Asset Tracking

An asset tracking system is the process of tracking products and assets using standardized ID tags that broadcast their physical location. This can be done in a variety of ways. Common asset management systems include the use of RFID or barcode labels. These tags are used to broadcast the location of a physical asset within a company.

An asset tag is a type of label that is placed on physical products to help companies track their movement within the company. They can come in many different materials and styles. Many asset tracking tags are affixed to equipment to identify it for tracking, inventory, and accountability purposes.

Barcode labels or barcode asset tags are a series of black and white stripes that are used to identify assets with a unique number. The barcode can be scanned by a reader, which will then upload that information into a computer.

Barcode label construction is a way to segment barcode asset tags. Your application and environment should dictate what asset tag construction will work best in your application. Proper qualification will ensure your barcode asset tag will survive the environment to which it will be exposed. For example, an office environment is most likely going to require a versatile plastic barcode label that can conform around curves, whereas a more rugged asset tag can be used in a manufacturing environment. The ID Experts at Metalcraft can assist you with this process.

Choosing the best barcode asset labels for your asset tag system is going to depend on your organization’s needs. To figure out what barcode asset tag will work best our ID Experts use our DART Qualification Process.

• Define the project objective to set realistic expectations
• Ask questions about the affixing surface, chemical exposure, environmental conditions and temperature resistance so our specialists can narrow down potential product options
• Recommend – once our specialists have obtained all the information they need, they use it to recommend the right product for your application
• Test – we send out samples free of charge for testing in the actual environment to which it will be exposed

There are all kinds of options available when choosing barcode labels or barcode tags.

There are destructible and/or security options that provide protection and deter theft in addition to tracking important information about the asset. Onsite printable asset tags provide the flexibility to have a preprinted logo that can be customized onsite with more print information, i.e. barcode. Paint-resistant barcode tags allow customers to attach the asset tag and not have to alter the paint process. The paint easily scratches off allowing for a easy barcode scan. There are also custom hanging tags that can be used for a variety of different applications.

There are many benefits to doing your asset management with barcode asset tags with the primary benefits being increase efficiency and accuracy. Barcode is an automated data capture method meaning there is no manual entry required. Simply scan the barcode asset tag and the scanner reads the number on encoded into the barcode. That unique number is associated with a specific asset and the information about that asset. No manual entry means no fat-fingered mistakes that can case errors in data collection. Plus, scanning a barcode is much faster than entering the number manually allowing companies to be more efficient – saving time and money in their asset tag systems.

There are several ways to monitor your assets and the method you use will depend on your business. Metalcraft specializes in RFID and barcode asset tracking systems. Therefore, we strongly recommend those if you’re just starting out.

In asset tracking, each asset has an ID code, and it is tracked as it moves or is used within the company. All this information is stored in a global positioning framework. Asset management pairs quite well with this. It is the process of reviewing the information collected by the asset tracking system and concluding how to use resources. For example, if one location has less resources than another and they need to be sent over.

Asset management software and solutions are not a one size fits all and can range from $10 per month to upwards of $1,000, depending on the needs of your business. Larger companies will likely need more complex systems and, as a result, that will likely be reflected in the price of their asset tracking systems.

The easy answer to that question is every industry that has something they want to track. Whether it’s a school, hospital, manufacturing company, or tracking returnable containers the benefits of asset tracking are very similar, but the assets themselves couldn’t be more different.