Trail boosts equipment reporting at Oulu University of Applied Sciences
Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk) creates vitality and well-being in northern Finland. It provides education to over 9,000 students and annually produces more than 1,420 new degrees from six different fields of study.
A wide range of modern equipment is used in teaching and research, with annual investments reaching hundreds of thousands of euros. Effective equipment management ensures that the equipment meets teaching needs and performs optimally throughout its lifespan. Oamk has relied on Trail for its equipment management since 2015.
Status before implementing Trail
Managing Oamk's equipment, spread across several campuses, had become challenging. The existing equipment management software, due to discontinued development, no longer met Oamk's needs. For instance, the old system did not provide the comprehensive reports that Oamk required. Positive feedback from the Sibelius Academy also made Oamk more aware of the benefits of Trail Equipment Management.
Status after implementing Trail
Oamk introduced Trail in 2015. The user-friendly interface and support provided by Trail ensured a quick onboarding process. Now, Oamk stores equipment data in a modern system, significantly improving reporting efficiency. Additionally, Oamk uses the data gathered by Trail to accurately insure all necessary equipment.
Inventory processes have also been streamlined, thanks to Trail’s asset labels and mobile app. Currently, each department spends only about 1-2 hours per year on inventories.
Thanks to Trail's booking feature, it is also easy for students to book equipment for educational use. Students have a better view of what equipment they have at their disposal and are able to book the equipment they need for their projects directly from the Trail interface.
Oamk also utilises Trail for more efficient investment planning. The system provides data on purchase prices, service life, and utilisation rates, ensuring that investment decisions are based on accurate information rather than assumptions.
“I have been very pleased with the use of Trail. From there, we get Excel reports for a variety of uses, inventories have been speeded up, and the booking system keeps asset reservations better tracked. Trail's staff has also been a great support and help!” states Heli Malmström, System Administrator, Oamk
Achieved benefits:
Efficient reporting
Production of more accurate inventory reports
Ease of borrowing and reserving equipment
Improved accuracy in equipment information for insurance
