Asset Tracking

How to track and manage physical assets automatically

Our labeling experts will be happy to advise you personally on the subject!

What is asset tracking?

Asset tracking enables companies to monitor and document the storage, delivery and production routes of physical assets in real time and include them in process planning. This can be achieved by printing fixed, variable or even individual data onto an item (by ink or laser) or by encoding it onto substrates such as labels.

By networking with existing systems, asset tracking is an essential part of industrial automation.

What are the benefits of asset tracking?

Asset tracking offers many benefits, including the following:

Transparent overview in real time: the location, status and other information of assets can be traced and documented. The (real-time) data can also be used to automate and optimize processes. Asset tracking also provides an overview of which resources and supplies are unused.
Identify untapped potential: the use of asset tracking reduces errors, reveals unused potential and at the same time increases the speed of the individual processes within the company. Data can also be used seamlessly for the automation of processes. Time and money can only be saved and processes optimized with complete transparency in production and logistics.
Real-time monitoring and alerting by tagging: asset tracking monitors movement data, load carriers, pallets, equipment or filling levels and triggers an alarm if necessary. In conjunction with camera systems, asset tracking also provides optical data (e.g. where goods are lost, damaged or stolen).
Proactive avoidance of downtime: downtime (failures) in production and logistics can be significantly reduced through asset tracking by displaying maintenance intervals and giving timely warnings about what needs to be replaced, disposed of or modernized.
View occupancy and availability: asset tracking allows a precise overview of the availability of machines, storage locations and buildings.

What are the requirements for asset tracking?

The prerequisite for optimal asset tracking is the clean and precise printed image of a code.

Codes can be applied directly (e.g. using an inkjet printer or laser) or indirectly (e.g. using barcode labels). With the appropriate software, codes are seamlessly integrated into existing ERP systems.

Below are some of the codes that can be used for asset tracking:

Barcodes

A barcode is a machine-readable arrangement of numbers and parallel lines of varying widths.

Advantages of barcodes:

They can be used flexibly (small to large formats).
They are easy to create.
They are inexpensive to manufacture.
Barcode readers are common.
They are a proven and well-known technology.

QR codes

A QR code is a pattern of black and white squares. It can be read using a smartphone or tablet and enables large amounts of information to be encoded.

Benefits of QR codes:

They bundle more information than a barcode.
It’s easy to create them.
They are inexpensive to implement.
They are a proven and well-known technology.
They are readable via a tablet or smartphone.

Data matrix codes

[Translate to Englisch:] Data Matrix Code auf einer Faltschachtel

Similar to QR codes, data matrix codes are two-dimensional barcodes that encode data in the form of an area in two directions. You can encode a large number of characters in a small space.

Advantages of data matrix codes:

They have higher data density than other barcodes.
They offer better legibility with less contrast.
They can be scanned in any position.
They offer a high fault tolerance of up to 30%.

RFID labels

[Translate to Englisch:] RFID Tag auf einem Karton

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technique that uses small computer chips to track objects at a distance.

Advantages of RFID labels:

No visual contact between transmitter and receiver is necessary.
They can be fixed invisibly.
They can store data in real time.
They allow for bulk capture.
They serve as anti-theft protection.
They are Insensitive to dirt.

Our RFID systems can test the programmed RFID labels before they are applied and automatically sort out any faulty ones using a bad tag reject unit. This brings safety to logistics and reduces downtime costs.

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