Asset tracking is a set of systems your business can use to manage what it owns. You’ll be able to view where assets are, usage statistics related to them, and other data, such as maintenance and financial information.

Using an asset register, you’ll be able to keep better track of what you own, the status of these assets, and, therefore, mitigate asset loss or a lack of accountability.

RFID asset tracking is a development of this. You’ll use RFID asset tags to manage your assets in a more automated and streamlined way.

What Are Asset Tags?

Asset tags are physical tags that you can stick onto your assets. Your asset register will have a list of unique assets on it. So, each piece of equipment will have its own unique profile where you’ll be able to add maintenance dates, bookings and check in check out information and financial data.

Then, when you use asset tags, you’ll be linking your physical assets to their digital counterparts. So, if you use QR code asset tags, the way this works is by allowing you to scan the asset’s tag which will then cause three actions:

• The asset’s profile will open within your asset tracking app
• The last seen location will open
• The user who scanned the tag will update

In practice, if you need to edit an asset’s information and you’re onsite, all you need to do is scan the asset’s tag and use the features in your asset tracking software.

What Is RFID Asset Tracking?

RFID asset tracking is the above, only using RFID asset tags. The difference, however, is that you get more automation and greater functionality.

So, while the fundamentals of asset tracking give you an audit trail of where your assets have been and the interactions they’ve gone through, RFID asset tracking expands on this.

For example, if you’re auditing assets in a location or moving assets to a different location, you can use RFID asset tracking to speed this along.

As RFID tags can be scanned without a line of sight, you will be able to scan assets from a distance. So, auditing assets in a location is much simpler as all you need to do is pull the trigger on your RFID scanner. The same is true for when you’re adding multiple assets to a new location, as itemit’s Quick Add feature speeds this process along.

More Benefits Of RFID Asset Management

The main benefit of RFID asset management is that tags can be scanned without a line of sight. Many of your assets may not be suitable for QR codes. For example, you won’t be able to track stage props or high-value paintings using QR codes as they must be visible.

Therefore, you’ll be able to track high-value assets using RFID asset tracking to better your operations and maintain the benefits of asset tracking in general.

If you’re looking for more automation, too, you’ll be able to use itemit’s award-winning off-the-shelf fixed RFID asset tracking functionality. With this you’ll be able to track asset locations with no manual input, as every time an asset moves from one location to another, this will update automatically in itemit.

To find out more about the benefits of itemit’s assets asset tracking software, you’ll be able to book a demo using the button below.

You can also contact the team at team@itemit.com if you have an enquiry about RFID or fill in the form below to start your 14-day free trial.

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

Asset Tracking has already come a long way in the past ten years. In the past, a spreadsheet was the gold standard for asset tracking and management operations, but this is no longer the case.

Spreadsheets create unwieldy and unmanageable operations. Every time an asset’s status changes, this needs to be updated. If this is done manually, there is a much higher chance of human error.

Then, asset tracking software came along. At first, the benefit was clear. With the use of asset tags, your colleagues could now audit and edit asset information remotely. With the development of more shareability, this software became more useful and more automated, as somebody onsite could report an issue on an asset and your maintenance team could see what the issue is, which asset has a fault, and where the asset is from any location in an instant.

The next step, therefore, is more automation. How? Fixed RFID asset tracking.

What Is Fixed RFID Asset Tracking?

Fixed RFID asset tracking is a development from RFID functionality. When asset tracking was in its infancy, most of the functionality was related to barcode and QR code asset tags.

With handheld RFID readers, more automation was opened up. Barcodes and QR code asset tags require a line-of-sight to be scanned, meaning this form of asset tracking wasn’t suitable for all of your assets. Some assets, such as high-value paintings, for example, need the asset’s tag to be hidden.

Handheld RFID readers allowed for asset auditing and asset edits without this line-of-sight, opening up more functionality for high-value collections and for hospitals, as sometimes healthcare asset tracking needs to be performed from a distance.

The next step is fixed RFID asset tracking, where assets can be audited and tracked in a totally automated way. The assets need only be logged and scanned for your fixed RFID readers to pick up on an asset’s movement.

How Does RFID Work?

RFID works by allowing an RFID reader to pick up a radio frequency from an RFID tag. In other words, your RFID readers, whether fixed or handheld, will pick up on a unique asset tag and pull in the corresponding asset’s information from this.

Fixed RFID readers have antennas that can also pick up on the direction the tag is moving in. As your asset management system will have linked the tag to the asset, therefore, the fixed RFID reader will know which asset is moving in which direction.

In practice, this translates to your asset management system reading which direction your asset is moving in automatically and updating this in your system. So, if you move some medical equipment from ward A to ward B, your strategically placed fixed RFID readers will update this movement within your asset tracking software.

The overall benefit of this is that you can see exactly where your assets are and track their movements, minimising the chances of losses and totally automating asset audits, giving you a transparent view of your fixed asset register.

The Future Of itemit’s Fixed RFID Asset Management System

Fixed RFID is the future of asset tracking as it allows you to run visible, automated, and exportable audits of a large number of assets. Asset tracking is always moving towards more automation, and itemit’s asset tracking system is leading the charge.

While spreadsheets would need total manual input, fixed RFID asset management requires minimal input, giving you and your colleagues a clear view of what’s going on during your day to day operations.

itemit’s fixed RFID asset tracking system is a world first. In the past, setting up fixed RFID asset tracking would require a few things:

• Technical knowledge of RFID
• A lengthy setup time
• A huge budget
• An element of trial and error
• Bespoke discussions, consultancy, and implementation

Thanks to itemit, none of this is true anymore. Our fixed RFID system is designed to work off-the-shelf and the setup time is designed to take minutes rather than months. You don’t need any prior knowledge of RFID, either, simply plugin and start tracking your assets.

itemit is providing the world’s first off-the-shelf, simple fixed RFID asset tracking system, ready for anyone to use in a few moments.

If you have an enquiry about fixed RFID asset tracking, you can use the button below to contact the team. You can also call us at +44 (0)1223 421611.

To see more about how itemit’s asset tracking system works, you can also start a 14-day free trial using the sign-up form below.

Why not check out these blogs:

Practical Uses For Your Fixed Asset Register

How To Tag Your Assets

The Benefits Of Using Cloud-Based Fixed Asset Management Software

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or, download the itemit app to get started

RFID asset tracking lends you more automation and control over your assets. It’s similar to tracking assets using QR codes and barcodes. However, with RFID, you’ll need additional devices to unlock greater levels of automation.

With RFID asset tracking, you’ll be able to audit, manage, and track assets with much greater ease and with up to full levels of automation.

How Does RFID Asset Tracking Work?

If you’re familiar with QR code asset management, you’ll be able to extrapolate a lot of the details. In essence, asset tracking works by linking physical assets to online profiles.

You’ll create a list of your assets online in your asset management system. Then, you’ll use asset tags to link these online assets to their physical counterparts.

Therefore, you get a list of unique assets in an online register. This way, every time an asset requires maintenance, you simply need to scan the asset’s tag and report this requirement.

RFID asset tracking is similar, only you’ll be using RFID tags and readers, as opposed to barcodes and QR codes.

How is RFID Asset Management Different to QR Codes?

Barcodes and QR codes have limitations. For example, you need a line-of-sight to scan these tags. In other words, these tags will need to be visible on an asset for scanning capabilities.

With certain assets, this isn’t always applicable, however. For example, if you’re tracking high-value assets such as paintings, you won’t be able to put a QR code somewhere visible.

RFID scanning doesn’t require a line of sight, however. As you’ll either be using a fixed reader or a handheld reader, scanning is done via your device, which will pick up on the RFID tag.

This way, you’ll be able to place your RFID asset tags under a painting’s frame, for example. Then every time the painting moves and you want to update its location, you’ll be able to scan it from a distance without the tag being visible.

To find out more about how itemit is being used to track high-value assets with RFID, you can check out our blog below on our RFID capabilities.

How Does RFID Unlock More Automation?

With RFID asset tracking, you’ll be able to automate a lot of your operations. Specifically, this will be with fixed RFID readers. With fixed RFID asset tracking, any movement an asset goes through is automatically logged.

This is as you can place fixed RFID readers in tactical locations across your sites. These fixed RFID readers will have antennas which can track the direction an asset is moving in.

Therefore, with fixed RFID asset tracking, you’ll be able to update where your assets are on your fixed asset register without needing any manual interaction. In a hospital context, for example, if an asset is moving from ward A to ward B, your fixed readers will pick up on this and update the change automatically.

To find out more about how itemit can help you with your asset tracking and management, with or without RFID, you’ll be able to contact us at team@itemit.com or on 01223 421611.

You can also fill in the form below to start your 14-day free trial.

Why not check out these blogs?

Fixed Asset Tagging: How to Use Fixed Asset Inventory Tags

What is a Computer Asset Management System?

Tool Tracking Tips: How To Improve Construction Equipment Tracking

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or, download the itemit app to get started

Since its inception, itemit has been a pioneer of a transformative approach to object tracking. The cutting edge solution has made a name for itself in the IoT sphere thanks to its drive to push innovation boundaries and to provide the world with an easier way to track and manage any asset. Now, itemit is taking its tracking technologies to the next level by applying its famous simplicity to the world of fixed RFID reader tracking.

The unique solution already offers its clients the ability to combine QR codes, barcodes, GPS trackers and handheld RFID readers to track assets and equipment. Now, the team is incorporating over twenty years of expertise of utilising fixed RFID readers to bring even more automated tracking to itemit.

itemit’s RFID Asset Tracking Expertise

itemit is an asset tracking system fully owned and created by RedBite Solutions Ltd. RedBite was founded in 2006 and operates in the IoT sphere designing and developing bespoke asset management solutions which solve the world’s most challenging asset tracking problems. RedBite boasts an impressive client list that includes one of the world’s largest intergovernmental organisations, Boeing, Rolls Royce, Wilmar and Sony, to name just a few.

RedBite itself is a spin-out from the University of Cambridge’s Auto-ID Centre, where the GS1 EPC standards originated. As a result, RFID knowledge and expertise runs through the very core of the company. The team is responsible for developing and continuing to manage the world’s largest global RFID deployment, which spans over 60 countries and has been active for the last 7 years.

The team behind the itemit solution gained extensive experience in solving the asset tracking problems of global organisations. It became very apparent to the team that no matter what the asset, the industry or the size of the organisation, the fundamental problem was actually quite a simple one – how can we effectively track and manage our assets? itemit was borne out of the knowledge gained from helping some of the biggest names in the world to better track their assets.

itemit’s mission is to provide every organisation with an easy way to track and manage all of its assets. The modern solution is unique in its approach, which allows for multiple Auto-ID and tracking technologies to be combined and managed using the same system. This includes QR codes, barcodes, GPS trackers and RFID. itemit has so far helped over 100 organisations all around the world to rethink and transform its asset tracking.

Fixed RFID Reader Integration in itemit

To stay ahead of the expedited growth in the IoT and IIoT markets, itemit continues to innovate to create the most streamlined, automated, and affordable off-the-shelf asset tracking software in the world.

Coming soon to itemit is the integration of fixed RFID reader tracking into the readily available solution. This means you’ll be able to have fixed RFID readers on entrance and exit points or anywhere of interest that automatically detect assets and logs each asset’s location in real-time. Unlike traditional RFID systems, itemit is a cloud-based, highly scalable solution that removes the dependency on complex and expensive hardware and associated maintenance.

With the addition of fixed RFID tracking in itemit, you will get:

• A managed RFID service: itemit will manage your readers for you and make it simple to get started and monitor reader status
• Plug and play RFID readers: Along with the software, itemit will provide you with readers that work off-the-shelf with WiFi and even a GPRS sim card already included for a super simple set up process
• An easy-to-use, award-winning system: At its core, itemit is designed to provide an easy way to track and manage any asset. The team work tirelessly to create a system that simplifies the task of asset tracking and the integration of fixed RFID readers into itemit is no exception. 

What are the Benefits of Fixed RFID Readers in itemit?

Fixed readers give you more automation. Every time an asset moves in or out of a location, itemit automatically updates to reflect this in real-time. This is achieved with no manual intervention and as a result offers significant savings of time and money. In addition, itemit provides you with an audit trail of where your assets have been.

Previously, RFID technologies have been seen as an expensive and complex solution, requiring bespoke development and in-house expertise. With itemit, this is no longer true. Now, RFID is accessible to all, with any organisation able to benefit from the power and automation that RFID offers. itemit’s RFID solution starts at £29.99 per reader per month with readers available for purchase complete with enclosure to ensure they work out-of-the-box with the itemit software.

The fixed RFID asset tracking capabilities are currently being trialled with selected interested clients. If you’re interested in being a part of a leap forward in IoT, drop us an email via the button below.

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or, download the itemit app to get started

In this guide:

1. What is RFID Asset Tracking?
2. What’s the Difference Between Fixed RFID and Handheld RFID?
3. How Fixed RFID Readers Revolutionise Asset Tracking

Asset tracking has many benefits which will optimise your operations. Whether you’re working in an office, in the field for a construction company, in the healthcare industry, or in any other sector, asset tracking can save you time and money.

Asset tracking software works by creating unique digital doubles of your items. This creates a fixed asset register which you can interact with and edit, adding crucial information such as maintenance information or where assets are.

Using fixed RFID readers can make your asset tracking processes even faster, even easier, and even more automatic.

To make tracking unique asset profiles even easier, you can use unique asset tags. Most commonly, companies opt for barcodes or QR code asset tags. This way, you can attach the tag to an asset to link the physical asset to its digital profile. Then, every time you scan the tag, the asset’s profile will appear, ready for editing.

Upon scanning, last seen location data will update, too, which creates a full history of where your assets have been.

RFID asset tracking differs in a couple of ways. RFID tags don’t need to be scanned with a “line of sight” as QR codes or barcodes do. What this means is that you’ll be able to hide an RFID tag and still be able to scan it.

This is necessary if you’re tracking assets where you can’t use barcodes or QR codes. For example, if you’re tracking priceless paintings, you won’t be able to use a QR code or barcode to do so. In this case, you’ll need to use RFID asset tracking.

To find out more about how itemit’s RFID system is being implemented in the Ministry of Defence to track priceless paintings, check out the link below.

Find Out More About itemit’s RFID Tracking With the MoD.

While barcodes and QR codes can be scanned with your smartphone, RFID scanners aren’t automatically integrated with your phone. This means that you’ll need third party readers to implement RFID asset tracking. These readers will either be fixed or handheld.

Most commonly, you’ll be using handheld readers to implement RFID asset tracking. With a handheld reader, you’ll use BlueTooth to link it with your asset tracking app, and then you’ll click a button to scan tags, much like with a barcode scanner. How far away you can scan from will depend on the RFID tags themselves.

Fixed readers are attached to specific points in your building. Every time an asset with an RFID tag attached moves past them, the fixed readers will pick up on the movement. As fixed readers have antennas, they’ll also be able to pick up on which direction an asset is moving in, meaning it’ll automatically be logged whether an asset is entering or leaving a room.

Using fixed RFID readers promises a new level of automation. Instead of tracking locations with manual input, such as with handheld readers or QR codes, everything is automatically updated for you.

In practice, this means that if you’re tracking tools and equipment, whenever a tool moves out of a construction lot, your asset tracking system will update this automatically. Whenever your tools then enter a construction lot, your asset tracking system will update this automatically.

Fixed RFID readers give you fully automated accountability and transparency over asset location, ultimately transforming your asset tracking processes.

To find out more about if RFID is right for you, you can contact the team at team@itemit.com, or give us a call on 01223 421611. To start a free trial of the itemit asset tracking system, you can fill in the form below.

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started

No matter which tagging option you choose, you also need the asset tracking software element of the solution in order to manage equipment effectively.

What is Healthcare Asset Tracking Software?

Healthcare asset tracking allows you to track medical equipment. This includes using RFID or QR code asset tags to update geolocation, but also to view and edit asset information after just a scan.

With a healthcare asset tracking system, you’ll be able to know where everything is, and you’ll know who has what. You’ll be able to check equipment in and out, so that there’s full transparency of what can and can’t be used. 

You can also track stock of PPE and medical devices, so you know how much is available for use and can plan accordingly.

The unique thing that healthcare asset tracking software allows you to do is track compliance and maintenance information throughout an asset’s lifecycle. So, you’ll be able to log all necessary compliance information upon the purchase of an asset to verify legitimacy. You can then use reminders for routine, pre-emptive maintenance to ensure all of your medical devices are running smoothly and maintain their compliant status.

Using Medical Equipment Management Software With RFID

When you add RFID to the mix, your medical equipment management is sped up. 

If you’re looking for a piece of equipment that requires maintenance, you’ll be able to discover it’s location using an RFID reader, speeding up the process.

This goes for other processes, too. If any asset data changes, using an RFID reader, you’ll be able to scan the tag and edit asset information in your medical equipment tracking app. You can also add health and safety information to equipment such as X-ray machines so that everyone is on the same page when it comes to safety.

You can even use this to stocktake for ambulances. If you need to know that an ambulance is adequately stocked up, you’ll be able to use RFID medical equipment tracking to scan the assets and check them into the ambulance. You can then update your stock when the ambulance returns.

PPE Tracking

Additionally, you can use healthcare asset tracking to monitor your PPE levels. itemit is already helping Cambridge University monitor life-saving PPE levels for Addenbrookes Hospital.

When it comes to PPE, you can choose to track boxes of items rather than each individual item, should you wish. Quantity levels can still be recorded and updated on the fly. This way you know exactly how much PPE you have available at any given time.

Why RFID For Medical Equipment Tracking?

To keep costs down, it may be helpful to opt for a mix of QR code asset tagging and RFID asset tagging. Choose from durable and customisable QR code asset tags, whether they are stickers or anodised aluminium tags – there’s a tag for every asset.

However, the clear benefits to RFID tracking in hospitals are undeniable. Being able to stocktake quickly, and from a distance, is a very attractive benefit that RFID tracking can bestow on the tracking of medical equipment and PPE

Stock levels change at a greater frequency than other industries, too, so it’s crucial to be able to effectively keep track of this.

itemit RFID Equipment Management

itemit is owned by RedBite Solutions, pioneers in RFID tracking. Its founders were instrumental in the implementation of RFID regulation and in the architecting of the EPC network. They belonged to the group that coined the term “IoT”.

itemit itself was created to solve asset tracking problems, and so integrating RFID tracking was an obvious step. itemit works with RFID by connecting to a handheld reader via Bluetooth, then the scanning is up to you! 

itemit provides all the tags and readers you’ll need with our off-the-shelf RFID solution, but if you require something more bespoke, we’ll always be happy to provide consultancy and rise to the challenge.

With over a decade of experience in RFID, we’re more than happy to assist you with whatever requirements you have. To find out more, you can contact the team at team@itemit.com, fill in the form below, or phone 01223 421611.

Instant access. No credit card details required.

or, download the itemit app to get started