Capital resources mean profit - but only if they're visible all the time.

Company: UK Department of Education and Employment.
Problem: Corporate laptops were being stolen.
Solution: Software, embedded 418 MHz radio tags and readers.

The Department of Education and Employment (DfEE) was having difficulty tracking the movement of valuable laptop computers. The organisation ran a loan scheme, where employees could borrow a laptop, but the recording was paper-based and prone to error. After a number of laptops had gone missing, the DfEE decided it was time to do something about it.

Department security officer Norman Jinks began to evaluate systems designed to prevent theft and track assets.

Movement monitored
Jinks recommended the Aspects™ intelligent asset tracking system from ISIS (London, UK). ISIS Aspects™ is a real-time solution for managing assets within organisations using "intelligent" software in conjunction with asset tags and readers. Running on Windows 95 and NT servers and using a Microsoft Access database, the system protects and pinpoints assets by automatically monitoring and recording their movement.

The DofEE's customised system cost approximately £75,000 and was completed in more than one phase. In the initial phase, seven tag readers from Newmark were installed at building exits. Asset tags (approximately 200 altogether) were installed in the laptops. Authorisation tags were attached to laptops so that only authorised individuals could remove them from the premises. If an authorisation tag were not assigned, the readers triggered an alarm when laptops were carried out the door.

Justified right away
"The cost of installing the ISIS system was instantly justified," said Jinks. "In addition to immediately reducing DfEE losses, ISIS Aspects™ served as a valuable asset management solution. Once, the department lost track of a laptop computer, but with ISIS Aspects™ it was easily determined that it had been legitimately loaned to someone within the department.

Related Information:

Aspects™ For Business