ABC RFID Asset Tracking

Why Use RFID - Barcodes are great for Asset Tracking but inventories are still dependent on the user finding each barcode and scanning it. Passive RFID tags transmit their data when the reader requests. Imagine inventorying an entire office from the doorway. Properly installed RFID tags and our RFID Asset Tracking solution can make that dream come true.

RFID Asset Tracking Software - Application in Use

Basically, the use of RFID in asset tracking will involve the following:

• Take a sampling of assets and test them with various tags. We call this an RFID Site Survey. This document will contain specific information such as "Tag Type", "Tag Placement" and "Tested Read Range".
• Tagging will become the biggest hurdle for a successful RFID asset tracking system. Tagging presents us with two processes for the following contingencies:

Tagging Existing Assets - Either use "pre-encoded" tags or encode them as they are placed on the asset. Also, determine if there is any existing data that may be imported.

Tagging New Assets - We need a procedure to place tags on Assets and in the database before they are deployed to the field.

• Everyday Maintenance - As assets are moved we suggest doing it with a PC in our "Web Application" or our "PC Application. A mobile reader would be able to move assets around but in situations where a single asset is moved it might not be the best choice.

• "Quarterly / Yearly Inventories" - This is where the mobile device shines. If the area to be inventoried is correctly tagged then doing an inventory is a matter of minutes. Below is an example in steps:

1.) Scan the RFID / Barcode on the door of the area to be inventoried. A screen like the one to the right will display on the mobile reader. Items in orange are the ones that should be in the area according to the office.

2.) Scan the office - Using the trigger on the device, hold it down and move the device around the office. The orange items will become green as they are found; items that are in the database but in a different location will be blue and the reader might find some new tags which would be pink.

3.) The user tries to make all of the orange items turn green. If an item is missing it will remain orange. The user has the ability to "Mark it as missing" or keep trying to find the item. There is a description to help to locate the asset and if the RFID tag fails the user may use the barcode.

4.) This process is repeated for every inventory area.

5.) The mobile RFID reader is brought back to the database and a sync updates the database automatically.

Our PC application can be used to search / update asset databases.

PC Program - Managing the Asset Population

Our ABC Scan RFID software is available with either a Microsoft Access database for small companies or a full blown "SQL Server" database for larger corporations. The PC program serves many functions:

• Manage the data - a PC user can add new assets, move assets and edit asset details
• Report the data - the "Asset Database" screen is an easy to user query engine. With little database knowledge a user can "Tickle" any type of data and print reports / export it. For example if management wants to know how many Lenovo Laptops of a particular type are in a training room that data can be filtered in a matter of seconds.
• Sync the Devices - Our "Automatic Handheld Synchronization" occurs each time a handheld is connected to a PC. Inventories that are conducted in the field automatically update the database.

Sample PC Screens

Home Screen

The "Home" screen allows simple navigation to other areas of the program. This form also listens for handheld connections and automatically syncs any connected handheld with the database.

View / Edit Screen

Our "View / Edit" screen allows the user to do database maintenance.  Here  a user will add new items, delete old ones report on the location of inventory, export to "Excel", print barcodes and so on.

Also a feature that is new on the "View / Edit" form is the ability to do multi-level filtering. A user can filter by as many fields is as needed. For example "Filter by Manufacturer in Location 201 where the description contains Monitor".

Web Application

There are times when a user may require access to the database but not the full functionality of our program.  Our "ABC Scan Web Module" is perfect to give user access to the information without installing client software on their PC.
Our "Web Module" interface gives users the ability to:

• Search through the data.
• Edit the location or any of the Asset details.
• Add a new Asset to the database.
• Administrate Web Users
• Configure what data the application displays.

The "Web Module" can be configured so that the administrator can allow certain fields to show and be searched / edited and other fields not.

A web user can search on any of the allowed fields. All searches assume a wildcard so that the entire string does not need to be entered.

Once a record is returned all of the "Displayable" fields show. If a user has permission he or she can edit the record by "clicking on it" and it will display like the screen below.

On the "Item Properties" screen a user with "Edit privileges" can change any of the information about that particular item. They can also move it to another Location.

We are able to customize and enhance our applications to meet your specific requirements.
If you have a special need, our Professional Services group can help. Contact us at sales@abrfid.com.