RFID APPLICATIONS
RFID Asset Tracking
RFID asset tracking uses radio frequency identification technology to automatically identify, locate, and monitor physical assets throughout their lifecycle.
By attaching RFID tags to equipment, tools, IT assets, containers, or other high-value items, organizations can capture asset movements and status updates without relying on manual data entry or barcode scanning. The result is greater visibility into asset locations, reduced time spent searching for missing items, improved utilization, and more accurate inventory records across facilities, warehouses, campuses, and job sites.
By attaching RFID tags to equipment, tools, IT assets, containers, or other high-value items, organizations can capture asset movements and status updates without relying on manual data entry or barcode scanning. The result is greater visibility into asset locations, reduced time spent searching for missing items, improved utilization, and more accurate inventory records across facilities, warehouses, campuses, and job sites.
Real-Time Visibility
Improve Utilization
Reduce Loss
What is RFID Asset Tracking?
Assets are objects that are owned by a company or facility that have value and are typically kept throughout their lifespan. Keeping track of and managing these assets can be accomplished with the use of RFID technology. With no tracking or management system in place, assets can be lost, stolen, or fall into disrepair, leading to wasted money and time spent finding or replacing them.
Attaching RFID tags to assets and capturing data throughout a facility can help companies track and manage the asset’s location with different levels of granularity. If an asset is misplaced, it’s last location can be found from recorded data and the asset’s unique ID can be searched for via a handheld RFID reader.
Attaching RFID tags to assets and capturing data throughout a facility can help companies track and manage the asset’s location with different levels of granularity. If an asset is misplaced, it’s last location can be found from recorded data and the asset’s unique ID can be searched for via a handheld RFID reader.
Why Track Assets with RFID?
From equipment and tools to electronics and high-value machinery, RFID provides accurate visibility into where your assets are, how they're being used, and when they need maintenance.
Because assets are investments for a company, it is important to get as much use as possible out of each asset. If these assets are tracked within a facility using an RFID system, they can be properly managed to prevent being lost, stolen, or even prematurely replaced. If specific individuals or other companies are responsible for lost assets, they can be properly billed for these assets.
Because assets are investments for a company, it is important to get as much use as possible out of each asset. If these assets are tracked within a facility using an RFID system, they can be properly managed to prevent being lost, stolen, or even prematurely replaced. If specific individuals or other companies are responsible for lost assets, they can be properly billed for these assets.
Always know where your assets are
Prevent loss, theft, and misplacement
Optimize asset utilization and ROI
Automate audits and compliance
Extend asset lifespan with better insights
Common Asset Tracking Applications
While nearly any physical item can be tracked with RFID, some assets deliver a faster return on investment due to their value, mobility, criticality, or tendency to be misplaced. Organizations often begin by tagging the assets that are most difficult to locate, most expensive to replace, or most important to daily operations. From IT equipment and tools to medical devices and reusable containers, RFID provides real-time visibility into the assets that matter most and helps ensure they are available when and where they are needed.
Returnable Transport Items
Tubs, Bins, Racks, Trays
Files & Paper Assets
Patient Files, Car Titles, Research Documents
Business Assets
IT Assets, Furniture, PPE
Related Articles
Hospital Assets
Medicine, Supplies, Inventory
Laundry & Textiles
Curtains, Clothing, Sheets
Transportation Assets
Vehicles, Railways, Airlines
How Does RFID Asset Tracking Work?
Simply put, RFID asset tracking works by adhering an RFID label to a company's asset and and using a fixed or handheld RFID reader to track and manage the asset. An RFID asset tracking system can be set up in three main ways depending on what the company needs and the environment.
Local Area Coverage
The first way to set up an RFID asset-tracking is to establish local area coverage. This describes an RFID system mounted on a wall or ceiling that continuously reads RFID-tagged assets within its read range. This is typically used inside a room, such as an inventory or storage room, or to cover a specific area in a warehouse.
When tagged assets enter the RFID system's read area, the system reads the tag and relays its information, along with a timestamp, to the software, which lets the company know the asset is in the area. When the asset leaves the area, the reader stops reading the RFID tag, which can then be configured with a software product to notify the company that the asset has left and to timestamp the last time it is read.
When tagged assets enter the RFID system's read area, the system reads the tag and relays its information, along with a timestamp, to the software, which lets the company know the asset is in the area. When the asset leaves the area, the reader stops reading the RFID tag, which can then be configured with a software product to notify the company that the asset has left and to timestamp the last time it is read.
Entry/Exit Point Coverage
The second way to set up an RFID asset-tracking system is to use entry/exit point coverage. In this type of asset-tracking system, an RFID reader/antenna is installed at specific doorways to read assets as they enter or exit a room or area.
Each time the RFID reader detects an RFID tag passing through a doorway, the tag's information and a timestamp are relayed to the software. This type of asset tracking system is ideal for tracking assets that leave rooms, warehouses, yards, or other large spaces.
Each time the RFID reader detects an RFID tag passing through a doorway, the tag's information and a timestamp are relayed to the software. This type of asset tracking system is ideal for tracking assets that leave rooms, warehouses, yards, or other large spaces.
Mobile Reading/Tracking
For the third way to set up an RFID asset-tracking system, a mobile reading/tracking RFID system can be used as the sole RFID system or alongside one of the systems mentioned above. A handheld RFID reader can be held by an employee and used to walk around an area to read assets on specific days or at specific times.
Additionally, a handheld reader can be used to locate specific assets with its Geiger Counter functionality. Simply type in an asset's RFID tag information, and the Geiger Counter functionality will beep louder the closer you get to the missing or lost asset.
Additionally, a handheld reader can be used to locate specific assets with its Geiger Counter functionality. Simply type in an asset's RFID tag information, and the Geiger Counter functionality will beep louder the closer you get to the missing or lost asset.
Which Industries Track Assets?
Most companies across every industry have some type of assets. Here are a few different breakdowns by industry.
| Industry | Company Type | Examples of Companies | Example Asset | Asset Replacement Costs |
| Transportation | Railroad/Railway | CSX, BNSF | Railway Car | $100K - $150k |
| Construction | General Contractor | Brasfield & Gorrie, Wyatt | Building Permits | $300 - $8k |
| Financial | Financial Advisors | Fidelity Investments, Vanguard | Employee Laptops | $1k - $3k |
| Transportation/Warehousing | Postal Service | USPS | Corrugated Plastic Mail Totes | $4 - $20 |
| Manufacturing | Pipe Manufacturing | ACIPCO, Vallourec Star | Reusable Mobile Pipe Racks | $500 - $1k |
The chart above shows just one example per industry of an asset and it’s estimated replacement cost. Even less expensive assets, like Corrugated Plastic Mail Totes above, have replacement costs that add up over time. For example, between 2011 and 2013, a nationwide effort was made by the US Post Office to encourage customers to return Mail Totes, called “Flat Tubs”, after a study was conducted showing that over $50 million per year is spent in replacement costs.
If each tub is priced at $4, that’s a loss of 12.5 million tubs per year. If the same amount per year were to be spent in replacement costs in the Railway Industry, that would equate to about 333 railcars. These are two vastly different priced assets, but this shows that, no matter how much an asset costs, the key is to understand how much a company is losing per week, month, or year replacing these assets and how those costs are affecting their bottom line.
If each tub is priced at $4, that’s a loss of 12.5 million tubs per year. If the same amount per year were to be spent in replacement costs in the Railway Industry, that would equate to about 333 railcars. These are two vastly different priced assets, but this shows that, no matter how much an asset costs, the key is to understand how much a company is losing per week, month, or year replacing these assets and how those costs are affecting their bottom line.
Application guide
RFID Technology Hub
Explore common RFID applications by goal, then open a category to find the right topic.