How to set up a hybrid equipment room
The happy medium between self-service and a closed equipment room.
Pricey gear + heavy equipment room traffic = risk of loss, theft, breakage. But in a world where most equipment managers have additional specialties and responsibilities, a closed equipment room isn’t always an option except for the biggest companies.
A hybrid equipment room may be exactly what you need to strike that perfect balance between oversight and flexibility. Discover 5 steps to a flawless experience – a win-win for equipment managers and users alike.
Set up the right hybrid location
- Designate an accessible reservation area outside the equipment room.
- Ensure that gear can be picked up or dropped off in a predefined location – such as a specifically labeled drawer.
- Link each drawer/space/shelf with one specific user.
- Separate pickup and drop-off locations to avoid confusion and mistakes.
Automate communication
- Clearly notify freelancers and internal equipment users of where to pick up/drop off the gear as well as relevant passcodes for locks.
- Work with SMS: SMS messages are simple, more present than e-mail and don’t require an internet connection to access.
Invest in the right infrastructure
- Purchase lockable cabinets or cages to safeguard your gear.
- Use combination or numeric padlocks – not keys, which have to be exchanged in an extra transaction.
- If working with multiple equipment rooms, consider installing a card access system (no need to reset lock combinations after every use).
The benefits
For equipment managers
No need to physically be there to orchestrate pickup and drop-off
Prepare equipment for checkout ahead of time
No queues of users to deal with
Time to handle other responsibilities
For users/freelancers
No hurrying to finish up a shoot or other project on time
Flexible pickups and drop-offs
Easy-to-access notifications about location/time of pickup/drop-off
No extra time spent on communication
Pro tip: an asset management tool like Cheqroom adds an extra layer of insight and accountability to the equipment management process. Check it out here.
Rely on a digital “paper trail” documenting all notifications and the history of the booking process, ensuring full traceability in case of broken gear. Easily link SMS (or e-mail, or push) notifications to the triggers of your choice (ex. when equipment is due/late) and take automated communication a few steps further.
