Asset tracking
is part of a concept; The Internet of Things.
This is a concept that states that everything will eventually be connected by the internet. This isn’t some sort of Black Mirror dystopian fantasy either.
TV’s and cars are already connected to the internet and there are even chipped mattresses now that monitor your sleeping habits and upload that data to the cloud.
Asset tracking
devices are already part of this futuristic reality no matter what system you pick.
This then links with the software installed on the device(s) of your choosing and displays all of the information to you in a simple and easy-to-read manner.
As everything is cloud based, any other software that you have that operates this way can work in tandem with your asset tracking software.
Best for | Smaller assets |
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Price | Less than £1,000 |
Easy to implement? | Yes |
Longevity | Low |
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RFID Asset Tracking
Radio Frequency Identification or RFID asset tracking uses radio waves in order to locate your assets.
A common example of RFID is on security tags at shops.
Once they pass through the scanners an alarm is sounded.
This is down to a remote sensor picking up the presence of radio waves which have been sent via a tracker.
There are two types of RFID tracker, Active Asset Trackers and Passive Asset Trackers.
In simple terms, an Active Asset Tracker is battery powered and has the ability to store information within itself, such as engine time and run time.
Below is a small comparison between the two.
Suitable for | Emits radio waves | Pricepoint | Longevity | Range | |
Active RFID | Medium to large assets | High | 2 -5 years | 20ft | |
Passive RFID | Small to medium assets | Low | 20 years | 1 - 2 ft |
Pros | Cons |
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What assets can be tracked using passive RFID asset tracking?
Passive RFID asset tracking is suitable for:
GPS Asset Tracking
GPS asset tracking is made with vehicular tracking in mind.
With this information such as vehicle location, run and idle time can easily be tracked in real time.
GPS is tracked using 3g & 4g signals so if the asset is in an area with little to no signal it may be difficult to keep on top of this information.
You can also implement a geo-fencing perimeter which means you will be notified if an asset crosses a manually created virtual border. Particularly useful for security.
GPS asset tracking can also be used alongside most vehicle tracking
Bluetooth Asset Tracking
Bluetooth asset tracking also known simply as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) works in a similar way.
Waves from a tag are received from a sensor but instead of using radio waves, Bluetooth is used.
If you are considering RFID or BLE then bare in mind that BLE can be a cheaper alternative as infrastructure set up is less expensive.
The pros and cons of Bluetooth Asset Tracking
Pros | Cons |
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What kind of assets can be tracked using Bluetooth asset tracking?
Bluetooth asset tracking is suitable for:
There is no one answer to this as there are a number of factors which come into play here.
The first and most obvious is what type of asset tracking that you likely need as each one is priced differently.
Business size and set up costs can all have an impact on the overall price.
Hopefully that's cleared up some questions that you may have regarding asset tracking and how it can help your business.
Now the last one you most likely have, is "how can I take advantage of asset tracking"? Well, the process couldn't be simpler; all you have to do is click the "Get Quote" button to start comparing prices.
This is an absolutely free service and there's no obligation to commit, so click the button, follow the prompts and get comparing now.