How Does an RFID Asset Tracking System Work?

An RFID asset tracking system works by using radio waves to transmit data from RFID tags attached to assets to a reader. This enables real-time, automated tracking of items without manual scanning. The system improves accuracy and efficiency by reducing human errors and speeding up inventory management processes.

The Importance of Asset Tracking

Tracking and managing critical assets is a significant challenge for most businesses, resulting in wasted time, costly downtime, and missed deadlines due to inefficient equipment location. It also provides valuable insights into asset location and usage, helping businesses optimize their operations.

Traditionally, companies have relied on serial numbers and spreadsheets or used barcode labels to track equipment and manage assets. However, these methods involve considerable manual effort. A more efficient solution is to implement radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which enables automated and real-time asset tracking.

An RFID asset tracking system utilizes electromagnetic fields to wirelessly transfer data from RFID tags to a reader. Whether it’s office assets across multiple floors, medical equipment like wheelchairs and IV pumps in hospitals, tools in industrial settings, or machinery in remote oil fields, RFID technology ensures precise, real-time tracking of both stationary and moving assets.

The Power of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses store, process, and access data. By moving to the cloud, companies benefit from cost-effective, scalable, and secure solutions that enable seamless collaboration across teams. Whether it’s SaaS, PaaS, or IaaS, cloud-based technologies are essential for improving operational flexibility and business continuity.

Cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses store, process, and access data. By moving to the cloud, companies benefit from cost-effective, scalable, and secure solutions that enable seamless collaboration across teams. Whether it’s SaaS, PaaS, or IaaS, cloud-based technologies are essential for improving operational flexibility and business continuity.

How Do Active RFID Tags Work?

Active RFID tags are powerful components in asset tracking systems, operating through the coordinated function of their internal elements. Gaining an understanding of how they work—and the complexities involved—highlights their crucial role in today’s advanced tracking technologies.

Key Operational Components:

Internal Power Source: The defining feature of active RFID tags is their self-contained power source, typically in the form of a battery. This power reservoir serves as the lifeblood, energizing the tag’s functionalities and enabling it to operate independently.

Independent Transmitter: Active RFID tags possess an autonomous transmitter, unlike their passive counterparts. This internal transmitter allows them to take an active role in communication, broadcasting data signals proactively.

The operation of active RFID tags revolves around their self-sustaining power source and proactive communication capabilities. This dynamic functionality positions them as indispensable components in asset-tracking systems, offering versatility and real-time tracking process.

How to Select the Right RFID Tag Tracking System

While early versions of the technology were limited in the types of environments they could be used, there are now a variety of tags available that can be used in wet environments or on metal assets, and even tags that can survive exposure to extreme temperatures, chemical contaminants, and other harsh environments.

RFID Automates Asset Tracking

With a portable RFID reader built into a mobile computer, staff can easily scan one or more asset tags without having to physically see the tags. With traditional barcode labeling, employees would have to point a barcode scanner directly at the tag in order to get an accurate scan. In some applications, that would require crawling under desks, behind racks of servers, or climbing ladders to scan hard-to-reach assets. With RFID, the reader can be several feet away and still get an accurate scan. This could be done very securely, and one employee could easily scan several dozen assets in a room in just a few seconds.

RFID tags with larger on-board memory capacity can even store additional information about the asset. For applications in remote areas where connectivity to a back-end application or database might be challenging, the tag itself can store information about maintenance activities or sensor data that can be read and written to by a field technician using a mobile computer.

Barcode labels can be used for asset tracking, and do provide a more efficient alternative to manually searching for serial numbers — but a RFID asset tracking system can provide multiple advantages over barcoding. These include:

• Reading multiple tags at once, without requiring line-of-sight between the tags and scanner. One employee could inventory an entire room full of equipment in a matter of minutes.

• Critical service information can be stored on the assets themselves, enabling more accurate asset life cycle management.

• RFID tags can be integrated with sensors and GPS technology to provide asset condition data, in addition to location information.

• By integrating the solution with a wireless LAN, assets can be identified and located remotely in seconds.

• Inventory tracking times can be reduced from days down to hours.

• Asset security can be improved by generating real-time alerts and alarms if assets are moved into unauthorized locations or taken out of a building.

• Enhanced productivity because assets can be located almost instantaneously, and most asset management tasks can be made more efficient using RFID.

Tracking large numbers of assets doesn’t have to be a logistical nightmare. Automated tracking with RFID will provide a complete view of your asset fleet without the costly and time-consuming efforts involved in manually managing equipment.