Oil Analysis 4.0: Introducing DataConnect

dataconnect

Introducing Oil Analysis 4.0, a new way to manage your fluid analysis! This new feature, developed by our IT and development team, automatically retrieves your latest HORIZON® data for integration, making it easier for you to analyze the health of your equipment. We call it DataConnect. 

The benefits of moving all of your information to one system are clear. Not only will it give you a better view of your maintenance program but it’ll also grant you greater flexibility so you can react quickly to your fluid analysis results. By maximizing your program’s efficiency, you’ll also be able to:

  • Better reach your business objectives
  • Increase your return on investment
  • Prove the value of your program to your leadership team

Using DataConnect, all of the information you need will be in one place. No more flipping from one program to the other. No more trying to connect the dots. Whether you need to analyze the status of your sample or view the testing data, you can do so in your own program. 

If you’re interested in using this service:

  1. Discuss with your IT team about how to take advantage of DataConnect with your existing systems.
  2. Submit your request for DataConnect by emailing custserv@eoilreports.com. Please include your IT contact so we can provide them with the details.
  3. Our IT department will then provide information about connecting your system to DataConnect.

Our IT and development team is constantly working to improve your user experience by adding innovative new functionality to HORIZON. If you have any questions about how Oil Analysis 4.0 impacts your business, please feel free to contact us at custserv@eoilreports.com.

ryan-haman

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HORIZON®: How To Add Equipment

The HORIZON® management tool is an incredible resource for you and your maintenance team. Using the system, you can submit samples, view sample reports and submit actions taken. In order to make the most out of your use of HORIZON, it’s important to keep your system information up-to-date.

Adding new equipment directly into your HORIZON equipment list can help simplify your sample submission process.

Luckily, it’s easy to do. For a more in depth look at this procedure, check out this technical bulletin or watch this video. In the meantime, here’s a quick look at the steps to add equipment into your HORIZON account.

 Navigation from the Dashboard

  1. From the menu tab bar, click on Equipment Management and select “Add Equipment” from the drop-down list that appears.

Account Selection

  1. Select one account for the new component and click the green arrow at the top. You can filter the columns by typing in the fields or sort them by clicking the arrow to the right of the field.

Component ID

  1. Components can be named one of two ways: Asset Detail Abbreviations or Direct Naming.
    • Type in those fields to automatically filter the list of eligible entries and select your choice using your mouse or the “Enter” button.

Component Values

  1. Provide as much information as possible for more precise recommendations.

Filter Values

  1. Provide the type of filter and micron size rating (if any) on the unit.

Product Values

  1. The Product Values is the type of fluid typically used in the component.

Wild Card

  1. Wild Card values can be utilized for any additional information you would like reflected on the sample that isn’t already available using the other fields.

Continuing

  1. Once you are satisfied with all of the information in the Component List and the current screen, click “Review and Save”.

Review

  1. This screen allows you to review the Component ID, Secondary ID and Component Type.
  2. A CSV file of the components can be downloaded for your records.
  3. Click “Add Another Component” to add another component to that account or “Confirm” to add the components.

For additional questions about the HORIZON management system or app, please contact us at custserv@eoilreports.com.

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The HORIZON® Mobile App is Available for Android


Android users, we didn’t forget you! After unveiling the HORIZON® app for Apple in 2015, we have spent the last few months working diligently to develop the same easy-to-use app for Android devices.  After all this hard work, I’m happy to announce the HORIZON app for Android is now available in the Google Play™ store!

The application, an extension of our award-winning fluid analysis software, is designed to make submitting your samples easy and reliable. No matter what device you’re using, a smartphone, tablet or computer, the HORIZON app and web versions are capable of syncing in real time, which means you can always rely on the app to keep you in the loop.

Android App and Phone

Whether you’re using Apple or Android, this app is designed to make your day easier. Using the mobile app allows you to stand right next to your equipment and enter fluid time, mileage and other information directly into HORIZON. This eliminates the need for paper submissions and the inevitable errors that come with it.

In addition, the app helps you manage your alerts, notifying you when your sample is complete and allowing you to adjust the alerts based on fluid
type and severity. The sample submission function also shows you the status of the sample (waiting, received, completed) in the sample submission list.

Don’t worry, if your phone battery is low, you can still access HORIZON on your web browser.

As we continue to identify ways to make your sample submission process easier, stay up-to-date on everything HORIZON through our monthly newsletter.

Download for Android
Download for Apple

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Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc. 

Take HORIZON Wherever You Go with the Mobile App

I am thrilled to unveil the newest installment of our award-winning fluid analysis software – the HORIZON® mobile app. After months of hard work and behind-the-scenes configuration, the HORIZON app and web versions sync in real-time, regardless of whether you’re on a smartphone, tablet or computer.

The feature most customers are looking forward to is adjustable alerts for the app. The app will send a “push” notification to your phone when a sample arrives, and, yes, you can adjust the alerts based on fluid type and overall severity. Since our labs process samples around the clock, I recommend using the “Do Not Disturb” feature during off hours.   

For now, the app is only available for Apple devices running iOS 8 or higher. We anticipate the release of the app for Android devices in 2016. In the meantime, anyone can still access HORIZON on a standard mobile web browser.

The next feature we are developing is submitting sample information via the mobile app. We improved the web-based sample submission process earlier this year, and this app will be able to perform those same tasks this fall. You will be able to stand next to the equipment and enter fluid time, mileage and other information directly into HORIZON, which will completely eliminate handwritten paperwork and a lot of errors along with it.

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Published June 30, 2016

Online Sample Submission: Change Is Good

Submitting sample information through HORIZON® is quick, easy and, best of all, reduces errors. While this option has been available, we’ve redesigned the feature to be better than ever.

But why does this matter to you today? Several reasons.

The redesign also gave us the opportunity to prepare HORIZON for future updates. The HORIZON mobile app is coming out Summer 2015, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work was needed to set the foundation for the mobile app. You will be able to view and filter sample reports when the app is first released, and soon after you’ll be able to submit sample information from your mobile device, too.

After selecting the components that were sampled, now the information and fluid type is displayed right next to the sample fields. The system will make sure the barcode you enter is valid to use on the component type. This should reduce the number of coolants submitted as oils and vice versa.

You also can collapse the fields for each component or even remove components from the screen. Collapsing large lists of components and expanding the fields only when needed greatly reduces the amount of scrolling required. Removing individual components was a popular request because if the wrong component was selected in the old sample submission process, users had to move back a screen, unselect the component and re-enter all of the sample data.

Just after the new sample submission process launched, we received a call from a customer with immediate feedback. He had pulled many samples and wanted to save time by submitting the sample information online. The customer processed half of them in about five hours before work ended. The next morning, he noticed the new sample submission feature had deployed. The customer picked up where he left off with the samples, and to his surprise, the last half of the samples only took him two hours! He was very impressed by the improvements and appreciated the additional time we saved him.

For instructions on using the new sample submission process, download the written instructions or watch the video.

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Published June 9, 2015

Turn Up the Heat on Your Turnaround Time


The speed of business has accelerated in today’s on-demand, instant-access world. This makes me wonder why some of our customers don’t take advantage of the shortcuts and speed-ups HORIZON® offers. There are simple ways to have your samples tested faster, but only a small portion of our customers take advantage of them. Now you can avoid unnecessary delays before your samples are tested.

Online Sample Submission: Customers have the ability to enter sample information directly into HORIZON instead of shipping paperwork with the sample. Sounds easy, right? Well, it is! When this information already exists in the system, it accelerates our internal process and reduces errors. Handwriting equipment and sample information is not fun for your technicians and reading that handwriting can be quite challenging for ours. With HORIZON, all your account and component information is there from previous samples so all you have to do is scan a barcode, enter is a few fields of sample information and click submit. Some paperwork errors stop our laboratory technicians from being able to run tests on the sample or data analysts from providing accurate, reliable recommendations. With HORIZON sample submission, all the information is entered an approved by you. We just apply a lab number, assign testing and your sample moves directly to the lab in front of thousands of other samples. Which brings me to my next point…

Shipping: We accept packages from UPS, FedEx, DHL and the United States Postal Service (USPS). The shipping time for each service will vary depending on your location(s), and you should weigh the cost of faster shipping against the business cost from waiting for oil analysis results. We recommend using UPS, FedEx and DHL so you can utilize their package tracking systems.

Samples on Hold: From missing information to account issues, there are a several reasons why a sample may be placed “on hold”. A delayed sample is frustrating to both us and our customers. Here’s how you can find out if a sample is put on hold.

  • HORIZON offers a Sample Hold Subscription, which sends an email when a sample from that account is put on hold. The email can be sent immediately for each sample, in a daily summary or in a weekly summary.
  • The Sample Hold Summary Report can be run on-demand. Customize it to show what samples are currently held or use it to discover the root cause of why a sample was placed on hold.

Using these tools will improve your overall experience and help ensure your samples are received as soon as possible, minimize errors and avoid unnecessary delays.

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Published January 28, 2015

Compliance Yields Results

When equipment replacement costs hit an all-time high, a world wide oil field service company turned to POLARIS Laboratories® to revitalize their fluid analysis program. Coming from a low rate of compliance with a different fluid analysis firm, the company took a new approach to fluid analysis by adopting our web-based fluid analysis management system, HORIZON®.

Read the Full Case Study

Published September 17, 2014

Take Advantage of the HORIZON Technical Library

Are you having problems finding technical information on fluid analysis? Would you like information on standards for oil, coolant, and fuel? Do you need documentation on HORIZON training? This can be found in the new Technical Library. We have a new layout, new content, and new location – in our web-based application, HORIZON®. The new library was reorganized by subject matter to make it easy to find the documents. Also, storing it right in HORIZON means customers don’t have to leave the application to get the information they need.

POLARIS Laboratories® has accumulated a deep understanding of tribology and other fluid analysis expertise, and much of that knowledge has been captured over the years in our technical bulletins. Some are basic, such as instructions on how to pull an oil sample, but many dive into the nuances of fluid analysis.There are documents about the differences between testing for acid number or base number, how coolant formulations differ, and the ASTM methods related to biodiesel. The Library also has sections with instructions on how to use HORIZON features and thought-leadership pieces to improve fluid analysis programs.

The new library is just one of the ways POLARIS Laboratories® is making it easier for our customers to improve their maintenance and reliability programs and save money in the end. To access the technical library, log in to HORIZON, and click on the Technical Library Tab.

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Published April 8, 2014