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What is the difference between barcode labels and asset tags?

Barcode labels are a broad category which encompasses many ubiquitous products. They belong to the heavyweight class and pack a wallop based on sheer market presence.

The asset tag is a specialized application which overlaps into the barcode labels category.

Barcode labels feature a bar code and are affixed some object. Bar codes are a fast, machine-readable, mostly error-free method of communicating data. The bar code symbol translates into an alphanumeric data set or references content in a database. The label is just the substrate between the data and the subject.

Barcode labels are often employed to —

track parcels, envelopes, pallets and containers organize rack, shelf and floor inventory in warehouses systematize files and folders in an office expedite sale of retail and commercial products

Asset tags are generally limited to valuable property which must be secured or tracked through an asset management system.

Commonly tracked assets include —

fixed machinery and infrastructure medical equipment, computers and electronics vehicles and construction machinery office furniture tools

Companies use asset tags to access a wealth of information about the property. Data related to an asset might include the name and a description, its location and condition, purchased date, warranty and service records, annual depreciation figures, and whom the asset is assigned to. An asset tag may or may not feature a bar code. Often a number is sufficient.

While labels are usually pressed flush to an object, tags can dangle loose as illustrated by luggage tags and dog tags. However, asset tags are usually pressed firmly to a surface as flush as the sturdy substrate allows. Asset tags are a form of label and are also called asset labels.

Economy and efficiency dictate that most barcode labels be lightweight and inexpensive. Labels attached to documents and folders around the office are commonly printed on adhesive paper. They’re not intended to outlast their host. Barcode labels on shipments have a limited lifespan and need only survive transit.

Since asset tags are often permanently attached to property they must be durable and resistant to environmental conditions. While a computer may sit in an air conditioned office, the tag attached to an earth mover may experience brutal outdoor conditions for many years and still provide optimal bar code read rates.

Barcode labels can be created with software as simple as a word processing program using the widely available Code 39 font. More sophisticated applications output Code 128 and Data Matrix bar codes. Blank label sheets can be found at most office supply stores.

Asset tags are usually pre-printed on a rugged substrate like polyester and aluminum for maximum longevity. In high-quality tags the image is often photographic and embedded below the surface. The bar code is determined by a pre-defined or specified numeric sequence. Ordering asset tags is usually very simple. Some suppliers even allow you design your own asset tag quickly!

Barcode symbols are machine-readable representations of alphanumeric data.  Whereas a human being would read and possibly mistype a string of numbers and letters, a barcode scanner zaps the barcode graphic and the related data can be quickly retrieved or entered. This saves time and reduces human error. But do you really need to use barcodes?

Does your company have few assets to track? Is your asset management system simple, like a spreadsheet? Are your assets primarily stationary and used by very few people? Do you prefer not to invest in the extra software and barcode scanners?

In simple situations barcodes add unnecessary complexity. But beyond a certain threshhold the usage of barcodes in managing assets is imperative. If your assets move around a lot and the standard operating mode of your business is a state of flux, a barcode-enabled management system can help maintain proper order.

Here are a few great reasons to start using barcodes –

Printing barcodes on asset tags is free. Barcode scanners are relatively cheap and may work with your existing software. Tracking assets with numbers is so passé. Barcodes are the way of the future! You’ll look totally cool strutting around with a barcode scanner, like Clint Eastwood shooting asset tags. Your colleagues and competitors will be impressed you’re barcoding your assets. You’ll improve efficiency and reduce errors by automating asset tracking.

So you’ve decided to upgrade your business. Which kind of barcode is right for you?

Undoubtedly you’ve seen these nifty black and white graphics on just about every product you’ve ever purchased. Food, clothing, electronics and pink plastic lawn flamingos are all shot straight from the manufacturer in Guangzhou through Wal-Mart and into your possession via the lightning-fast legibility of barcodes. Most retail products use UPC or EAN barcodes, but other symbologies like Code 39 and code 128 are more common in asset management and property identification.

Also known as Code 3 of 9, the Code 39 barcode format is widespread due to its simplicity and versatility. Alliance has been developing barcoded property identification labels since 1984 and the vast majority of our customers use this format. It is conveniently available as a downloadable font. The same barcode used on your asset tags could be printed on a document which references the asset, like a project tracking sheet or invoice. All these uses help unify your asset management system.

A bit more sophisticated, the Code 128 barcode format uses a check character to verify data accuracy. Special calculations need to be made, usually by a software application. However, the resulting barcode compresses more data into a compact spot compared to Code 39.

Alliance Tag specializes in asset tags and barcode labels for commercial, industrial and military applications. Design your own barcode labels in under a minute!