A Guide to NFC: NFC Asset Tags and Asset management

NFC Asset Tag

NFC asset tags are labels or tags placed on assets as identification tags. They contain an NFC chip with a unique identifier that help businesses track and monitor their physical assets. These can help with supply chain management, asset tagging and general asset management.

An asset tag contains an NFC chip which is a small device that uses technology to store and transmit asset data. These tags can be easily read with NFC-enabled devices, like iPhones and Android phones.

These NFC powered asset tags can store large and varied amounts of data. From asset’s unique ID, locations, transit history and maintenance history.

NFC asset tags offer several benefits:

• Real-time visibility:  allowing you to track products in real time.
• More data storage:  store more information about a product compared to QR codes or barcodes.
• Increased efficiency: A noticeable boost to asset management

Asset Tag and applications

Asset tags come in a variety of forms which are best suited to a variety of environments and so understanding your operational environment and each tags capabilities is essential.

Consider the following when choosing a tag:

• Contact with harsh chemicals: Will the tag encounter chemicals that could cause damage?
• Exposure to weather: Will the tag face conditions like heat, rain, or sunlight?
• Application: Will the tags require adhesive or screws?

Below is a guide to follow when considering the environment of the tags.

Cleaning chemical exposure:

For harsh chemical environments, use asset tags made of ABS and Nylon. These materials are durable and resistant to damage from harsh chemicals.The most popular product in this use case would be the Patrol tag, the Factory tag or the Warehouse tag. These tags use ABS materials, making them highly resistant to harsh chemicals.

Water exposure:

For maximum water resistance, use tags made of ABS, Nylon, and PVC. These materials are ideal for tags exposed to water. These materials are incredibly water resistant, protecting the NFC chip inside from water entering. The most popular product for this use case would be the PVC disc tag, the Warehouse tag, the Patrol tag and many more.

High heat environments:

The best products for handling experiencing high heat- temperatures are those made of ABS, Nylon, PVC and PPS. These materials are incredibly heat resistant and protect the internal chip from overheating and other forms of heat damage. The warehouse tag would be a popular product for this use case.

Standard environments:

The best asset tag for standard environments would be the PET Asset tag labels. Customize these tags for your needs; they are highly durable for standard environments and offer great scan distance. However all products mentioned above would be suitable for standard use cases.

On-Metal

When placed on metal surfaces NFC tags will cease to function. This is because the metal interferes with the tags antenna and prevents the tag from activating.

When working with metal surfaces you should use On-Metal tags. These tags contain a ferrite barrier separating the tag from the metal surface. in these tags prevents the metal surface from interfering with the antenna. A popular On-Metal product is the PVC Custom Print On-Metal tag. 

Which NFC chip is the best for an Asset Tag: ICODE Slix VS NTAG213?

When selecting the correct chip there are only two options: the NTAG213, and the ICODE SLIX. (NTAG215 and NTAG216 would also be suitable but are more expensive)

Both are high quality tags and great for asset management but what is the difference between the two?

ICODE vs NTAG213

Based on this comparison the ICODE Slix would be the most suitable chip for Asset tagging. Offering excellent memory capacity and a long-lasting life span of up to 50 years. It also has the best scanning capability of any tag on the market.

Although it is important to note that the NTAG213 is a great alternative. The NTAG213 is a genuine NXP chip and is- one of the most popular on the market easily fulfilling all the functions required of an asset tag.

Still require further assistance on selecting the right product? Try our typeform which will direct you to the correct product.

Asset Tag VS QR Code

So why choose an NFC Asset Tag over a QR code or a barcode?

Barcodes and QR codes have long been staples in asset management.- However, the use of NFC is on the rise for Asset management purposes. NFC offers reliability and visibility that barcodes and QR codes simply can't match. And if you’re still curious about whether it’s the right choice for you, We’ve included a few more points of comparison below