using Titan would already have these systems in place. However, through these valuable customer interactions, we quickly realized that our assumptions were not entirely accurate. Just as many testing teams lack a comprehensive test lifecycle management system, their test lab inventory management often gets overlooked as well.

Recognizing this unmet need, we set out to develop an integrated inventory management system within Titan. Our goal was to offer a solution that not only addresses the specific challenges of managing test lab inventory but also complements the existing suite of tools that our customers rely on for test and lab management.

Customer Research: Understanding the Real Needs

In our commitment to building solutions that truly meet the needs of our users, we undertook a comprehensive customer research initiative. Our customer success team engaged directly with various customers to understand the challenges they were facing in their day-to-day operations. Here are some key insights we gathered:

• Customer segment 1: Despite the availability of advanced tools, these customers were still relying on spreadsheets to manage their test lab inventory. They expressed frustration with the manual effort required to track items and the frequent errors that arose from this outdated approach. The lack of real-time updates and poor visibility into inventory levels often led to delays in testing processes.
  
• Customer segment 2: These customers highlighted a significant disconnect within their organization. While the enterprise had an inventory management system in place, the test lab team had no access to it. This lack of integration meant that they couldn't easily track or reserve consumables and materials needed for testing. The result was a chaotic, inefficient process where critical items were either overstocked or, worse, unavailable when needed.
  
• Customer segment 3: In this case, testing groups within the organization had opted for an off-the-shelf inventory management tool. However, these customers quickly found that it didn't synergize well with their test and lab management solution. This mismatch led to unnecessary software expenditures and complicated workflows, as the lack of integration required constant manual intervention to align inventory with testing schedules. These customers showed high interest in the possibility of having inventory management functionality in Titan.
  
  These conversations made it clear that an inventory management module inside Titan Test Lifecycle Management solution was not just a "nice-to-have," but a crucial component for optimizing test lab operations. By listening to our customers, we understood that they favoured inventory management in Titan for better operational synergy and efficiency. This understanding was the driving force behind our decision to introduce inventory management as a core feature within Titan.

Key features in Titan’s inventory management:

• Part and stock management: Efficiently manage all parts and stock levels within your test lab, ensuring you have the right materials at the right time.
• Direct stock assignment: Easily assign stock directly to test requests and work orders, streamlining the process and reducing the risk of errors.
• Stock movement tracking: Keep track of all stock movements with detailed logs, ensuring complete visibility and control over your inventory.
• Low stock reminders: Receive automated reminders when stock levels are running low, so you can reorder in time and avoid interruptions in your testing schedule.
• QR code capability: Use QR codes for quick and easy identification and tracking of inventory items, enhancing efficiency and accuracy.
• Supplier and manufacturer information: Store and manage detailed information on suppliers and manufacturers, making it easier to reorder and maintain quality standards.
• Mobile App convenience: Access and manage your inventory on the go with Titan’s mobile app, offering flexibility and convenience wherever you are.

Benefits of having Inventory Management in Titan

Including inventory management within Titan offers significant advantages for our customers:

• Advance consumable reservation: Alongside resource allocation, you can now reserve consumables well in advance within Titan. This ensures that on the day of the test, you won’t face any stock shortages, allowing for smooth, uninterrupted operations.
• Comprehensive test lab operations: Test labs are not just about conducting tests. Tasks related to test preparation, re-tests, maintenance, and handling breakdowns often require work orders that involve assigning and tracking consumables. With inventory management in Titan, these processes are seamlessly integrated, ensuring that all necessary materials are readily available.
• Enhanced team collaboration: Titan enables seamless synchronization between your test lab inventory team and the test lab operations team, fostering better collaboration. The assimilation of inventory in Titan leads to a more efficient and coordinated approach to managing test lab operations.
• Shared inventory across teams: Titan allows for efficient sharing of inventory between different testing teams. With separate portals assigned to various testing teams in Titan, this approach optimizes resource usage and reduces redundancy, benefiting your entire organization.

Conclusion

Titan’s integrated approach to inventory management is designed to address the unique challenges faced by test labs. By bringing together resource allocation, test planning, and inventory control within a single platform, Titan not only simplifies operations but also reduces costs associated with maintaining separate systems. The result is a more efficient, streamlined workflow that enhances the overall productivity of your test lab.

If you’re looking to optimize your test lab operations and experience the benefits of a unified management system, now is the perfect time to explore what Titan can do for you. Book your demo today and see firsthand how Titan can meet your specific needs.

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