What Is RFID And How Does It Work?

What Is RFID And How Does It Work?

What Is RFID And How Does It Work?

How do you track assets without pasting QR codes over them? How do you scan an asset tag if it’s not directly in your line of sight? How can you record the location of your assets automatically? There’s a single solution to all of these questions: RFID asset tracking

The most technologically-advanced organisations around the globe are using RFID technology to upgrade their asset tracking solutions, increase productivity and maximise profits. While the trend towards RFID asset tracking is rising, some businesses are still doubtful about it. Primarily because they’re not sure how the technology works and how can they use it in their day-to-day work.

How Does An RFID Fixed Asset Tracking System Work


What is RFID?

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. It’s a system of data communication whereby data stored in an RFID asset label is transferred to an RFID reader through radio waves. Unique radio waves emitted by the tag allows the reader to identify individual assets. 

The complete system comprises three units, the RFID tag, RFID reader and the antenna. Although the technology has various applications, we will focus on how it works with asset tracking for now.


How Does RFID Asset Tracking Work?

You might already be aware of how QR code or barcode technology works. When a QR code is scanned by a camera, or when a barcode is read by laser light reflections, the reading device identifies the item it’s associated with. 

An RFID system works in the same way, the only difference is that it reads radio waves instead of images or laser light. Instead of QR codes or barcodes, you are given RFID asset tags that can be installed unobtrusively on an asset. For instance, if you want to track a painting, the tag can be attached on the reverse of the frame. 

The RFID tag emits unique low-frequency radio waves that can be read by the reader even when the tag is not directly visible. The RFID asset tracking system records information like asset identity, location and other details and stores it automatically within an online database. All of this is done with very little manual intervention.


More About RFID Asset Labels and Readers

itemit’s RFID asset tags have two units inside: the RFID chip and the antenna. The chip, also known as Integrated Circuit, stores all the essential data about the asset. The antenna receives and transmits radio waves to and from the chip. These are passive asset labels, which means they have no power source of their own and are powered by the radio waves they receive. 

The mention of the antenna might suggest a long protruding stick attached to the asset tag. However, the entire RFID asset label is no more than a 96x24mm self-adhesive sticker that does not weigh more than 2g. Our RFID tags can be read from up to a distance of 6m and are compatible with metal, plastic and ceramic surfaces. 

An RFID reader, on the other hand, is a larger device that sends, receives and interprets radio waves to display readable information. itemit offers fixed readers, as well as handheld RFID scanner systems to suit your needs.


Applications of RFID Asset Tracking

RFID asset tracking gives you next-level automation that improves your asset management operations a lot. In this section, you’ll learn about some of the many applications of RFID asset tracking. This will help you better understand how this technology can be utilised in your business.


High Value Asset Tracking

When you have large collections of very expensive artwork hung on walls, the last thing you want to do is stick barcodes/QR codes on to the artwork. RFID gives you a solution that means you can  attach RFID tags to the reverse of artwork and put the painting back on the wall. Now when you need to stock take or audit your collection, you can simply wave your RFID reader and the asset’s tag will be detected even without line of sight.


IT Asset Tracking

When you have large collections of very expensive artwork hung on walls, the last thing you want to do is stick barcodes/QR codes on to the artwork. RFID gives you a solution that means you can  attach RFID tags to the reverse of artwork and put the painting back on the wall. Now when you need to stock take or audit your collection, you can simply wave your RFID reader and the asset’s tag will be detected even without line of sight.


Vehicle Tracking

Using RFID technology has three major benefits. 

  • Vehicle access control: With RFID tags installed in a vehicle, automated systems can scan the tag to know whether a vehicle is permitted to enter a building or parking area or not. 
  • Vehicle identification: When you’re working with a lot of vehicles, trying to remember details like a model number or engine power can be hard. However, identifying vehicles and accessing their information by scanning their RFID tag makes life much easier. This application comes in handy for companies like car dealerships, car rental agencies, and car washes. 

Vehicle tracking: RFID technology won’t be able to track vehicles over long routes and in real-time, for that you’d need GPS trackers instead. However, if your vehicle passes through ‘choke points’ on your sites, the RFID tags can be detected and that vehicle’s location updated.


itemit’s RFID Asset Tracking System

itemit has the world’s simplest RFID asset tracking system. Created by industry-leading RFID specialists, our off the shelf solution will give you the highest level of automation in asset management almost instantly. 

Fill in the form below to start your 14-day free trial risk-free. You can also contact our team at team@itemit.com if you’ve got any questions or need some advice.

What Is RFID?

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What To Add To Your Asset Register

What To Add To Your Asset Register

What To Add To Your Asset Register

Your asset register is a key tool in your asset management operations. With an asset register, you get more visibility over what your assets are doing, who has them and where they are.

Now, you can use asset tracking software to maintain and update an asset register automatically, too, so you don’t even need to go into any spreadsheets and manually change things.

With asset tracking software, you simply need to scan asset tags to create a robust and transparent audit trail of where assets have been and whether they’ve been seen or not.

How To Keep Your Fixed Asset Register Accurate


What Is An Asset Register?

In short, an asset register is a list of your company’s tools, equipment, and other forms of assets. You can create an IT asset register or a fixed asset register simply by populating your asset list with that type of equipment.

You can then use your asset list for tax, insurance, and accounting purposes to name a few. This is as an asset register is essentially just a list of equipment and critical data logged against that.

Spreadsheets used to be the gold standard for asset lists, but with the creation of software and apps, quickly became outdated. This is as maintaining a list of all of your assets and critical data related to them quickly gives rise to a wide range of issues. These will result in gaps in data and accountability issues.


What Should You Add To Your Asset Register?

So, when you’re creating a list of assets, what should you add to it? The short answer is that it’ll depend on your business and the problems you’re trying to solve with an asset register.

Therefore, if you’re working in a school, you’ll want a school asset register of IT equipment and whiteboards, for example. You may want to create a list of your IT assets, too, for IT asset management purposes if you’re in any business.

Or, you can create fixed asset tracking operations for clearer tax and insurance returns and more visibility over how your assets are depreciating.

The best place to start is by looking at what problems you need to solve. If it’s related to lost or misplaced assets, your asset register may be industry-specific or relevant to your business’s particular assets. If you’re hoping to improve your fixed asset tracking processes, you can do so by only adding fixed assets to your asset register. And if you want to track your employees’ assets and accesses, you can build an IT asset register.


Using Asset Tags

Once you’ve built your asset register, the next step is to monitor it and maintain it. The fastest way you can do this is with the use of asset tags. With asset tags, you can view and edit asset data simply by scanning a QR code or barcode.

Every time an asset’s tag is scanned, the last seen GPS location updates and the user who scanned the tag, alongside the time of the scan, is all logged. This means you get an audit trail that you can run reports on and maintain.

Every scan also opens up an asset’s profile, meaning if you spot a lost laptop in your building and want to see who is responsible for it, all you need to do is scan the tag.

This helps you keep your asset register relevant, usable and up to date, helping you avoid risks such as ghost and zombie assets.


itemit’s Asset Tracking Software

itemit’s asset tracking software gives you the ability to do all of this and more. With itemit, you can view asset data and manage reports of this information.

itemit is easy to use and effective at helping you track your assets, meaning you can keep your asset records correct and up to date with ease.

You can scale itemit and use it to track any different type of asset, meaning that no matter the asset register you’re creating, you can do so using itemit.

To find out more, you can contact the team at team@itemit.com or fill in the form below to start your very own 14-day free trial.

Asset Tracking Software

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The Best Way To Track Asset Lifecycle

The Best Way To Track Asset Lifecycle

The Best Way To Track Asset Lifecycle

When you track your assets’ lifecycles, you get more use and longevity out of your assets. Knowing what state your assets and tools are in, where they are and how usable they are all gives you a return on investment.

As you’re able to monitor your assets, you can make decisions based on this information, too, such as which assets you need to decommission, purchase, and deploy.

Overall, asset lifecycle tracking gives you more visibility and control over your assets which, in turn, gives you back time and money.

The Best Way To Track Asset Lifecycle


What Is Asset Lifecycle Tracking?

Asset lifecycle tracking is the discipline of monitoring an asset throughout its lifetime. This means monitoring an asset from when it’s received, to when it’s put in use, to when it’s decommissioned, to when it’s either sold on or scrapped.

There are various important parts to asset lifecycle tracking, including maintenance monitoring for routine and reactive maintenance. You need to reduce asset downtime and know about issues as early as possible so that they don’t become fatal for the asset.

You also need to be able to track your assets’ depreciation so that you can see which assets are no longer economical to use and replace them in a healthy, and timely, schedule.


Why You Should Track Assets

So, why should you go through these asset tracking operations? It’s quite simple: when you track equipment checkouts, issues, and locations, you get much more visibility over your assets.

This visibility saves you time and money and gives you more accountability over your assets. In turn, this translates to longer asset lives and more accurate tax and insurance reports.

You also avoid risks such as misplacing assets. A lost asset can decrease your visibility over your accounts and, therefore, offset any depreciation calculations and create a risk of ghost assets.


The Best Way To Track Your Assets’ Lifecycles

So, what is the best way to track your assets’ lifecycles? Quite simply it’s the use of asset tracking software.

With asset tracking software you’re able to log all of your assets and equipment onto a system and physically track them. You can add critical data and information against these assets, too, such as issues and maintenance.

A clean UI makes pinpointing growing asset issues or risks simple and, therefore, allows you to mitigate an accelerated end of life for your assets.

You’ll be able to use software for IT asset management, fixed asset tracking, tools and equipment tracking and more, ultimately tracking the asset lifecycle of all of this kit.

Then, you can increase usability, accountability and visibility even further by using asset tags. Asset tags allow you to automate auditing as, every time you scan an assets’ tag, that assets’ last seen location will update.


itemit’s Asset Tracking Software

itemit’s asset tracking software gives you a cloud-based app and integrated web portal. This means that any changes you make onsite are also reflected on your desktop, ready for you to run and edit reports on.

With itemit, you can run reports on your assets to see which assets need the most maintenance and have issues associated with them. You can also run reports to see which assets have and haven’t been scanned after a certain date.

Ultimately, itemit gives you the visibility you need over your assets to take them further and get the most use out of them possible, while also helping you reclaim accountability over your assets.

To find out more about how itemit can help your business, you can contact the team at team@itemit.com or fill in the form below to start your 14-day free trial.

Asset Lifecycle

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How Important Is Tools Tracking?

How Important Is Tools Tracking?

How Important Is Tools Tracking?

Construction, electrical, plumbing, automotive or manufacturing, you name it. All these industries are heavily reliant on a large number of tools and equipment. Not only that, almost every medium-to-large scale establishment has a department that operates with a lot of tools for its day-to-day operations. 

If your work involves using different tools, you’d already have your reasons for getting a tools tracking system. But if you’re an executive member who isn’t involved with tool-intensive work or you just need some convincing about getting tools tracking software for your organisation, this 4-minute read is for you.

The Complete Guide To Tools Tracking


What Does a Tools Tracking System Do?

itemit’s tool tracking system allows you to track your tools in real-time. From smaller hand tools like hammers and spanners to large units like cement mixers and wheelbarrows, you can track them all from one cloud-based platform. 

With itemit, you can see what tools you have, who has them and where they are, and every other important detail so you never lose a piece of equipment again. It also gives you valuable insight on tool utilisation trends so you can make the most out of your tools and make well-informed tool purchases.


Why Should You Get a Tools Tracking System?

Everything from a small tool like a screwdriver to a more important piece of machinery like a large drill machine forms the backbone of your company. To keep your business running smoothly, it’s imperative to ensure all its nuts and bolts are kept track of, in place and tightened! 

In a tool-intensive industry like construction or automobile repair, tracking your tools should be a huge concern. Simply because you incur huge losses in time, productivity and money in the absence of a robust tool tracking system

The slightest deviations from the work plan, for instance, time lost in recovering a lost tool, can cause huge delays in project completion. Because this is not just half an hour lost on finding one screwdriver. This is an aggregate of multiple days lost on finding different tools misplaced by different employees every day!

On top of that, when you keep losing track of your tools, the delay also increases the cost of project completion. There are irregularities in tool data when you don’t have a tools tracking system, and this, in turn, leads you to make incorrect decisions about your company’s capability. You cannot provide accurate time and cost estimates. Time loss coupled with incorrect estimates results in the actual project completion cost being much more than what you initially anticipated. 

All in all, not tracking your tools leads you to faulty decision making, incompetent planning, and ultimately, the inability to fulfil commitments. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more ways how tools tracking software helps your business


Enables You to Manage Tools and Equipment Properly

When you’ve got dozens, if not hundreds, of tools being used by employees, making sure that each piece of equipment is maintained and is working properly can feel like a gigantic task. And it is as important as it is difficult. As a services company, you don’t want your heavy equipment breaking down at the wrong time, resulting in huge productivity and financial losses. 

Undoubtedly, tools go through wear and tear when they’re used and will not always stay in mint condition. It’s especially essential to keep an eye out for the most important equipment and make sure they’re working properly. 

With a tool tracking system, any employee can report issues with equipment so the responsible person can take care of its maintenance in time. This increases productivity and maximises your tools’ life cycle so you can get the most out of them.


Increases Productivity by Streamlining Operations

Tools tracking makes work much easier and more efficient, this is especially true if your employees have rotating shift hours. For instance, medical workers or builders rotating shifts find it very hard to find essential equipment where it was left off by a previous shift worker. This leads to unnecessary hassle for the employees just beginning to start their shift, and a loss of precious time and energy. Tool tracking can help streamline this process by allowing employees to pick up essential tools and get to work right away. 

That is not all. Tool tracking software enables you to track tool utilisation and identify equipment-related problems that are slowing down the work. This way you can address a shortage in your tools inventory timely and keep operations running at full capacity. Brilliant.


Provides an Immediate Boost to Your Management Skills

No matter how proficient you may be at what you do, no matter how skilled your employees are, poor management leads to poor performance. If you have your tools and equipment disorganised all over your workplace and project site, and if you’re not using a state-of-the-art tool tracking system to track them, you’re losing out on a lot!

itemit’s tool tracking software can instantly boost your management skills and help you get everything on record and tracked. This means you stop losing tools every now and then and you are aware of the tools you have. Most of all, the heavy burden of keeping track of company tools can be shared by all employees as everyone can access and record tool details through the itemit app.


Bottom Line

itemit’s tool tracking software allows you to carry out all of the tool tracking functions mentioned above and much more including the ability to book tools, check tool bookings, and equipment check-in and checkouts.

Using our tool tracking software is super easy, and you can learn how to track your tools in just a few minutes. To find out more about how itemit’s tool tracking software can help your business, you can contact the team at team@itemit.com. You can also fill in the form below to start your 14-day free trial.

Tools Tracking

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The Most Common Asset Tracking Uses

The Most Common Asset Tracking Uses

The Most Common Asset Tracking Uses

Asset tracking is a huge part of successful organisational management. The most successful enterprises around the world are harnessing the power of effective asset tracking to increase productivity and maximise their profits.

It’s no surprise that asset management software is taking the business world by storm. Not only that, its wide range of benefits and versatile functionality has also attracted governments, military agencies and individual users to implement asset tracking technology for their respective uses. 

If you’re not sure whether you need an asset tracking solution or not, discovering the most common uses for asset tracking might help you make your decision. This way, you can learn about the various ways itemit is used in different industries and possibly identify how you can use it for your needs.

The Importance of Fixed Asset Tracking


Most Common Asset Tracking Uses

  • Fixed Asset Register
  • IT Asset Management
  • Equipment Check-in and Checkout Software
  • High-value Asset Management
  • Digital Asset Tracking
  • Personal Use


Fixed Asset Management

One of the most common uses for asset tracking is keeping a fixed asset register. A fixed asset register logs, tracks and manages permanent business assets that can’t be readily converted into cash.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that every business must maintain an up-to-date fixed asset register. It gives you summarised information on what assets your business has, and what they are worth. 

It enables an organisation to record and maintain accurate financial and non-financial data for each fixed asset. This way, it can easily evaluate its assets when needed. Plus, there are many other benefits of using a fixed asset register.


IT Asset Management

Fixed asset management represents a wide umbrella that involves tracking every asset an organisation intends to use or own for more than a year. Within this umbrella, IT assets are the most commonly tracked asset type across the world. 

Apart from a few primary sector industries, all other segments of the economy involve the intensive use of IT assets from computers, laptops, and smartphones to USB sticks, scanners and photocopiers. If you think about it, you might not be able to identify more than a few industries that do not need all these devices to function.

Such widespread use of IT assets calls for IT asset management. This involves keeping track of all IT assets including hardware and software you own.


Equipment Check-in and Checkout Software

Asset tracking comes in handy when employees have to frequently take company-issued assets out of the workplace. itemit can also be used as an equipment checkout software solution. It enables employees to book assets in advance so they can take them without any difficulty when need be. 

You can track assets in real-time as they are moved in and out of the workplace. Every asset detail from its location to who has it can is just a few touches away with itemit. This application reduces the risk of asset theft to a bare minimum and develops a sense of accountability among employees to keep assets in good shape.


High-value Asset Management

Logging, tracking and managing high-value assets like works of art, jewellery, historical artefacts, high-value wines, valuable documents or anything that’s considered precious is another common use of asset tracking. Asset tracking software can be used to securely track and manage your precious collections and keep an eye on insurance details, asset valuations and locations from a mobile app or web portal.

With itemit, you can record important information like insurance details, current valuation, insured value and so on. This way you can have a complete and easy-to-access financial record of your high-value assets safely stored with itemit. So, whenever you need to audit your assets, simply download the asset register pdf report.

What’s more, the location of an asset is updated each time it’s scanned with the itemit app. All in all, High-value asset management is a great way to keep an eye on high-value assets from a single interface.


Digital Asset Tracking

Businesses today own more than just the brick and mortar assets of the past. The digital revolution has brought about new phenomena such as NFTs (Non-fungible tokens) and Cryptocurrencies. These are considered as digital assets in the modern world, and like all assets, they must be tracked for a range of asset details. 

Unlike physical assets, you won’t be tracking digital assets for their location and maintenance status. But there’s a whole different set of asset details you need to record for digital assets. With itemit, you can review all digital assets from one portal rather than having to go on different platforms.


Personal Use

We all are aware of asset tracking for business and workplace management. But did you know you could also use itemit as a free household inventory app?

You can keep an inventory of collectables like books, antiques or bottles of wine, organise stuff for better storage and also keep track of household items if you’re moving your house.


itemit’s Asset Tracking Software

itemit’s asset tracking software is a flexible system that you can use for a surprisingly wide range of uses. Different businesses can have different applications which results in a unique set of uses and benefits for every business. 

itemit is not just for single-person use. It can be shared by all employees or members of an organisation. This level of shareability means that the system can be split between different departments for different uses and to track different assets.

To find out more ways you can use asset tracking software, you can contact the team at team@itemit.com. You can also fill in the form below to start your 14-day free trial.

Asset Tracking Software

Choose a better way to track your assets

Start your free 14-day trial now

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

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How Does Hardware Asset Management Benefit Your Business?

How Does Hardware Asset Management Benefit Your Business?

How Does Hardware Asset Management Benefit Your Business?

Hardware Asset Management, also known as HAM, is a core part of the wider IT Asset Management. While IT Asset Management encompasses everything IT from purchased software to Wi-Fi routers, Hardware Asset Management focuses solely on physical items in the vast realm of Information Technology. 

As the name suggests, HAM involves tracking and managing all pieces of hardware ranging from high-end laptops, screens, and servers to keyboards, mice and USB cables. All in all, every item that can be connected to a computer by any means is considered IT hardware.

Hardware Asset Management


Why is Hardware Asset Management Important for Your Business?

Before we come to the wide range of benefits of using Hardware Asset Management, let’s first cover the essentials. 

If your organisation equips its employees with IT assets, and computing is an essential part of your daily work, Hardware Asset Management is crucial to develop transparency and accountability with your IT assets. When each employee is equipped with multiple company-issued hardware assets, HAM is a must-have to keep track of each piece of hardware in a simple, but effective manner. 

Managing your hardware assets gives you access to real-time information on your company’s hardware asset inventory, an overview of each asset’s life cycle, and how it’s being utilised and by whom.


7 Benefits of Using Hardware Asset Management for Businesses

  • Saves You Money
  • Maximises Returns on Investment 
  • Optimises Hardware Utilisation and Procurement 
  • Makes You More Productive
  • Better Asset Security
  • The Advantage of Centralised Information 
  • Helps You be GDPR Compliant


Saves You Money

Apart from hardware procurement, a lot of money is spent on the maintenance of these assets. When done right, you can minimise the expenses your business bears in the shape of hardware asset maintenance. 

Unplanned and delayed maintenance can increase the costs of maintenance unnecessarily. It can even lead to permanent damage to hardware assets, resulting in a bigger financial loss. 

With a Hardware Asset Management software solution, you can track your assets and schedule maintenance ahead of time. HAM also allows you to identify and get rid of end-of-life hardware that does not perform and is only incurring extra maintenance costs.


Maximises Return on Investment

Hardware Asset Management helps you maximise your ROI in two ways. Firstly, it helps you make the most out of every piece of hardware. As mentioned above, you’ll be able to extend hardware life and keep it performing productively through proper asset maintenance. This means every piece of hardware generates more money than what was initially spent on acquiring it. 

Secondly, HAM gives you valuable insight into best-performing, most-used and the most under-utilised assets. This information will help you make better decisions to acquire the most suitable hardware assets for your business in the future.


Optimises Hardware Utilisation and Procurement

By focusing on idle and underused hardware, Hardware Asset Management helps you get the most out of your assets. You can accurately keep track of your hardware inventory and avoid overspending on hardware assets that end up on shelves. 

Having a clear overview of your hardware inventory and knowing what is available will let you avoid purchasing hardware that you already have.


Makes Your Company More Productive

Using manual methods for asset tracking is a burdensome administrative task. You might already be tired of wasting time and energy on simple data entry for asset management. With this software solution, you not only save time yourself but also save your employees’ time. Allowing them to focus on their primary responsibilities better. Moreover, it’s easy to predict and prevent hardware problems with HAM so there are no unexpected delays in work.


Better Asset Security

Hardware asset theft is, unfortunately, not uncommon. Not only is it a huge nuisance, but a bigger challenge is presented in the form of the time and money lost due to unexpected work delays and loss of productivity. However, when you’re tracking your hardware with HAM, tracking and reducing asset theft is very easy.

You have a complete list of all hardware assets and who has them so you can maintain the utmost accountability for any lost or damaged assets. The check-in and checkout software keeps a vigilant eye on all hardware going in and out of the workplace.


The Advantage of Centralised Information

One of the biggest advantages of using Hardware Asset Management software is the availability of crucial information at a centralised, easy-to-use, online database. Having all hardware asset data in one place gives you hands-on control over your assets and helps with accurate audits.


Helps You be GDPR Compliant

EU GDPR compliance requires companies to keep a record of all assets used to collect, store or process personal data. Plus, a record of who uses these assets is also required. Hardware Asset Management makes acquiring GDPR compliance a breeze since you’re already tracking all your hardware assets.


itemit’s Hardware Asset Management Software

itemit has one of the most advanced asset management systems on the market. Apart from the basic Hardware Asset Management functionalities, you can also take advantage of a wide range of tracking technologies like GPS trackers, QR codes, barcodes and RFID tags. With itemit’s asset tags, you can get the utmost level of transparency and accountability for your businesses’ hardware assets.

To find out more benefits itemit has to offer for your business, please reach out to us at team@itemit.com. If you’re all ready to give itemit a go, start your 14-day free trial by filling in the form below.

Hardware Asset Management

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