How Advanced Asset Tracking Can Benefit Your Business

Although asset tracking evolved naturally from vehicle tracking, it is still not as widely used as it should be, simply because business owners are skeptical about the cost-benefit ratio of these systems, and rightly so.

Before the invention of cell and Bluetooth-based systems, asset tracking was a tedious and costly application, that often resulted in higher costs and increased effort. In many cases, this made asset tracking ineffective, at least cost wise. This is what many business owners and entrepreneurs remember about asset tracking. The truth is that modern systems have improved so dramatically, and competition is so fierce, that all businesses should re-evaluate the benefits of an asset tracking system for their stock, equipment and machinery.

So what are the advantages of an asset tracking system?

Besides the obvious benefit of being able to locate and trace your assets, equipment and stock; modern tracking systems have some additional advantages that you can choose from.

• They can be tamper-proofed. Being tamper proof offers you additional security by ensuring the device does not get disabled or removed from you assets, at least not without you knowing. These trackers will send a notification to the main system if they are disabled, removed or opened, which will allow you to at least trace your assets to their last known location. In many cases, checking on your assets in such a case is simply a phone call away and can save you a lot of effort and money.

• They can be weather-proofed. Depending on what type of asset you are tracking, it is vital for the tracking device to be weather proof. If you are tracking your heavy earth moving machinery, a tracker that is UV resistant and water proof will definitely be a huge advantage. On the other hand, if you are tracking the company’s computers, this will probably not be necessary and a simple location identifier will do the trick.

• They have extended battery lives. Traditional GPS trackers installed in vehicles do not have a very long battery life due to the fact that they use stronger signals. In contrast, asset trackers do not need to use such strong signals as they tend to be close to some type of base unit – whether it be the office, the storage room or even a car with a driver and a cellphone. This means their batteries can last for years, compared to months with traditional GPS trackers. Less battery replacements mean reduced costs and a decreased chance of loosing track of your asset.

• They can record meta-data. Although you do not necessarily want to keep track of the temperature, humidity and orientation of all your assets, this information can be very important for goods that can spoil or break. Specific assets trackers can be installed and set up to record a variety of meta-data so that you can judge the condition of you goods at any point in time. Installing such a tracker in a container carrying frozen fish, would be highly beneficial in case the cold compressor or temperature regulator broke. Additionally, some of these trackers are so advanced that they can detect vibrations or shocks, as well as product orientation, which can help you ensure the products arrive at their destination in one working piece. Whenever one of these parameters change, an alert will be sent to your tracking system, allowing you to check up on your products.

How do these trackers work?

Traditional tacking devices relied on satellite signals to report locations. These systems were costly and relatively slow, which did not suit asset tracking. With the invention of cellphone technology, this became a much more lucrative and reasonable possibility, as cell-based systems are cheaper and faster, especially in cities and towns where cellphone towers are plentiful.

Since asset tracking does not necessarily need long distance tracking, and in fact, in most cases they do not, both modern cell-based systems, LTE and Bluetooth devices work perfectly well.

To this end, there are three main types of asset trackers – those based on cellphone signals such as cell-based or LTE systems and Bluetooth systems.

Cell-based systems

In short, cell based systems work through a small tracking device that can be installed, in a hidden location on your asset, and can communicate through cellphone signals with a base system such as a computer or cellphone. If the asset moves, an alert will be sent so the asset can be traced or tracked -if the movement is allowed. As long as there are cellphone towers nearby, cell and LTE based systems work very well, are relatively cheap and durable.

Bluetooth systems

Bluetooth systems work similar to cell-based systems, in that a Bluetooth signal is sent from the device to a mobile application, which will transmit the information such as asset ID and location as well as distance from receiving mobile device through the internet. Although Bluetooth signal strength is much weaker than that of cell based or satellite systems, they have the advantage of a very low energy signal that facilitates a much longer battery life.

Also, since most asset trackers are never very far from a base unit, strong signal strength is not needed, making Bluetooth devices ideal for asset tracking.

Tracking you assets can be highly beneficial for your business, from saving you money by keeping your assets safe, to improving your customer service by ensuring the quality and condition of customers’ purchases. These devices are small, easy to install and have an extended battery life, which means you can use and re-use them several times. You can choose the complexity of the tracking device you install, from simply reporting the assets location, to providing all sorts of additional data that can help you control product quality.

Simply by adding a bit of thought into your choice of tracker, asset tracking can save you a lot of trouble and money while ensuring your business can function effectively and efficiently in the future.