Case Study Highlights
- Industry: Equipment Rental & Services
- Technology Legacy: IBM i platform
- Core Operations: Equipment inventory management, rental contract processing, asset tracking and returns, multi-location coordination
- Operational Focus: Mobile-enabled asset scanning, real-time inventory updates, and elimination of manual data entry
- Technology Approach: Phased IBM i futurization with Profound AppDev, focusing on mobility and operational flexibility
About the Customer
Founded in the early 1980s, this customer has grown from two modest locations to become one of the largest equipment rental companies in North America.
With over 1,250 locations across the United States and Canada and more than 20,000 team members, the company offers an extensive portfolio of 14,000 different types of equipment, from general construction tools to specialized industrial machinery.
The company serves diverse industries including construction, industrial, municipal, and specialized services, and has built its reputation on delivering exceptional customer experiences and innovative rental solutions.
Their journey toward operational futurization began with Profound Logic, as they sought to transform their legacy systems into mobile-enabled, real-time solutions that could keep pace with the dynamic demands of their expanding operations.
Challenge
Operating over 1,250 locations with 14,000 types of equipment, this customer faced a complex operational challenge that threatened both efficiency and customer satisfaction. With equipment assets spread across indoor and outdoor areas at multiple branches, their existing system created significant bottlenecks in the rental and return process.
Their legacy approach required them to manually enter asset information at fixed terminals, creating several critical issues:
- Location Constraints: Large equipment like access lifts and telehandlers could not be brought to indoor check-in counters, forcing staff to write down information and re-enter it later.
- Manual Entry Errors: Keyboard entry of equipment IDs and serial numbers led to data accuracy issues across a massive inventory.
- Processing Delays: The back-and-forth between equipment locations and terminals slowed customer service during critical rental periods.
- Limited Flexibility: Staff could not process transactions where the equipment was located, creating workflow inefficiencies that impacted the company’s ability to serve customers around the clock.
Some assets could be checked at the counter, but others required processing outside the branch due to equipment type and size, a gap that the legacy system simply could not bridge.
Solution
The company partnered with us to implement a comprehensive futurization strategy using Profound AppDev, specifically leveraging Profound UI for its robust mobile features and seamless IBM i integration.
The solution centered on creating a mobile application that would give them the flexibility to process transactions anywhere on-site.
Profound AppDev was selected for its comprehensive mobile development capabilities, including:
- Native support for mobile barcode scanning through Profound UI
- Responsive design that works seamlessly across devices
- Visual development tools that accelerated deployment
- Built-in support for offline operation when needed
- Direct integration with IBM i databases and RPG programs
- Real-time synchronization across all touchpoints
The business gained the ability to scan barcodes on equipment of any type or size, with all data synchronizing in real-time with the IBM i backend. The system eliminated manual data entry through automated scanning and could handle multiple contracts simultaneously in a single session, dramatically improving efficiency during busy rental periods.
Implementation
The company took a strategic approach to implementation, leveraging Profound AppDev to deliver immediate value while building a foundation for continued evolution.
Using Profound UI’s visual design tools and mobile-optimized widgets, the team created a responsive application specifically tailored for equipment rental operations. They could now carry mobile devices throughout the facility, scanning barcodes on equipment of any size, from small power tools to massive construction machinery.
Rather than replacing their proven IBM i systems, the company leveraged Profound AppDev’s native IBM i integration capabilities. Profound UI connects directly to Db2 databases and RPG programs, ensuring that all mobile transactions were immediately reflected in inventory systems, rental contracts, and billing, with no middleware required.
The implementation focused on four key capabilities:
- Scan equipment into a delivery ticket before items go on contract
- Enable pickup flexibility with the ability to hold as a reservation until customer pickup or delivery
- Process returns efficiently with bulk and serialized scanning capabilities
- Handle multiple contracts simultaneously during a single return session
The coexistence model built into Profound AppDev allowed the company to roll out the mobile solution branch by branch, with legacy and modern processes running in parallel throughout the transition.
Results
The futurization initiative delivered measurable improvements across operations.
70% increase in efficiency
Reflecting the impact of eliminating manual processes and enabling real-time equipment tracking, translating directly to faster customer service and the ability to handle more transactions with the same workforce.
Ease of use drove rapid adoption
They could master the new mobile tools with minimal training, reducing errors and increasing productivity from day one across a workforce of 20,000+.
Faster customer service
The transformation enabled faster transaction processing, reduced errors from manual entry, and shorter wait times. They could handle complex rental scenarios, including multiple contracts and mixed equipment types, with unprecedented efficiency.
Conclusion
This engagement demonstrates the power of true futurization, moving beyond surface-level modernization to achieve fundamental operational transformation.
By implementing mobile scanning capabilities and eliminating manual data entry, the company didn’t just update their technology; they changed how their entire workforce interacts with equipment and serves customers.
Key principles that drove success:
- Scale with confidence: The solution works seamlessly across a vast network, from single-location operations to an enterprise-wide footprint.
- Preserve what works: The reliable IBM i foundation was maintained while adding modern capabilities.
- Focus on real problems: The solution directly addressed operational pain points rather than pursuing technology for its own sake.
- Enable your people: Mobile tools empowered the workforce to deliver faster, more accurate service.
- Build for the future: The flexible architecture positions the company for continued innovation.
Start Your Futurization Journey
Your organization can transform legacy constraints into competitive advantages. Profound Logic specializes in helping IBM i businesses unlock new capabilities while preserving proven systems.
Ready to futurize your operations? Contact our team at Futurization@ProfoundLogic.com.