An introduction to barcode labels

Barcode labels are tags that enable machines to read a unique identifier associated with the object they are attached to. You will find a variety of barcode labels in the market and they can resemble any label format. Barcode labels are distinguished on the basis of the base material on which the label is printed.

The different types of barcode labels

Barcode labels are manufactured using different kinds of materials. Some examples of different material types include ceramic, polyester and aluminium barcode labels. They are available with a variety of adhesive backings depending on their required usage. These labels can also be manufactured in any specified shape or size. One can make use of any of these kinds of barcode labels as per their requirement.

The aluminium labels generally have an image on them that stays for a long period, even under strong weather conditions. These labels are highly durable and can endure wear and tear with ease.

Polyester barcode labels have permanent adhesive bonding and are well-known for it. You will find an embedded image on the underside of the labels plastic material. But, if you are looking for barcode labels that last really long then check out ceramic labels. These labels have a base of stainless steel and come with a ceramic coating. So these labels can survive extreme temperatures and are even resistant to corrosive chemicals.

Barcode labels are great when it comes to inventory control. They increase the efficiency of work as it diminishes human errors, and the effort needed for inventory checks is also reduced.

Asset labels are the best tools for tracking and identifying your stock

Tracking the condition, location and status of fixed assets is one of the major challenges faced by most organisations. This is when using asset labels is recommended as it is one of the easiest ways of identifying and recording valuable equipment.

Asset tags are labels that can be made from different materials such as polyester, vinyl, paper and other tamper evident materials. They come in different styles and adhesives ranging from temporary to permanent. Asset tags can also be personalised with sequential numbering or branding, such as a logo and name before being applied on the equipment.

Labeling all valuable assets will discourage fraud, theft and asset misappropriation as well. Most asset labels come with universal adhesive to bond well with the surface. When the label is removed, evidence is left behind on the surface, such as a ‘VOID’ message. The label itself also shows evidence of tampering.

Vinyl asset labels

Vinyl is an economical and durable material for identification and asset labels. With a strong adhesive, vinyl asset labels can easily be applied on an extensive range of surfaces. To protect the printed image matter on these asset labels, a clear laminating foil is applied. This also protects the asset label against solvents and abrasions.

Asset labels are perfect to use at places like warehouses, retail stores, shopping malls, etc where thousands of products and equipment are required to be tracked. For security purposes, asset tags can also include a barcode. This is a unique and effective way of tracking inventory items in the best possible way.

Asset labels and security tags

Asset labels and security tags are some of the best ways to protecting your personal as well as business items and it is an economical option that is now being considered at many places.

It is always recommended that a barcode label be added to the asset label and if possible a small yet strong message on it, indicating that the item and the tag are traceable. The addition of the barcode can give an impression to thieves that it is a security label and that they should not be fiddling around with it. This will may make them ditch their effort to steal such an item and the label on it can be used to track the item’s true owner later.

A variety of asset labels are available in the market. Right from simple labels, that is a plain white label with black writing on it, to a high quality 200 microns plastic label with a very strong adhesive. The higher-end models of labels are extra tough due to the increased thickness in the plastic and the strong adhesive increases its bonding to the item. There are also tamper proof labels available. These labels are not easy to remove and if they are removed, they will leave a mark which is an indication that it has been tampered with.
Security tags can give extra protection to your items and if it is coupled with a database of the inventory, then it can also be used to track and trace misplaced or lost items.

Benefits of using asset labels

Asset labels are basically numbered labels which are used to identify valuable items. Some asset labels have the option of using a barcode label and asset management software. The number on the label helps you maintain a log, which may be either be a manual log or an automatic log, which can be updated directly if you use barcode labels and have a barcode reader.

The types of items usually labelled are:

  • Laptops
  • Tools
  • Protective clothing
  • Equipment
  • Any items which are valuable enough to be tracked


What are the benefits of using asset labels?

An asset label will show the level of security of the goods and will effectively put off thieves. Labelling can be permanent and thus acts as a marker for any stolen goods. Although it may not be able to track the stolen goods, it will ensure that the stolen goods are not sold off illegally. With the help of the log, the goods can be kept track of easily and a simple click of a button helps you locate all your goods almost immediately.

Misplacement of items and goods can cause great losses in terms of time and money. Using asset labels can help organise your entire stock. It makes things easier to manage and enables you to locate the stock faster. Lending of items to customers, colleagues and contractors can thus be made a bit more efficient.
Keeping track of items that are of the same or similar model can be a very tough job. In such situations, a numbered asset label is indispensable. Each item can have a different and unique number and thus can be tracked very easily.

Asset labels are also a sign ownership of goods and can be used as proof of ownership during insurance claims. Marking of goods with the asset labels makes them recognisable as your company’s goods.

Inventory control and auditing made easy with barcode labels

Every year, businesses lose massive amounts of money due to poor inventory management. This mostly happens through mishandling, clerical errors or due to theft of assets. Due to this, the operating expenses of the company also increases. This creates a negative impact on the company brand image. It also increases the possibilities of leaking confidential information or data.

Deterring thefts by tracking inventories remains paramount in running an efficient business. The use of asset tags, barcode labels and asset labels makes an organisation well equipped for global business demands and the fast paced life of today. Asset tags are affordable to implement and easy to use. They also represent company’s most powerful and first line of defence in inventory management and asset protection.

Safeguard company assets with proper application

When it comes to operating a successful business, asset protection is a crucial aspect to consider. Asset labels can be purchased in different sizes and shapes based on your specific needs. Remember, using the right adhesive is the key to ensure that the asset labels bond well with the surface.

Ideally, the surface should be contaminant-free to enhance the security and strength of the tags. However, if you fail to do this, it will minimise the effectiveness of asset tags. The chances of asset tags getting removed by regular use or accidentally also increases in this case. With proper implementation with asset tags, businesses can better manage their inventory items and safeguard them against thefts.

So, if you are looking for the best way to manage inventory items in a warehouse or in a retail store, use barcode labels and asset tags.

Asset tagging can help you maintain your inventory

Asset tagging is crucial for any business if you have to deal with a large number of products. This is important as keeping a tab of your entire inventory is physically very taxing and requires a lot of human effort. People may have a number of reasons as to why they need to tag their goods. Some people want to simplify stock checks while some only intend to protect their goods.

Having the right asset labels takes care of any likelihood of petty thieves trying to steal some goods from your stock warehouses. This is because asset tagging will help you track and even recover any property that is stolen. Some companies have a complete asset control system which requires them to tag each and every product being manufactured. It makes things simple for the accounting and logistics aspect of the business.

For instance, if your logistics team has a number of trucks of the same model and the same brand then it can be problematic for you to identify one from the other. So make sure you have the necessary tags in place. Asset tagging will help you keep all of your assets organised and in check.

Asset tagging has a wide application as the labels used are suitable in just about every industry. Most retail stores employ asset tagging systems as it saves time when doing stock checks.

Barcode labels: know their importance

We are familiar with barcode labels today, but how many of us still scratch our heads as we stand in the queue at a supermarket and watch the barcode labels on different products being scanned? Yes, barcode labels still mystify.

Barcode labels were introduced many years ago and today they are seen on almost every product available in supermarkets and other shops. Why so, you ask? A barcode holds a lot of information related to the product – an identification number, its date of acquisition, its price, and other numeric data.

This sort of information is of great use in a number of ways. We see it ourselves when items are scanned at the checkout as it speeds the shopping experience, but bar codes are also advantageous for stock keeping as well.

If you run a shop with large volumes of stock, it can be hard to keep track of it all. When did certain items arrive? How long will they last? Bar codes can help with all of this. They are also of use for companies that have pieces of equipment that they use in different places. By placing bar codes on these items and scanning them whenever they are moved from one place to another, you can always know where they are, ensuring that nothing is lost.

Top benefits of using asset and barcode labels

Barcode labels offer a range of different advantages for small, medium and large sized businesses. Reducing overhead costs, accuracy in inventory management and efficiency in business operations are some advantages of using barcode labels.

As data is important for business organisations, using barcode labels for assets is an excellent solution. This type of data collection technology ensures that the product is tracked, controlled and collected in an efficient and precise manner. Medium and small sized business organisations can effectively implement barcode labels for increasing the efficiency of different processes. Warehousing, sales, shipping, packaging and production are some areas where using barcode labels can be highly effective.

Barcode labels ensure effective and precise product identification. Data processing can also be done in less time and with minimal errors. Moreover, barcode labels are also an affordable option for business organisations to increase visibility, enhance data management, worker efficiency and minimise man-hours per task.

Other important benefits of using asset labels

Accuracy
Using barcode labels increases the data tracking and management accuracy. It also eliminates the probabilities of human errors that occur more often with manual entry. Using barcode labelling with innovative computer technology, businesses can capture all the information available on the barcode in a fast and accurate manner.

Ease of use
With barcode labels, businesses can ensure the efficient running of their entire operation. These labels can easily be applied on packages, cartons, products, electronic gadgets and identity cards, etc.

Uniform data collection, enhanced productivity, increased profitability and timely feedback are some crucial benefits of using barcode labels.

Use asset labels for easy and quick auditing

Individuals working in supermarkets, retail stores and warehouses need to perform regular checks on their inventory items. While this is a difficult task, using barcode labels and asset labels can simplify the process. The inventory checks are mostly performed outside work hours. The process involves counting each and every asset available in the retail store.

When it comes to the retail world, it is important to manage the stock levels. This helps to ensure the profitability and efficiency of businesses. An audit and inventory check is also an essential part of every business. This will help them to determine the goods that are no longer available. When using asset labels, you can easily and effectively keep a track on the available stock levels.

Different uses of asset tagging

When you are conducting inventory checks, it is essential for every stock item to have individual coding. This will help your employees and managers to keep an updated record related to the availability of items.

Printing and applying asset tags on every inventory item, you can simplify the task of performing inventory checks to a greater extent. Well conducted inventory checks also help in identifying losses. With asset tagging, you can take preventative measures to combat asset thefts in the long run.

Asset tags are available in numerous designs, sizes and types. Customising these labels with your brand logo and name is also possible. Considering all these advantages, it would be wise to use barcode labels and asset tags for proper inventory management.

What are barcodes and where are they used?

You may have seen barcodes while at the shopping centre. They are a set of thick and thin parallel lines, with some numbers at the bottom. They are often found tagged to a purchased product.

A barcode is an optical representation of data, able to be read by a machine. Barcodes usually have their data represented by evenly spaced parallel lines; although now they have evolved into dots, rectangles, hexagons and other geometric patterns. Barcodes are scanned by scanners called barcode readers. Nowadays, devices such as smartphones have software which can interpret barcodes.

Where are they used?

At first, the use of barcodes was restricted to groceries and food. Nowadays their use has spread to publishing companies, where barcodes are used for coding purposes. Companies that manufacture goods use barcodes to identify the manufactured batch. A barcode is a novel way of storing information in a tiny space without the fear of the information getting damaged or erased.

Do I have to stick to quality barcodes?

The barcode industry is a huge market, and there is a wide variety of barcode products, which fit into different quality and price ranges. It is generally advisable to print original barcodes, however when quality is not of a prime concern, cheaper barcodes are always available. Even cheaper barcodes have to stick to the standard, so that there are no quality issues later on. The quality of barcodes depends upon the quality of the printer used and also the ink used.