RFID is very similar to barcodes, it’s a form of tracking items. A barcode uses a visible tagging system to store data about the product, this is then read by a scanner. An RFID tag is a type of chip that’s attached to the asset and store data about the item, this tag is then activated and read by an RFID reader device. The reader sends out radio waves to connect to the chip and retrieve the data about the item.
Alas, asset tracking UK hasn’t managed to get to that level, however a significant amount of companies within the United States are already taking advantage of the RFID tagging. A few of the services that use the RFID tagging is public transport payment methods, libraries, museums and new passports. A great deal of the companies using this method of tracking are government controlled.
Many companies do understand why RFID is so good, however, they haveb’t invested in it. In the recent years, knowing where your assets are has become very important. However, the majority of companies will find auditing timely and costly. Many also find that they have missed items when they are auditing.
Using RFID tags on a large number of your assets, you are able to track hundreds of your items instantly from a location within the tags range. This makes managing your assets a whole lot simpler.
One example of where RFID have become useful is in a Unilever factory. They have added the tracking tags to around 20,000 items on their production line. These tags allows them to audit all of the items remotely, if they had to do it manually, they would have to shut down the production line.
This is just one example of where RFID can help your business save money. There are a wide range of examples. Another example is in the fire service, they can track equipment to save vital time. It also makes sure that unequipped vehicles don’t go to the scene of an accident.
Unfortunately, tracking your assets with RFID is not cheap to do. Generally the advanced tags cost around $50, definately not making it cheap to track your companies assets. Hopefully the costs of the tags will fall as the money needed to develop them does. Once this method of asset tracking becomes more well known fixed asset register UK programs will become more used and more advanced.
