Creating Refrigerated Asset Types
The process of creating refrigerated or HVAC assets in Asset Manager starts with creating asset types. An asset type defines the characteristics of assets that belong to this type.
Asset types help you group the assets that possess similar or the same characteristics and fulfill the same purpose, for example, rapidly cool food or remove heat from the air to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Examples of Refrigerated Asset Types and Assets
Let’s say you have multiple walk-in coolers across your locations. You can create the Walk-In Cooler asset type that will encompass all your walk-in coolers.
If you have multiple refrigerated display cases, add the Refrigerated Display Cases asset type, and specify for this asset type all the characteristics that unite all of your refrigerated display cases.
Creating a Refrigerated or HVAC Asset Type
- Navigate to the hamburger menu, and select Assets (Equipment) > Manage Asset Types.
- On the asset types list, select Add Asset Type.
- Enter a unique name in the Asset Type field.
- (Optional) From the Inherited From drop-down list containing asset types created earlier, select the asset type from which you want to inherit attributes and characteristics.
Otherwise, keep the Standard Type option selected.
Select the primary Trade for your asset type.
The trade you select in this drop-down list should belong to the Refrigeration or HVAC primary trade listed in the Admin module.
Once the Refrigeration or HVAC trade is picked, you are prompted to specify the Refrigerant Use Purpose.- Select the Refrigerant Use Purpose for the asset type:
- Commercial Refrigeration
- Industrial Refrigeration
- Comfort Cooling (AC)
- Other Types of Refrigerated Asset
- Circuit
- Leak Detector
None
You can set None as the refrigerant use purpose in case you are creating a standard non-refrigerated asset type but would like to keep it assigned to the Refrigeration or HVAC trade.
Select any Additional Trades you want to associate with the asset type.
Assigning additional trades to asset types allows you to make assets of these types viewable and selectable for your service providers who are not assigned to service the primary trade but assigned to the trades you set as additional.
Additional trades are also taken into account when you associate a work order with an asset: you will be able to associate an asset where either the primary or additional trade corresponds to the work order trade.
- Click the Submit Asset Type button when finished.
- Set the asset type attributes to Hide, View, Edit, Show On Proposal, and Required. Learn more about Configuring Standard Attributes for Asset Types.
- (Optional) Add custom attributes to the asset type by clicking the Add Custom button.
- (Optional) To add an attachment, click Select File at the bottom of the page, choose a file, then click Upload File. Leave a comment if required.
- (Optional) To add a link, click Add Link at the bottom of the page, add the URL, then click the Add Link button.
Your asset has been created, and you can find it on the asset types list with a thermometer icon 🌡️ next to it. With an asset type created, you can get down to creating assets of this type.
Configuring Standard Attributes for Asset Types
Preferences that you can set up for each asset type attribute: Hide, View, Edit, Show On Proposal, and Required.
List of standard attributes for the refrigerated asset type.
- Hide: Selecting the Hide checkbox next to a standard attribute prevents that attribute from appearing on assets of that asset type. Therefore, you will not be able to enter a value for that attribute. Additionally, when running an asset report, hidden attributes, which by design are empty, will not return any results. Finally, when using any of the templates to upload assets in bulk, if you enter a value for an attribute that has been hidden, you will get an error, and the upload will be rejected.
View: Selecting View adds that attribute to the asset type. It gives you the option of entering a value for that attribute on assets. If you opt to not enter a value for a specific attribute, it will not be included in an asset search using that attribute as a filter.
- Edit: Selecting Edit gives service providers the ability to edit that attribute for a given asset. Providers can search for a client’s asset in their instance of Asset Manager in Provider Automation. Edits are in real time and will be viewable immediately after they are updated. Note that editing an asset tag ID isn't allowed.
Show On Proposal: Selecting Show On Proposal makes the asset attribute available on the proposal form that providers fill out to create proposals.
Should you want your providers to be able to associate their proposals with assets when they create proposals, contact your CSM.
Required: Selecting Required mandates that a value should be entered for that attribute. The Required option can only be selected if the attribute is viewable. Required attributes are marked with a red asterisk * when you create or update an asset.
You can also configure additional settings for each standard attribute by clicking the pencil icon next to the desired attribute. The tweaking of individual attributes is unique to that attribute.
