Asset tagging is supposed to make facilities management simpler — helping teams track equipment, schedule maintenance and reduce downtime.
But in reality, many organisations discover too late that their asset labels have already failed.
Across schools, healthcare sites, offices and industrial environments, one of the most common problems we see at Data Label is this:
The tagging system is only as strong as the label itself.
The Hidden Problem with Cheap Asset Labels
When new assets are installed, labels usually look fine at first.
Months later, problems begin:
- Barcodes no longer scan
- Print fades or smudges
- Adhesives start peeling
- Labels crack or lift during cleaning
Once this happens, systems break down quickly:
- Engineers cannot identify equipment
- Maintenance history becomes unreliable
- Audits take longer
- Assets effectively “disappear” from the system
What looked like a small saving during purchasing turns into repeated relabelling, lost time and operational disruption.
Why Durability Matters in Real Facilities
Unlike office stickers or temporary labels, asset tags must survive:
- Cleaning chemicals
- Heat and humidity
- UV exposure
- Abrasion from daily use
- Industrial environments
Facilities teams increasingly rely on data-driven asset management to reduce reactive maintenance and improve lifecycle planning.
If the label fails, the data chain breaks.
The Real Cost of Label Failure
Poor asset tags don’t just create inconvenience — they introduce risk:
- Lost maintenance history
- Failed compliance checks
- Increased replacement costs
- Duplicate assets in systems
- Longer engineer call-outs
For sectors like education, healthcare and local authorities, these small failures can scale quickly across hundreds or thousands of assets.
Choosing the Right Material (Not Just the Cheapest)
Not every asset needs the same label.
Choosing correctly upfront is what separates successful systems from ongoing maintenance headaches.
Common options include:
Polyester asset labels
Ideal for indoor assets requiring good durability and clear print quality.
Polycarbonate labels
Excellent when chemicals, abrasion or frequent handling are expected.
Anodised aluminium plates
Best for outdoor or harsh industrial environments where labels must survive for years.
The goal should always be simple:
The label should last the lifetime of the asset.
Asset Tagging Is a Long-Term Decision
Facilities teams are under pressure to work smarter and manage more assets with fewer resources.
Choosing high-quality labels from the beginning:
- Reduces replacement cycles
- Protects asset data
- Improves maintenance efficiency
- Supports long-term lifecycle management
A durable label isn’t a cost — it’s infrastructure.
Phil’s Thoughts
Asset tagging is meant to simplify facilities management, not add extra work.
When labels fail, systems fail with them.
At Data Label, we help organisations choose durable, fit-for-purpose asset tagging solutions that continue working long after installation — so your asset data stays visible, scannable and reliable.