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