by jp@torostudio.io | Oct 30, 2023 | News
Having been immersed in the world of dental laboratory economics for over three decades, I’ve observed, experienced, and participated in numerous shifts within our industry. Technological advancements have consistently been at the forefront of driving efficiency and quality in our labs. Today, there is a new technology that I firmly believe will be a cornerstone for labs in the coming decade: Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs), also known in our industry as ‘Smart Cabinets.’
Streamlined Compliance with Lot Number Tracking
The FDA’s requirements for tracking lot numbers for implantable medical devices are non-negotiable. With patient safety at stake, the onus on labs to accurately track and report on these numbers is enormous. Traditional manual methods of doing so have proven time and again to be fallible, leading to inaccuracies that can have considerable implications both from a compliance and a patient safety standpoint.
Enter the smart cabinet, which inherently offers electronic and precise lot number tracking with every single dispense. The automation removes the scope for human error, ensuring that each item can be traced back to its source accurately and effortlessly, thus bolstering our adherence to FDA regulations and promoting patient safety.
An End to Tedious Inventory Counts
Inventory management has long been a time-intensive task in our labs. Staff would spend inordinate amounts of time manually counting zirconia disks, dental implants, 3D printer resin, and other essentials, often leading to discrepancies and inefficiencies.
With the ADCs, the need for manual counts vanishes. The system keeps a real-time, accurate track of every item, ensuring that we’re always aware of our inventory levels. This not only saves significant time for our staff but also guarantees the optimal utilization and rotation of stock.
Goodbye to Rush Orders and Hello to Cost Savings
One of the most exasperating scenarios in a lab is realizing that a critical item is out of stock, prompting an emergency overnight order, often accompanied by exorbitant shipping charges. ADCs, with their automated re-ordering capability, prevent such scenarios. When inventory levels approach the predetermined minimum, the system automatically generates an order, negating the need for rush orders and thus, ensuring cost-effectiveness.
Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Billing Errors
Billing errors are rife in our industry. Discrepancies in inventory counts, manual entry errors, and mismanagement of order logs all contribute to these issues, negatively impacting both the top line (revenue) and bottom line (profitability) of labs.
A fully integrated automated dispensing system offers a holistic solution. With every item being tracked electronically from the point of dispense to billing, the likelihood of billing errors plummets. This streamlined approach ensures that labs bill accurately for every item, enhancing revenue accuracy and improving profitability.
In Conclusion
The role of technology in the dental laboratory landscape has never been more pivotal. As we advance into a future dominated by precision, efficiency, and compliance, tools like Automated Dispensing Cabinets stand out as beacons of progress. Their ability to automate critical processes, ensure regulatory compliance, and eliminate prevalent challenges like billing errors positions them as invaluable assets in modern dental labs.
For those looking to future-proof their labs and remain at the forefront of quality, efficiency, and profitability, embracing ADCs isn’t just a recommendation—it’s a necessity.
by jp@torostudio.io | Apr 4, 2023 | News
Effective inventory management is crucial for dental labs aiming to improve productivity and maintain a competitive edge in the industry. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of inventory management in dental labs and how it can positively drive revenue, decrease costs, and improve business valuations.
The Challenges of Inventory Management in Dental Labs
Dental labs face unique challenges when it comes to inventory management. With a wide variety of materials, equipment, and supplies, keeping track of everything can be overwhelming. Additionally, inefficient inventory management can lead to stockouts, waste, high shipping costs and reduced productivity.
Benefits of Efficient Inventory Management
Implementing an effective inventory management system in your dental lab can offer several benefits:
- Reduced waste: By keeping track of materials and supplies, dental labs can minimize waste, eliminate shrinkage, and save money.
- Increased productivity: Efficient inventory management ensures that technicians have the materials they need when they need them, reducing downtime and increasing productivity.
- Better forecasting: With accurate inventory data, labs can better predict future demand and plan accordingly, reducing overnight shipping needs and saving on costs.
- Improved customer satisfaction: Streamlined inventory management helps labs fulfill orders more quickly and accurately, resulting in happier clients.
Implementing Efficient Inventory Management in Your Dental Lab
Here are some strategies to improve inventory management in your dental lab:
- Centralize inventory data: Use a centralized inventory management system to store all relevant information, making it easily accessible to everyone in the lab.
- Automate inventory tracking: Utilize smart technology to automate the tracking of inventory items, reducing human error and saving time.
- Set reorder points: Determine the optimal reorder points for each item in your inventory to avoid stockouts and overstocking.
- Conduct regular inventory audits: Regularly audit your inventory to identify discrepancies and adjust your processes as needed.
Embracing Technology for Efficient Inventory Management
Leveraging advanced inventory management hardware and software tools is invaluable for dental labs. By embracing technology, labs can streamline their inventory processes, increase productivity, and maintain a competitive advantage in the industry. These best solutions offer real-time inventory tracking, quality control, demand forecasting, and automated reporting, making it easier than ever to manage your lab’s inventory effectively.
In conclusion, efficient inventory management is essential for dental labs aiming to boost productivity and stay ahead in the competitive industry. By implementing effective inventory management strategies and embracing technology, dental labs can streamline their operations and focus on delivering exceptional services to their clients.
by jp@torostudio.io | Sep 8, 2022 | News
ZIMBIS announces software integration and partnership with Magic Touch Software International, fully integrated smart inventory cabinets now on the horizon for all users of Magic Touch lab management software DLCPM.
Phoenix, Arizona: ZIMBIS, a division of CUBEX LLC and a leading provider of technology enabled healthcare services in the dental lab sector, has developed a bi-directional software integration between their smart cabinet inventory system and the Magic Touch suite of dental lab management products. The two companies have also announced a commercial partnership.
The ZIMBIS system facilitates complete, automated inventory management of critical supplies for any dental lab. ZIMBIS increases profit and efficiency for lab operators by reducing missed revenue and ensuring all critical items are automatically replenished before they run out of stock
“Our Dental Lab placements have really taken off over the past year as lab owners have looked to counter inflation by reducing inventory costs and billing errors. So, we asked, who are the top management software providers that we need to integrate with? And Magic Touch was one of the names at the top of that list.” said Louis Visser, DDS, President of ZIMBIS. “The team at Magic Touch has just been great to work with, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this integration to the dental lab space.”
With this new software integration, Magic Touch users can dispense all desired parts for a case directly from the ZIMBIS smart cabinet without needing to enter the case information themselves – it will seamlessly sync with the ZIMBIS system. The exact costs for all parts will be transmitted back to Magic Touch with no additional input from the tech, ensuring that all charges are correct. FDA lot numbers are also logged for compliance purposes, and once the quantity-on-hand for an individual SKU falls below a pre-set inventory threshold, ZIMBIS will automatically re-order that SKU from the supplier so that costly overnight shipping and the anxiety of ‘stock outs’ become a thing of the past.
ZIMBIS Smart Inventory Cabinets are highly configurable to accommodate almost everything in a dental office or laboratory. Implants, abutments and other associated components are handled within Tower units featuring individually sealed compartments, while larger items such as zirconia discs, cerec blocks, printer resin, etc. are kept in secure Flex cabinets.
About ZIMBIS
ZIMBIS is a leading provider of innovative health care automation and cloud-based business intelligence solutions that enable the dental health providers to improve supply and medication management, cost and patient outcomes while at the same time increasing regulatory compliance. More information can be found at www.ZIMBIS.com.
Media Contact:
Joey Campagna (CUBEX LLC)
(480) 268-7955
jcampagna@cubex.biz
About Magic Touch Software
Magic Touch Software is the leading Dental Lab Software Management System, servicing worldwide dental laboratories. For more than 19 years, Magic Touch has provided customers with end-to-end business management solutions including case management, accounting, sales, marketing, customer service, technician bench, route manager, integrations, and customer portal applications. For more information Visit https://magictouchsoftware.com/
Media Contact
Amir Bagheri
San Marcos, California 92078
amir@magictouchsoftware.com
(800) 714-6490
https://magictouchsoftware.com/
by jp@torostudio.io | Aug 19, 2022 | News
PHOENIX, Ariz. – August 18, 2022 – ZIMBIS, a division of CUBEX LLC and provider of medication and supply management technology, announced today the launch of a partnership with ACE SOUTHERN, a leading global provider of surgical products, including biologics, pharmaceuticals, and surgical supplies.
The partnership with ACE SOUTHERN supports ZIMBIS’ mission to provide clients with solutions and workflows that address their specific medication and supply requirements. This announcement expands ACE SOUTHERN’s order integration to restock inventory with product appearing in a customer’s shopping cart once inventory reorder levels are achieved.
“We very much look forward to our partnership with ZIMBIS,” said Michael Mancini, COO of ACE SOUTHERN. “ACE SOUTHERN looks forward to helping improve operational efficiencies so dental specialists can spend more time delivering quality patient care.”
“Our goal at ZIMBIS is to provide innovative solutions so our partners and clients can provide the best possible patient care,” said Louis Visser, DDS, President of ZIMBIS. “We’re excited to partner with ACE SOUTHERN and bring the benefits of this integration to the dental surgery market.”
For more information about ZIMBIS’ partnership with ACE SOUTHERN and the order integration workflow, please visit https://ZIMBIS.com/acesouthern/
About ZIMBIS
ZIMBIS, a division of CUBEX LLC, is a market leader in developing and delivering innovative health care automation and business intelligence solutions to dentists, dental surgeons and dental laboratories. ZIMBIS offers a unique ability to meet the demands of a variety of dental environments by offering automated dispensing cabinets, wireless stockroom solutions, cloud-hosted software and more. Additional information can be found at www.ZIMBIS.com
