Track Fixed Assets with Barcode
Fixed assets are defined as physical assets that are dedicated to providing form and function in a business environment. They may possibly be consumables; such as mops or cleaning rags used in a janitorial service. However, they typically are items and inventory that are of cost to a company, but generally not part of the product or service the company manufacturers or markets. They are considered capitalized assets, for tracking purposes, as they don’t typically qualify as inventory for taxable purposes; but, they are included in the overall “value” of the company. To track fixed assets for any business, institution or organization can be a challenge, but if there’s a good asset tracking project plan in place from the beginning, it can be a procedurally simply process.
One can monitor or track assets in many ways. They can be counted manually – one, two, three, four…….. They can be estimated, based on each year’s cost for replacements. They can be flagged for replacement on a pre-determined schedule. Or, if a business wants to be efficient with the process, each asset or group of assets can be assigned a unique ID and this ID can be documented, monitored and tracked using several current, readily available technologies.
To ID (or license plate) an asset is fairly simple. One simply needs to determine the best method of tagging an asset. A barcode label – they’re available in a variety of sizes and material – can be adhered to an inconspicuous (or conspicuous, if you wish) area of the asset. An RFID tag can be attached or embedded (as inside a table leg). Barcode can be applied via ink jet print. In most circumstances, utilizing barcode technology is the easiest and most labor- and cost-effective method.
The overall process is simple:
• Decide what assets or items are to be barcode labeled, and generally, what location on each item or group of items is best for label application.
• Based on the assets to be barcoded, decide what media would best suit – It may even require a variety of label types to accomplish the task of barcoding assets. Paper materials – vs. – plastics. Glass – vs. - metal. Wood-vs.-Fabric. The goal is to make sure that once the barcode label is applied, it remains intact for its necessary lifetime.
• Determine if you wish to print the barcode yourself, or if you wish to purchase the barcode labels pre-printed – It’s easy to purchase pre-printed labels, as you only need to specify the size, material, adhesive, text and barcode sequence. If you prefer to print your own labels on demand, you’ll need to consider the various label materials available, the size and type of barcode printer to use, ribbon (or not), and a barcode label software designer.
• Define a plan to barcode label the assets - Do you want to do everything at once? Do you want to cycle through the facility on a pre-defined schedule, with a timeframe for completion? Are the remote assets to consider, and, if so, do you want to send personnel out to barcode label everything or simply label assets as they gradually return to the main location?
• Have a plan for assessing and managing the asset data once the barcode process is in place - Barcode Asset Tracking and Inventory Management Software is available in many forms to provide for managing asset information once it’s been established.
• Decide on the barcode hardware tools to use - Barcode Scanners exist as direct connect units attachable to a PC workstation via USB/RS232 cable, as batch units that gather/store data for direct download to a PC host via communications cable, or as mobile RF or WWAN terminals that feed data directly to the host database in real time.
We, at GigaTrak Barcode Solutions, are specialists in tracking fixed assets with barcode. We offer a complete suite of Barcode Asset Tracking and Inventory Management Software products. From the simplest asset tracking solution, beginning at $495, to advanced, customized warehouse inventory management (WMS) products that cost less than you might think, our GT Team has been in the field of ADC for 2 decades. We know your time is valuable; we can help you manage it more productively. Contact us @ www.gigatrak.com . In less than 30 minutes we can show you how quickly our asset tracking products can be implemented.
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