Topic section

Tracking Technology & Systems

Barcode, QR, RFID, NFC, BLE, GPS, mobile scanning, spreadsheets, system integration and data migration.

Different technologies solve different parts of the tracking problem; none automatically creates good asset control.

RFID can identify tagged assets using radio-frequency technology, but read range, environment, tag type and process design matter.

NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy tags can support proximity, identification or location workflows, depending on the system design.

GPS can support location tracking for vehicles, trailers and field equipment, but it is not the same thing as an asset register.

Phones and handheld scanners can speed verification when the workflow validates identity and records exceptions rather than merely collecting scans.

A spreadsheet can work for small, stable asset populations, while larger or more mobile populations may need controlled workflows and history.

Organizations often need one physical asset represented across several systems without creating conflicting master records.

Asset-system migration should reconcile physical reality and legacy records before declaring the new database authoritative.