The world is now becoming aware of RFID and all of its abilities. You’ve no doubt seen RFID tags in restaurants and maybe even on your television screen. However, you may not know how RFID tracking can be used in your business. 

Don’t worry, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to use RFID tags in your place of work. This expert guide will teach you all that you need to know.

RFID tracking involves using Radio Frequency Identification to help you track your assets. Every RFID tag is linked to a tracking tool that allows you to ultimately track assets. You can track the asset that each tag is attached to. In fact, you can track more than each asset’s location. 

Depending on the RFID tracking tool that you use, it’s possible for you to track a lot of details about your assets. You can track each asset’s usage, maintenance record, and so much more. This potentially makes using tags such as this even more beneficial than you may have thought. They can open up a world of possibilities for you and your place of work. This is absolutely no exaggeration as you’ll probably find out should you sign up for RFID tracking.

Around since the 1970s in various shapes and forms, RFID tags are now easier and cheaper to manufacture than ever before. Livestock and rail coaches were used with RFID tags tracking them in recent years. These days, however, we tend to use tags for more than just tracking livestock, etc. 

It’s thought that one day tags may be used in everyday locations such as supermarkets, allowing the tracking of trolleys. Should a trolley go past a specific point outside, the trolley could become unusable. For now, however, a modern RFID tracking tool is ideal for tracking assets. 

It does not matter where you work or even how many team members you have, RFID could be ideal. As long as you have at least a few assets, you can make use of tags and all that they have to offer.

When you attach a tag to an asset and scan the tag you open up a digital profile. This profile can be filled up with a lot of information. 

When you use a reader to scan your assets it picks up the radio waves that are sent out by the tag in question. As long as you use a reliable RFID tracking tool you can use it to scan any asset that has a tag. 

Did you know that you can also log into the tracking tool and see where your assets are? You can see who is using your assets, what condition they’re in, and even what data they have created. Whenever you use an asset it creates data. This data is stored on the reader and it can be extracted and read in a PDF format.

There are many benefits associated with using this technology. However, they’re not immediately obvious to those who aren’t familiar with RFID. Some of the best benefits are:

A reduced incidence of theft – When all of your assets are tracked, they’re a lot less likely to go missing. This is ultimately because your team members will know that everything is tracked. When assets are tracked they’re also less likely to go missing. If they do, you could track their location and retrieve them easily. 

Increase lifespan – A lot of businesses now use an RFID tracking tool to increase the lifespan of their assets. You could set up a maintenance schedule for every asset. You’ll receive an alert on the selected date and your maintenance team can examine the asset. When assets are looked over regularly they are going to last longer. This means you could save money and that’s always a good thing.

Understand your business better – Earlier in this article, we saw that you could export the data your assets have created. This data could prove to be extremely useful. You could use it to understand your business on a whole new level. You could see how your assets are used, whether they’re reliable, who uses them, and so much more. Let’s imagine you hire out equipment. Some of your equipment may be in high demand, however, without the software you may not know what’s what. When you have a better insight into your business you are more likely to see it grow. 

As you can see, using RFID technology can allow you to have full control over your assets. It’s a form of technology that’s becoming increasingly popular in the workplace and it’s easy to see why. Now it’s your turn to make the most of all that it has to offer. 

Wish to speak with an expert about using an RFID tracking tool? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

Small businesses are those which have fewer than 50 employees. Your business might deliver to customers all over the country. However, if you have fewer than 50 people working for you, you’re considered to be a small business. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it means you have the opportunity to have more control over your business. You could potentially fine tune a lot of areas of your business before it grows. This is where using hardware asset management can come in and make a difference. 

Thanks to the way that the software works, you could have more control over your hardware assets. You could see when they need to be maintained, when they were purchased, who is using them, and so much more. It’s this that can be very beneficial to your small business.

If you want to make the most out of hardware asset management you should use modern software. Small businesses that have been running for a while might use other means and methods. However, these methods are not always ideal. 

If you use a spreadsheet or you simply don’t track your hardware assets you’re making a mistake. This is simply because there are much better ways of doing things. You could, for example, use reliable management software and track all of your hardware assets. There’s so much you can track, in fact, that you might be surprised. Sticking to your old methods means you could be left in the dark ages.

Before you sign up for some software, you should know that managing your hardware assets is relatively easy. As long as you use software that you can rely on, you could find hardware asset management is ideal. 

All that you need to do to begin is affix a tag or a barcode to your hardware assets. Scan the tag or barcode to create a digital profile for each asset. Fill the profile with useful information about each asset. Now you can track the asset every hour of every day. You can also see who’s using which asset and if it needs to be sent for repairs. 

Imagine being able to control all of your hardware assets. You could control your assets from an app on your smartphone or tablet. Alternatively, you could log into an online portal via your laptop or desktop computer. 

You could see where all of your assets are at any given time. You could also view each asset’s usage history, track the maintenance status, and more. 

When you can do all of the above, you can potentially save a lot of time. You could streamline the use of your assets and have a more efficient workplace. Imagine being able to gain access to a lot of information about your assets in no time at all. You could use the information to your advantage and understand how your business really operates. 

Thanks to the way that hardware asset management works, you could print off reports about your assets. You could see where assets are being used well and where there’s room for improvement. You could send messages via the app or online portal to your team so everyone gets the same message at the same time. 

Did you know that you could also arrange maintenance schedules via the software? Simply select a six-monthly/yearly, etc reminder and you’re good to go. Your maintenance team will receive an alert when it’s time to examine an asset. You could stay on top of maintenance easily, ensuring everything is in a better condition. What does this mean for your business? It means you could spend less money replacing and repairing your hardware assets. This can only be a good thing.

Use the management software to help you establish reliable processes, even if you have only a few assets. The beauty of you being able to do this is it gives you the chance to tweak each of the processes, should you need to. When you have this much control you can gain a lot from it. You can potentially help your business to grow even more as you have better control over your hardware assets. 

Did you know that you could also use your hardware asset management software to track other assets? They don’t have to fall under the “hardware” category. You can track whatever you wish, whenever you wish. However, tracking hardware is always a good place to start. It helps you to quickly understand the benefits of using asset management software without it being too overwhelming.

Wish to talk with an expert about using hardware asset management for your small business? Contact us today at team@itemit.com.

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

Irrespective of the type of business you run, down time is never good. There’s always a chance that you may miss deadlines and upset your customers. When you miss one deadline due to downtime, you’re likely to miss others. Alternatively, you may find that you have to hurry the rest of your orders. A direct consequence of this is you may fail to offer your customers high quality work. 

This is where using pre-emptive maintenance can be extremely useful. With the ability to help reduce downtime, it can also keep your equipment in better shape. 

Let’s take a look at how you can stay on top of downtime with a little effort on your part.

Downtime occurs when some equipment or machinery begins to fail. When failure takes place, whole orders can be delayed. Parts may not be used when they should and fresh ingredients could begin to go off. 

When some or all of the above takes place it could result in money being lost. Trust that your customers had in you may dissipate and your reputation may not be what it once was. 

While downtime may not always cause such issues, it’s still worth avoiding. The backlog of work could build up, reducing space in the warehouse. In addition to this, you and your team could feel under even more pressure. Here’s where mistakes can be made. 

When you use pre-emptive maintenance, however, it takes away those concerns. A direct consequence means that your whole team can be much more productive.

One of the greatest advantages associated with using pre-emptive maintenance is its ability to bring peace of mind. The dealing with and the planning of maintenance-related issues ensures that almost every tool, equipment, vehicle, machine, etc is ship-shape and Bristol fashion (in very good condition). 

Tackling maintenance issues before they arise also means that you can get on with the tasks your customers expect. “How do you reach this stage?” we hear you ask. It’s simple. All that you need to do is create and refer to maintenance schedules.

Creating a maintenance schedule can be fairly straightforward, depending upon the software that you use. Ideally, you would have chosen some of the latest and best software that updates itself regularly. Additionally, the software should be easy to use. 

Pre-emptive maintenance is all about planning ahead. It’s about creating those maintenance schedules for every vehicle, tool, machine, etc. It’s about knowing when something needs to be examined in case there’s a fault. 

When it comes to the process of creating a maintenance schedule, you should find that it’s fairly easy. Simply set a reminder when you’d like the tool, for example, to be examined. Giving the reminder a name such as “Six-monthly maintenance reminder” makes sense. It also helps you to remember to set other reminders in the future.

Some tracking tools specifically let you set maintenance reminders. Others will only let you set reminders/alarms. However, you can typically name the alarms/reminders, helping you to keep track of them. 

Once your reminders have been set, just make sure that your maintenance team knows about them. They should be able to set new reminders and let you know when something has been repaired.

Once reminders have been set you’ll need to keep track of them. We’ve already seen that you’ll need to set them again. This is all part of the pre-emptive maintenance process. 

Make sure everything is regularly maintained so that it stays in the best possible condition. Don’t miss anything out, even the equipment that you rarely ever use. It will still need to be looked after. 

Ensure the maintenance team has the right tools so they can get the job done. Also, remind them to check off when maintenance has been completed on any tool, vehicle, etc. This will help you to understand what still needs to be done.

The best way for you to avoid downtime is to create a plan and stick to it. Think about what type of equipment you use and how often it needs to be looked over. Consider what you will do should you need to replace your equipment. Do you have a spare to use in the meantime or can you have a replacement delivered quickly? If you really want to avoid downtime in the future, you’ll need to keep on top of the maintenance. Read those reports you printed off and see what’s been repaired and what is still waiting. If things are breaking down consider sending them for maintenance more often. Whatever it is that you decide to do, do what you can to avoid downtime in the future. You need to keep your business running so you and your customers are happy.

Wish to chat with an expert about using pre-emptive maintenance and other strategies to reduce asset downtime? Contact us today at team@itemit.com. 

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

Anyone who works in a warehouse will tell you that organisation is key. Knowing where everything is needs to be a top priority. This is simply because you cannot go about your work if the warehouse is untidy. 

We all know that keeping a warehouse tidy and organised is often easier said than done. When multiple people work in one area, chances are at least a few of them will be disorganised. The very good news is that when you use equipment tracking software, keeping your warehouse organised is easy. Let’s take a look at how you too can have an organised and tidy warehouse.

To begin with, you need to add an RFID tag to all of your assets or pallets. When you add a tag you start the ball rolling in the equipment tracking process.

An RFID tag contains data that helps you to track the location of the asset it’s attached to. It’s able to do this because once the tag is attached you need to scan it. Once scanned, you will see that a digital price has been created. This profile can be full of useful information about the asset in question.

If you don’t need to tag individual assets but pallets or cages of stock instead, RFID tags can still prove useful. They can show you exactly where the pallets or cages are. Consequently, you should be able to find the cage of stock you need, when you need it.

As we have already seen, you need to set up a digital profile. Don’t worry, this is a fairly easy thing to do. All that’s required is for you to scan the tag you have attached to an asset or pallet, etc. Then, a profile will open up. Now, (as we saw earlier) you will have the chance to add details about the asset or pallet. 

You could, for example, add information about the asset’s date of purchase, cost, model number, and more. If you’re tracking a cage or a pallet, you could mention where it’s located and the location/pallet number (if applicable) that’s been assigned to it. This will help you to find there the pallet is located, thereby saving you and your team some time. This is one of the benefits associated with using equipment tracking software. 

Now it’s time for you to start tracking everything. This is where your new equipment tracking software will come into its own. Your shiny new software can show you a pallet’s last-known location and even where a cage of stock is now

Did you know that as soon as you scan an RFID tag the software automatically starts scanning the tag’s location? This ensures that you can see where your pallet of goods is all day, every single day. 

When you start tracking pallets, etc. You instantly become more organised. You can see where they’re located in the warehouse. This will no doubt help you to retrieve assets quicker. It can also help you to know which pallet or cage needs filling up with new stock.

When you know where everything is all of the time fewer things will go missing. In fact, your new equipment tracking software will act a little like a security system. When everyone knows that everything is tracked they’re unlikely to remove it from the premises. 

Should something get lost in your warehouse, simply log into your software and locate it. Within seconds. Yes, it is this simple. 

When you know where everything is you can have peace of mind. You can rest assured that your warehouse (and any other location where stock is stored) is organised. 

As soon as you start to track everything you’ll also start to work more efficiently. You won’t need to traipse around your warehouse searching for a pallet of stock. You won’t need to ask a colleague to help you locate a cage of stock that needs to be delivered. 

As we have already seen, you can log into the software and find out where your pallets, cages, etc. are located. A direct consequence of this means that you could meet deadlines sooner. Your business could benefit from having happier customers. Additionally, you can understand what stock you actually have in the far corners of the warehouse. 

Give your business the chance it needs to thrive. Get your warehouse more organised by using tracking software. Know what’s coming in and out of your warehouse and what stock is left behind. Locate everything in no time at all so you and your team can get on with other tasks. 

Wish to chat with someone knowledgeable about equipment tracking for your warehouse? Contact us today at team@itemit.com. 

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

When was the last time you used a spreadsheet? If you’ve used one recently you’ll know how frustrating they can be. If you’ve not used a spreadsheet for a while, is it because they’re not particularly good? Or have you moved into something better?

Spreadsheets are perfectly good if you wish to make a list, display some sums, or even make a note of your wages. However, they tend to be less-than-perfect & not ideal for the modern world. 

One of the best things that you can do is to get rid of spreadsheets so you can save money. If you use a spreadsheet to track your assets you could be missing out. Modern asset tracking can track your assets and do so much more. 

Let’s take a look at why you need to eliminate spreadsheets and move on to something better.

Some businesses still use spreadsheets because they always have. However, this is not a great idea as this form of “technology” is very limited. 

If a lot of people have access to the spreadsheet, there’s a lot of room for error. For example, you could input data correctly, but how do you know if everyone else has? If, for example, a team member noted that they received 500 units instead of 600, the data would be incorrect. If you were to use equations that were based on the incorrect data, there could be a lot of issues. 

This is one of the reasons why asset tracking software is used instead of spreadsheets. The tracking software is a lot less likely to contain errors. Should you let the software deal with a lot of aspects of your business, for example, it could order 600 units when your stock gets low. It could note what has arrived, when it’s arrived, and who dealt with the order. A consequence of this ensures that all of your data is correct.

In addition to incorrect data, spreadsheets could also contain incomplete data. Incomplete data could result in you not knowing how your business is performing. If you don’t know how your business is performing, how can you make decisions about its future?

When you decide to make the switch to asset tracking software there won’t be any incomplete data. You will have all of the information you need to hand, at all times. A direct result of this means that you’ll always know what’s what and how your business is performing. With information such as this, you can make the right business decisions. Being able to control your business in this way is very satisfying. It allows you to have more control over many aspects of your business.

As we have already seen, spreadsheets could be full of errors. A direct result of this means there’s a potential for your business to fail. This is understandably the last thing you want to happen. So, using tracking software instead ensures that all of those potential errors never occur. 

Did you know that when you track your assets using modern tracking software, multiple people can access it? The good news is that you won’t have to worry about mistakes being made. Every time someone enters data you can make sure it’s correct. As the manager, you could see what data’s been entered and check that all is above-board.

It’s safe to say that asset tracking is the future. It’s a form of technology that is growing and developing. Using a range of digital tools, tracking software works hard so you don’t have to. In addition to this, the software has a real ability to save you money. 

Let’s imagine that someone has incorrectly inputted how much profit you’ve made. A direct consequence of this means you could lose money. However, when you use software that works well, you could save your money instead. 

Saving money is far easier when you have modern technology at your fingertips. You can see what’s what and whether your business is doing well. Tracking software could also allow you to set up maintenance schedules ensuring all of your equipment stays in good condition. This will directly save you cash as your equipment will last longer. 

It makes a lot of sense for you to stop using spreadsheets. While they worked seemingly well for a while, their heyday was many moons ago. Now, it’s time to make the most of everything that asset tracking has to offer. Use the software to its full advantage so your business starts to reap the rewards today. 

Wish to talk with an expert about using asset tracking to help you save money? Contact us today at team@itemit.com.

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started