The smooth running of your construction site is no doubt a priority. However, keeping things running smoothly can be difficult if some of your equipment malfunctions. From cranes to diggers, hard hats to spades, every single piece of equipment needs to work well. Unfortunately, a construction site can be a dangerous place. Tools and machinery can break down and consequently, deadlines may not be met. Asset tracking software can provide a realistic solution to this by increasing every asset’s lifespan.
What Asset Tracking Is
Asset tracking is a reliable way of keeping an eye on everything that your business owns. This type of tracking can also show you how and when each asset is used and even its location. Using a dashboard, it’s possible for users to see the status of every asset. As a result, it can be relatively easy to see which assets are frequently used and which ones aren’t.
Tracking your assets is possible when you affix a barcode or RFID tag to your assets. As soon as the code or tag is attached tracking is possible. However, you need to ensure that you scan the code or tag so as to create a digital profile. The digital profile will show you where individual assets are. Users can also input details into each asset’s profile so they know which assets are being tracked, its maintenance schedule, usage waiting list, and insurance details.
Managing Equipment Lifespan
Every single piece of construction equipment is extensively used in a very short space of time. This is due to the very nature of the industry. Due to the way that every piece of equipment/vehicle/tool, etc. is used, the average lifespan can be limited. However, with the use of asset tracking software, the lifespan can increase.
Every tool, etc. will be extensively tracked from the moment it is purchased to the moment it’s used for the first time. You can see when the tool needs to undergo maintenance and you can see when its value has depreciated. Finally, it’s possible to understand when the tool needs to be disposed of and replaced.
Thanks to the way that asset tracking software works, it’s possible to see how long a tool will be useful for. With this information, you could make better purchase decisions and potentially reduce spending. Additionally, you may even find that each tool and machine, etc. lasts longer than you think. This could be thanks to the maintenance schedules you set up.
Improving Equipment Downtime
When every single asset you own is tracked you can quickly see how they are used. You can see who uses what and where they are. All of this information coupled with maintenance schedules can help you to improve equipment downtime.
We all know that when we are at our busiest things can go wrong. Machinery can stop working, tools can fail, vehicles can break down, and so on. However, when you can limit unauthorised usage, show that your assets are tracked, and take better care of them, assets last longer.
Asset tracking software can realistically help you to improve downtime, you can take better care of your assets from day one. This ensures that downtime is kept to a minimum, allowing you to meet those important deadlines.
Tracking Every Asset’s Location
Did you know that you can track the location of every asset your construction business owns? We have already seen that when you attach a barcode or RFID tag tracking is possible. But did you know that you can track everything all day, every day? You can see where your assets are within moments and you can do this from your computer, phone, tablet, or laptop. All you need is an internet connection and to be able to log into the online portal.
As long as the assets you want to track have been uploaded to the system, you can track them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Not only can this help to increase the lifespan of your construction equipment, but it can also help to improve security. This is never a bad thing as it can ensure your assets are less likely to go missing. Consequently, you can spend less money replacing lost or stolen assets and get on with the task at hand.
Wish to chat with an asset tracking expert about increasing the lifespan of your equipment? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.
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Asset tracking providers often present customers with two primary options: GPS technology or QR codes. These technologies frequently compete for market share, with many businesses unaware that they can serve similar functions. However, QR codes typically outperform GPS in versatility and functionality.
For businesses maintaining ICT asset registers or monitoring vehicle fleets, understanding the strengths and limitations of each system matters.
Let's examine these technologies alongside newer options like RFID and NFC to help you make better decisions about asset management.
GPS Tracking Technology Explained
GPS has become commonplace for drivers navigating unfamiliar routes. This satellite-based technology constantly transmits signals to your device, pinpointing your exact location. For asset tracking, GPS functions similarly by showing where specific items are located.
An interesting historical note: GPS was first developed for military applications before becoming available for civilian and commercial use.
Companies typically deploy GPS tracking for vehicle fleets, though many organisations also use it to monitor warehouse assets that move between locations. For complete information about managing physical business property, our guide on Fixed Assets provides valuable insights.
GPS for Business Asset Tracking
GPS tracking offers several distinct advantages for business asset management:
- Real-time monitoring: GPS provides location data without requiring staff intervention, reducing human error while enabling 24/7 surveillance.
- Geographic precision: Modern GPS systems achieve accuracy within 3-5 meters, sufficient for most commercial applications.
- Theft recovery: According to insurance industry data, the ability to track stolen equipment improves recovery rates by up to 85%.
- Movement history: Most GPS platforms store historical movement data, allowing businesses to analyse usage patterns and optimise asset deployment.
- Geofencing capabilities: Companies can establish virtual boundaries that trigger alerts when assets leave designated areas, enhancing security protocols.
However, GPS technology brings notable limitations for comprehensive asset management:
- Update frequency constraints: Standard business GPS systems refresh every 10-15 minutes, creating blind spots in high-speed movement scenarios.
- Battery dependency: Active GPS trackers require power sources, necessitating regular maintenance or charging cycles.
- Signal interference issues: GPS performance deteriorates inside buildings, underground locations, or areas with heavy concrete or metal infrastructure.
- Implementation costs: Quality GPS hardware typically costs $50-300 per unit plus ongoing subscription fees ranging from $10-25 monthly per device.
- Size and attachment challenges: GPS trackers remain too bulky for smaller assets and require secure mounting systems to prevent removal.
- Limited data capacity: Unlike tag-based alternatives, GPS primarily delivers location data without storing extensive asset details.
These constraints explain why many operations managers complement GPS with alternative asset tracking tags that address these limitations. For stationary assets or equipment housed primarily indoors, passive tracking systems often deliver better value and functionality.
QR Code Technology
QR (Quick Response) codes resemble traditional barcodes but store significantly more information in their square matrix pattern. Nearly any smartphone or tablet can scan and interpret QR codes within seconds, making them highly accessible.
QR codes have quietly integrated into daily life—restaurants place them on tables for digital menus, theatres use them for seat-based ordering, and marketers embed them in advertisements for instant website access.
Like GPS, QR codes help monitor asset registers and track locations. However, they offer expanded functionality beyond simple location data. For those building IT equipment inventories, What is an IT Asset Register? explains key implementation concepts.
QR Codes in Practice
For businesses implementing QR code asset management, several key advantages emerge:
- Information density: A single QR code can store up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters, enabling comprehensive asset profiles including serial numbers, purchase dates, warranty information, maintenance histories, and responsible departments.
- Cost efficiency: QR labels cost between $0.05 and $0.30 per unit with no recurring fees, representing 70-95% cost savings compared to active tracking technologies.
- Implementation simplicity: Deployment requires minimal technical expertise—standard label printers generate QR codes that attach via adhesive backing or cable ties.
- Device compatibility: Over 97% of modern smartphones can scan QR codes without additional hardware or specialised apps.
- Customisation options: Enterprise QR solutions allow for custom branding, colour-coding by department, and tamper-evident features.
- Dynamic updating: Cloud-connected QR systems enable real-time information updates without replacing physical tags.
Integration capabilities: Modern QR systems integrate with ERP, CMMS, and accounting software through standard APIs, creating unified data ecosystems.
However, QR technology presents several notable limitations:
- Scan dependency: QR codes remain passive—they require manual scanning rather than automatically broadcasting locations.
- Line-of-sight requirement: Tags must be visible and accessible to be scanned, which can be challenging for assets in hard-to-reach locations.
- Environmental vulnerabilities: Standard QR labels can degrade from UV exposure, abrasion, or harsh chemicals, though industrial-grade options mitigate this issue.
- Security considerations: Public QR codes can be replaced or duplicated without sophisticated tampering detection, creating potential security vulnerabilities.
- Process reliance: Effectiveness depends entirely on consistent scanning protocols and staff compliance.
- Location triangulation limits: Without supplementary technologies, QR codes cannot provide autonomous location data.
To address these limitations, many organisations implement hybrid systems where QR codes work alongside checkpoint scanners at entry/exit points or integrate with Wi-Fi positioning systems for approximate indoor location data. This approach balances QR's information richness with improved location awareness without the full cost of active GPS or RFID asset tags.
RFID and NFC: Advanced Asset Tracking Alternatives
RFID vs NFC technologies represent sophisticated alternatives to traditional tracking methods, each with distinct operational characteristics:
RFID Technology Specifications
RFID asset tags operate through radio frequency identification in three primary frequency ranges:
- Low Frequency (LF, 125-134 kHz): 10cm read range, slower data transmission, excellent performance around metals and liquids, commonly used for animal tracking and access control
- High Frequency (HF, 13.56 MHz): 10-30cm read range, moderate data speeds, used extensively in library books, pharmaceuticals, and payment cards
- Ultra-High Frequency (UHF, 856-960 MHz): 3-15m read range, fastest data transmission, susceptible to interference from liquids and metals, widely deployed in supply chain tracking and retail inventory
RFID implementation offers distinct advantages:
- Batch scanning capability: A single reader can simultaneously capture 200+ tags per second, reducing inventory time by up to 95% compared to barcode methods
- Non-line-of-sight reading: Tags function even when covered, dirty, or embedded within products
- Durability: Industrial-grade tags withstand temperatures from -40°F to 400°F, chemical exposure, and mechanical stress
- Data security: Enterprise RFID systems employ encryption standards like AES-128 to prevent unauthorised access
- Automated inventory: Fixed RFID portals at entry/exit points create autonomous tracking without human intervention
Hardware costs present the primary barrier to RFID adoption:
- Tag costs: $0.10-$0.50 for passive paper tags; $2-$25 for hardened industrial tags
- Reader costs: $500-$2,000 for handheld units; $1,500-$5,000 for fixed portal readers
- Infrastructure costs: Enterprise implementations typically require middleware ($5,000-$25,000) plus integration services
NFC Technology Applications
RFID asset tags operate through radio frequency identification in three primary frequency ranges:
- Low Frequency (LF, 125-134 kHz): 10cm read range, slower data transmission, excellent performance around metals and liquids, commonly used for animal tracking and access control
- High Frequency (HF, 13.56 MHz): 10-30cm read range, moderate data speeds, used extensively in library books, pharmaceuticals, and payment cards
- Ultra-High Frequency (UHF, 856-960 MHz): 3-15m read range, fastest data transmission, susceptible to interference from liquids and metals, widely deployed in supply chain tracking and retail inventory
RFID implementation offers distinct advantages:
- Batch scanning capability: A single reader can simultaneously capture 200+ tags per second, reducing inventory time by up to 95% compared to barcode methods
- Non-line-of-sight reading: Tags function even when covered, dirty, or embedded within products
- Durability: Industrial-grade tags withstand temperatures from -40°F to 400°F, chemical exposure, and mechanical stress
- Data security: Enterprise RFID systems employ encryption standards like AES-128 to prevent unauthorised access
- Automated inventory: Fixed RFID portals at entry/exit points create autonomous tracking without human intervention
Hardware costs present the primary barrier to RFID adoption:
- Tag costs: $0.10-$0.50 for passive paper tags; $2-$25 for hardened industrial tags
- Reader costs: $500-$2,000 for handheld units; $1,500-$5,000 for fixed portal readers
- Infrastructure costs: Enterprise implementations typically require middleware ($5,000-$25,000) plus integration services
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