RFID has revolutionized many industries, including asset management. RFID asset management is a perfect solution to better manage assets.

As we all know, asset management is both important and complex. It has the characteristics of large quantities, many kinds, high value, long use cycle that make it more difficult to manage. But the rise of RFID technology has solved this problem perfectly.

So what is the RFID asset management system? How does RFID asset tracking work? What advantages? What are its specific applications? How to choose RFID tags for asset management? We’re going to demystify it with five questions.

What is the RFID Asset Management System?

The asset management RFID system is a contactless automatic identification system. It automatically identifies the target object and obtains relevant data through RF signals.

RFID asset management system combines RFID technology with network, and software technology. This system provides faster, more careful accurate daily management for assets. It can realize real-time monitoring, automatic recording, and checking inventory.

The system generally consists of the following parts:

1、 Readers and Antennas: The RFID reader (reader-writer) communicates wirelessly with the RFID tag through the antenna. It can identify tags and support reading or writing code and data.
2、 RFID Electronic Tags: The electronic tag is affixed to the surface of the asset. It can realize the identification and tracking of the asset. Anti-metal tag is a commonly used RFID tag in IT asset management.
3、 Card Issuer: It is used to write data for the RFID tag including asset name, model, bar code number, etc. And it can set a password to lock the data area to prevent rewriting the data in the electronic tag.
4、 Handset: You can use it to take asset inventory quickly by reading the RFID tags attached to the asset. And this device can send the tag information to the background server for processing.
5、RFID Asset Management System Software: It includes an asset management system platform and handheld asset management software.

How does RFID Asset Tracking Work?

The RFID system uses electronic tags to identify objects and exchange the data with the reader through radio waves.

The reader can transmit the read and write commands of the host to the tag, and then transmit the data returned to the host.

The host data exchange and management system are responsible for the storage, management, and control of the RFID tag data information.

What are the Advantages of RFID Asset Management System?

RFID assets management system is an asset information management system designed by using RFID technology, which can achieve long-distance, fast, batch identification with anti-pollution ability.

The system carries on the scientific management around the “in, out, use” links of assets, completes the daily business management of assets, such as procurement, registration, allocation, maintenance, scrapping, and provides the whole life cycle tracking management of equipment.

Why does more and more enterprise asset management choose the RFID system? Here are some reasons.

• Long-distance rapid identification, high reliability, high confidentiality, easy to operate, and expand.
• The asset statement is clear at a glance, making it easy to query at any time.
• Effectively and accurately identify, collect, record, and track the data and information of the enterprise’s fixed assets to ensure the rational use of the assets.
• Solve the problems of disorder and poor real-time performance in enterprise asset management.
• The whole life cycle management of assets is realized, and the system can update the dynamics of assets in real-time.
• Users count and query the asset data through the visual system operation interface.
• Each fixed asset has its own unique identification, which is convenient to grade and find.
• Multiple asset inventory methods, including online, offline, single person, collaborative, etc.
• Event Reminder: It can remind the things that need to be dealt with, support SMS notification.

What are its Specific Applications?

RFID asset management system can be applied to all walks of life, making asset management automatic and intelligent and realizing asset information management. Common applications are as follows:

• Factory equipment fixed assets
• Office supplies asset management
• Instrumental asset management
• Firearm management
• Hospital and Aged Care asset management
• Mobile maintenance management
• School and educational assets
• IT asset management and tracking
• Trees management
• Authenticate goods and materials management
• AV (Audio-Visual) production equipment management

RFID asset management system is not static. According to different application environments, the design of the system is also very different. The realization of the function is also closely related to the specific requirements of the application. Here are some subdivided application scenarios.

1、One-stop Management

It mainly includes the daily work of adding, modifying, withdrawing, transferring, deleting, borrowing, returning, maintaining, calculating depreciation rate, and salvage rate of fixed assets.

2、Asset Inventory

Through the real-time data collection of RFID, the rapid registration and real-time update of asset information can be realized, including delivery, warehousing, transfer, and inventory. At the same time, inventory history can be automatically saved and can be queried at any time.

3、Batch Storage

Batch input of assets can be realized. The storage information of assets can be synchronously updated to the background by automatic scanning and storage of RFID equipment, to improve the storage efficiency.

4、Automatic Alarm

For asset loss, illegal label disassembly, unauthorized movement, and other conditions, the system can view and deal with alarm information in real-time in the management interface.

5、Report Analysis

The RFID system can realize the query and management of asset-related management information, personnel & department information, running status, data reports, etc. Then it is capable of making a data report according to the management requirements.

How to Choose the Asset Management RFID Tag?

In fixed assets management, there are two kinds of asset management RFID tags: Common RFID tags and Anti-metal tags. Ordinary labels do not work on metal surfaces, but the anti-metal tags can.

Among them, anti-metal tags include a variety of forms, such as flexible anti-metal tags, ABS hard tags, PCB tags, ceramic tags, etc.  Ordinary RFID tags are suitable for wood, plastic, paper, and other assets, while anti-metal labels are fit for assets that made of metal materials, like RFID IT asset management.

1、Common RFID Tag for Library Asset Management

This is the most common RFID electronic tag in fixed asset management. Compared with the traditional bar code label, it has the advantages of fast reading, near interval scanning, adjustable reading interval, etc. It has a wide range of applications, convenient and fast.

2、Soft Flexible Metal Tag for Office Assets Management

The flexible Metal tag is specially designed for objects with the metal surface. It has the characteristics of long reading distance, high sensitivity, small size, and easy installation, and the surface can print visual data. It is an economical solution for computer asset management and other indoor asset management.

3、RFID PCB Tag for Large Equipment Management

The PCB tag is packaged with PCB material, and the antenna is a specially designed internal circuit. This kind of label works well on metal objects just as ordinary RFID tags work on wooden objects, cardboard boxes, and other surfaces. Besides, it has the advantages of low cost and flexible design. It is the perfect solution for IT asset management, tool & equipment management, etc.

4、ABS Anti-metal Tag for IT asset management

ABS hard label uses the high temperature resistant industrial ABS plastic. And there is a metal shielding material in it, so it can work well on a metal surface. It features corrosion resistance and impact resistance that can be used outdoors. It is widely used in IT asset management.

5、RFID Tree Nail Tag for Tree Management

RFID nail tag is designed for timber asset management or tree track. It can be embedded directly into an object, not easy to destroy and remove, very suitable for tree and wood tracking and identification. RFID tree nail tag comes in various sizes and chips to cater to different applications. Besides, because of its ferrite core antenna, it has a really good reading distance.

6、RFID Ceramic Tag for Electronic Components Management

Ceramic tag is an electronic tag based on ceramic material packaging, with high electrical characteristics and high performance, small size, fragile, and anti-transfer. The electronic tag antenna on the ceramic substrate has the advantages of low dielectric loss, good high flattening characteristics, stable antenna performance, and high sensitivity. It is especially suitable for the asset management of electrical components.

The benefits of RFID technology to asset management are self-evident. But because the enterprise assets involve a wide range of areas, so it is necessary to carefully consider and design for different use scenarios, and choose reasonable RFID technology and products. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.