Hardware management

Hardware is fundamental part of any deployment and support of assets is a vital factor affecting network performance.  An accurate understanding of current hardware, it’s operational status and long-term viability is a key aspect of planning of any future network strategy.

Inventory management

Inventory management forms a key element in overall network support by enabling accurate analysis of hardware assets.  It ensures effective fault resolution, hardware exchange control and stock repair control as well as network transition planning via obsolescence management.  Accurate inventory knowledge, control, and awareness enables the consolidation of assets and optimisation of their use through the multiple stages of the network life-cycle.

Spares management

Spares inventory are working assets used to replace faulty assets returned from the network as part of the spares repair and replenishment service. Edge Networks provide secure, controlled, and managed storage for spares inventory with supporting services such as spares test cycle management and spares preparation and deployment.  All asset tracking, stock control, repair control, stock rotation control and deployment, replacement and replenishment tracking are controlled via the online service portal available to customers.

Bonded Inventory are assets, usually recovered from the network and stored, but not considered as part of the spares inventory unless called to be transferred by the client and suitably screened for operational viability. Edge Networks apply the same storage functions for bonded inventory as the spares inventory along with operational viability screening.

All asset delivery and collections are managed by Edge Networks as well as fault analysis and repair control via one of the multiple repair service options, controlled and reported on via extended SLA options, such as the return to service within 30-day guarantee.

Support spares assets can optionally be further bolstered by Edge Networks owned assets, with all hardware made available by the spares test rotation service designed for sub 10-minute configuration and deployment.

Test & repair

Edge Networks manage the repair or replenishment of assets either returned from site as faulty, or raised as a potentially faulty item in the spares inventory with the goal of managing each repair instance such that the cycle will be complete within 30 calendar days, on-going resource life risk analysis identifies assets for which this may not be possible to achieve and recommends further options to manage the asset.

If longer than 30 calendar days, Edge Networks endeavour to ensure a replacement unit is available in the interim period from it’s own inventory, tracking and managing the process of using this asset within the customer deployment and the replenishment of inventory once the faulty unit is fixed and all stock is replenished.

Obsolescence management

Cost and effort for the continuation of operating and supporting legacy networks always increases in line with ageing equipment, limited support and repair options, and diminishing skill sets.  Additionally, new requirements for the development and overlap of new network deployments adds complexity to the transitional period.  Edge Networks obsolescence management calculates, manages and reports on optimal configurations and potential development plans for assets along with the impact on spares holdings, assisting with the complexity of managing this issue

Data from all areas are utilised to continue the efficient management of the current network including legacy equipment as well as future network plans, network and service development plans as well as all hardware details for end-of-life, end-of-support, upgrade options, and repair options including hardware spares options and technical support ability.