Key2 Plant Management covers all aspects of plant, asset, stores management, the hire of both single items and plant packs, rehire, operator hire and management, sale items, ordering, quotations, contracts, equipment maintenance and invoicing and is available with an optional accounts module. The new updates will store information and actively manage, monitor and intelligently report on all aspects of the plant hire operation.

Part of the Key2 portfolio of online solutions from Jaama also comes with complete accounting and customer relationship management functionality and integrates with other business software systems such as those operated by finance departments.

Jaama managing director Jason Francis explained: “Organisations can, for example, view all outstanding quotations and invoice information, they can order online and receive automatic notification of stock shortages.

“Automatically the system will pro-actively allocate the most appropriate asset available and generate all hire documentation from agreement to dispatch note.

“Critically, every plant item can be given a unique number and description, which enables Key2 Plant Management users to identify items of equipment on a per asset or plant tyre basis and divide into groups. Additionally, plant items can be grouped together and hired out as one item. For example, a standard contract may require two diggers, five shovels, 20 high visibility jackets and they can all be grouped into a single ‘Plant Pack’ so use and location can be easily monitored.

“Definable areas include: planned events (maintenance, inspections etc); usage rules (minimum driving age, licence type required etc); capacity details (lift capacity, tank capacity etc); additional technical info (add to Operator Licence, Road Fund Licence category etc).

“Where, business divisions are charged for the internal hire of plant equipment, different ‘off hire’ dates and times can be assigned to individual items within the ‘Plant Pack’ resulting in automatic billing reconciliation.”

Mr Francis concluded: “Ultimately the Key2 Plant Equipment online system significantly reduces administration and paper work, provides a complete online audit trail of every item of plant and only allows equipment to be allocated to ‘approved’ operators. Where plant equipment is on hire, the technology provides an audit trail of inspections due and servicing required.

“Key2 Plant Equipment delivers comprehensive management financial and operational reports and provides managers with a complete audit trail of equipment from initial quotation, through ordering, usage and on to disposal in one seamless system.”