Asset tracking involves tracing and managing the location, condition, and other important aspects of an organization's assets. This is an essential process for any business looking to effectively manage and monitor its assets, such as inventory, equipment, vehicles, etc.
Companies are now deploying barcodes to track their assets. Barcodes encode information about products, assets, and other items that must be located and identified quickly. Barcode scanners decode them.
Using barcodes and barcode scanners for asset tracking has various other advantages too.
Let’s have a look at those in detail and learn why you should consider using a barcode scanner for asset tracking:
Using a barcode scanner for asset tracking is more accurate than manual methods. Manual asset tracking methods are often prone to human error and usually result in incorrect information. With barcodes, you can minimize those human errors and accurately track your assets.
Barcode scanners ensure that the asset information is accurately captured and recorded in the system, reducing errors and inaccuracies. Additionally, barcodes are susceptible to damage over time due to wear and tear. But having a barcode reader SDK from a reputable organization that can scan damaged barcodes accurately alleviates this problem.
Many companies rely on radio frequency identification (RFID) or GPS to track their assets. Asset tracking is more cost-effective with barcodes. You will receive updates on your assets, and employees can scan the barcode and notify the location of the assets.
Barcode scanners and tags are relatively inexpensive and suitable for businesses. This is an ideal solution for small and medium businesses that may not have the budget for a more advanced tracking system.
One of the key benefits of using a barcode scanner is scalability. Barcoding can be easily scaled as your business grows and assets are added. They are relatively inexpensive to print. You can easily upgrade or reduce its usage without major capital investment. Some well-known barcode reader SDK vendors allow you to create custom barcode reader software as and when you add more barcode types.
With their help, you can easily scan different barcode types from a single device. This eliminates the need for separate reading devices for different types of barcodes.
Using barcodes requires minimal training to implement and maintain a barcode system. You can easily set up barcode scanning by following a few basic guidelines. This makes the use of barcodes very beneficial.
You can print them on labels and hangtags using standard printers and software. So you don't have to worry about high deployment or training costs. You can train your staff and create a successful barcode system at low costs.
With these advantages, you must have understood why you should use a barcode scanner for asset tracking. So let's understand the different steps required to set up a barcode reader system.
Step 1: Identifying the asset
Before using a barcode scanner for asset tracking, you must identify the asset you want to track. This can include different types of assets such as tools, equipment, etc. After identifying the asset, you need to determine the barcode types. You can use one type of barcode for an asset or use different barcodes for different assets.
Step 2: Develop a barcode label
After identifying the asset and selecting the desired barcode types, the next step is to develop the barcode label. Different asset materials have different labeling requirements. For example, if you want to track metal assets, direct part marking is used. For light or shiny surfaces, it is best to use dark barcode labels for an accurate reading.
Step 3: Selecting a barcode reader
The next step is to select a barcode reader software. Make sure it is fully compatible with barcode labels used for asset tracking. Some barcode readers cannot read barcodes from highly reflective or dark surfaces due to lighting issues.
However, some well-known barcode reader SDKs can help you create custom barcode scanner software that decodes barcodes on these surfaces.
Step 4: Scanning your barcode
Once you have completed all of the above steps, it is time to scan your barcode. After scanning the barcode, see how the data is saved. Are you able to get the necessary information or is something missing?
The data captured by the scanner should include the asset's unique identifier, location, condition, and other required information. After completing all steps, ensure that adequate hands-on training is provided to employees. Ensure they can use barcode scanners accurately and achieve the necessary goals.
Using barcode scanners for asset tracking can greatly improve your business operations. This brings businesses benefits such as increased accuracy, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, ease of implementation, scalability, and improved data management.
It is an ideal solution for companies of all sizes looking to simplify asset management processes and reduce costs. In addition, implementing a barcode reading system is simple and easy. It does not require a large capital investment.
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