For example, on a Monday, finance is attempting to obtain serial numbers from three years ago, the projector is missing, and a field kit is stuck in someone’s trunk. Software for tracking assets stops that. It is possible to view a real-time list of equipment, including who owns it, where it is, and its effectiveness. A list of actions is the result of panic. That will keep you sane and buy you coffee. gps asset tracker
Start by identifying people. Barcodes and QR codes are inexpensive and easy to use. Excellent for lab equipment, computers, and cameras. RFID can scan multiple data points at once at cages or doors. Do you wish to be in a room but be unable to see it? Beacons with BLE lights up. GPS is useful for high-value kits, automobiles, and trailers that are constantly moving. Every tag type has advantages and disadvantages, including read range, price, durability, battery life, and even how glare affects glossy labels.
The data model holds greater significance than the sticker. Maintain a record of the asset’s identification, owner, custodian, location, status, warranty, dates of servicing, depreciation, photos, and supply chain. Describe the condition in your remarks. Establish check-in/check-out loops to ensure that tools don’t vanish into “Bob’s truck.” To identify assets that are only present in spreadsheets, set up audits. Before duplicates are created, eliminate them.
Using automation keeps you from losing your mind. Activate alerts for license expiration, low beacon batteries, tampering, and geofence exits next month. Create tickets automatically in your CMMS or ITSM when a device fails a check. You can deliver events to Teams or Slack by using a webhook. First, three guidelines to save time. Later, get elegant.
Mobile is popular. Technicians search planes halted at gate C19, basements, and rooftops. In offline mode, it is crucial. Several goods for children and one case for parents are helpful when kitting. Everything is marked with a quick scan. Take a photograph of the damaged hinge. More adherence results from less typing. Stickers are not very good at sticking; consider utilizing recessed plates, epoxy, or metal tags for difficult locations.
Extrude in segments. Select a key set: forklifts, test tools, or borrowed laptops. Clean up the master data prior to import. It is difficult to alter label formats after they have been chosen. Establish roles for who sees, who edits, and who consents to disposals. Make sure the beacon power is set correctly to prevent the “device is everywhere” noise. Decide on a naming convention and follow it. It is better to keep track of objects than personnel. Post signs, document, and request permission as necessary.
Stakes on the table are security. Use MFA in addition to SSO. Protect your API keys. To ensure compliance, ensure that audit trails are unchangeable. When you are moving and when you are not, encrypt. Managing mobile devices and wiping them clean in the event that they disappear is possible with MDM. Backups have been tested, not simply promised. Inquire about incident response and pen testing procedures. Remove users’ access on the same day they depart.
Utilize numerical values to demonstrate worth. half of the shrinkage. Sixty scans a day save technicians four minutes apiece, which adds up to hours each week. Less purchases are implied by greater utilization. On-time completion of preventative maintenance reduces the likelihood of malfunctions. A clean record makes it easier to file taxes, submit insurance claims, and conduct audits. “Treasure hunting” is reduced, and work is increased.
Choose software not because it’s popular but because it works well for you. Check for compatibility between the software and hardware, the depth of the API, the cost per user or asset, and the ease of data export. Does it support several languages, time zones, and websites? Is it simple to make changes to reports and custom fields? What is the quality of help at two in the morning? Take a pilot for a try. Do a measurement. Modification. Scale then with assurance and, of course, with the most composure.