Uk
Australia
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"We do not have storage, so we cannot reuse"
This is one of the most common reasons institutions do not explore reuse after the first assessment meeting.
However, we say to customers, ‘Why would you want storage? It’s expensive to own, expensive to run, and time consuming to manage.’
If we could match surplus assets with new homes, while they are still in their original position, would that change things?
It would. We know it would.
What can you do with no storage?
We know that you have a storage issue, but no store should not mean that you don’t reuse.
The vast majority of our customers do not have storage (like UCL).
On Warp It, we focus on making ‘peer-to-peer matches’ - so that assets move from their ‘point of old use’ to their ‘point of new use’.
- When you add 20 chairs to the system, the system already knows who wants 20 chairs, thanks to the wishlist function. This allows assets to move straight to the ‘point of new use’ rather than a store.
- When you are clearing a building, you can preload the assets, and the system will set about finding homes before the building clearance date arrives, this time using the watch list function. Again, assets move to the point of new use rather than a store.
What’s next?
Through the actions presented above, you can implement a reuse program without the need for storage.
You may not get everything reused, because of time scales, but at least you will have diverted a significant proportion into reuse.
After you have demonstrated the savings that are being made, you can make a business case for storage to your senior management.
Do not let this issue prevent the introduction of a scheme which will at least save some of your surplus assets from going in a skip.
You do not need storage
- Matching requirements in real time and in the future: Learn about wish lists and watch lists here and reducing double handling here.
- Learn about watch lists and pre-claiming assets way in advance of any building move here.
The problematic current system
1) Staff member asks for item to be disposed of.
2) Takes 3-7 days to collect item.
3) Item is skipped or is taken away by 3rd party at cost.
4) People, the planet, and profits all suffer greatly through poor resource management.
The Warp It way
1) Staff asks for disposal
2) Staff is instructed to add item to reuse system (takes 20 seconds, but behaviour change is required)
3) New home is found by way of wishlists and watchlists.
4) Item moves from old home to new home.
5) Anything not matched is skipped (or stored) as normal.
So with the second method at least you are winning some gains!
We hope this helps persuade you to take a bit more time to explore this issue with colleagues.
