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Asset Tracking Solutions

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Next-Level Asset Tracking Intelligence: Revolutionising Tracking Systems

Asset tracking is the systematic process of monitoring and managing valuable physical assets throughout their lifecycle. From inventory items to equipment, vehicles, and even high-value goods, asset tracking enables organisations to maintain a comprehensive record of their assets, ensuring their visibility, security, and optimal utilization. Leveraging advanced technologies such as barcode scanning, radio frequency identification (RFID), and global positioning system (GPS) tracking, asset tracking solutions provide real-time insights into the location, condition, and movement of assets. This information empowers businesses to streamline operations, prevent loss or theft, minimize downtime, and make informed decisions based on accurate data. By implementing effective asset-tracking systems, organisations can maximize their efficiency, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in today's dynamic business landscape.

Avnet Silica and its leading suppliers are supporting a number of businesses across EMEA to revolutionise their asset tracking systems and procedures, making their business smarter, more profitable and giving them an advantage over their competition.

Speak to our Asset Tracking experts today to learn more.

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Asset Tracking tech article (MM)

The Technologies Revolutionising Asset-Tracking

Miniaturisation of electronic devices, such as embedded processors and transceivers, and advanced power-management techniques are enabling the creation of low-cost, battery-operated asset-tracking devices. Using these devices, asset-tracking applications are delivering real business benefits across a wide spectrum of applications in multiple sectors, including transportation and logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail.

This article takes a closer look at asset tracking, describing ongoing and future market trends, and highlighting the technologies enabling this market growth. It concludes by discussing how asset-tracking technologies are also contributing to other emerging technological trends, including smart cities and the Industry 4.0 factory.

Asset Tracking technologies being used in warehouse

Optimising designs article (MM)

Optimising Asset-Tracking Solution Designs

The rapid growth of the IoT has driven the emergence of a range of innovative technologies which are increasingly being adopted in asset-tracking systems. With such a wide spectrum of options, it can sometimes be difficult to choose the optimum combination for a given application. This article describes the main technologies currently available to support asset-tracking solutions and discusses how to choose the optimal technology for a specific application.

As a leading global technology distributor and solutions provider, Avnet Silica has the product portfolio and solutions expertise to ensure that their customers optimise the design of their asset-tracking solutions. This article concludes with an examination of selected technologies within the extensive Avnet Silica portfolio.

Technologies title (LC)

Asset Tracking Technologies

There are many factors to consider when choosing an asset-tracking technology. Just some of these include:

Level of accuracy needed for location data
Location update rates
Dimensions that need to be tracked
The number of assets you'll be tracking
Value of the assets
The physical environments the assets will be in
Ease of deployment
Budgets

Technology	Advantages	Disadvantages
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)	Low power consumption Can be cheap to acquire BLE tags Accurate between one to three meters Read range between thirty to eighty meters	Latency issues in some real-time applications Interference and dropped data Don't cope well in cluttered environments with a lot of metal or reflective surfaces
Wi-Fi	Real-time location tracking Fewer data-bridging systems needed Read range between 60-100 meters	Can't scale Power-hungry tags Poses security risks
Cellular Positioning	Long range / global reach Standardisation	Power hungry tags Low accuracy Not reliable indoors or underground
GPS	Global visibility Stable and mature Can be scaled by using tags Almost inter interference-free	Only works outdoors Requires a line of sight with at least 4 satellites High power consumption
RFID	Longevity Small in size Low-cost tags or labels	Lower precision Wireless signals easy to intercept Cannot provide real-time location data
NFC	Fast set-up Inexpensive tags Suitable for high-density applications Compatible with passive RFID infrastructures	Short read range Cannot be used in 2D or 3D spaces
LPWAN	Long-range wireless connectivity Tags have a long battery life Indoor and outdoor coverage Good for large-scale deployments	Low data transfer rates Needs network to deploy
Ultra-Wideband (UWB)	High-accuracy (centimeter-level accuracy) More resistant to multipath interface Extremely power efficient	Precise timing between sensors requires cabling to be synchronized More expensive Low emission limits

Applications title (LC)

Common Asset Tracking Applications

Asset Tracking has been widely adopted in a number of different industries and sectors. If a business has valuable assets that are moving around or need to be delivered to an end user then said business can adopt asset tracking to minimise asset loss, provide more regular updates, spot potential issues, and gather data.

Recent developments in technology within Asset Tracking even allow businesses to monitor the health of a particular asset and be notified if assets become damaged or exposed to external threats.

Livestock (GBL)

Application

Livestock

Asset tracking is used for livestock by attaching GPS or RFID tags to animals. It enables real-time monitoring of their location, health, and behavior, aiding in herd management, preventing theft, optimizing grazing patterns etc...

Healthcare (GBL)

Application

Healthcare

Asset tracking in healthcare involves using RFID or similar technology to monitor medical equipment, supplies, and patients. It optimizes inventory management, enhances patient safety, improves asset utilization, and streamlines workflow.

Sports Science (GBL)

Application

Sports Science

Asset tracking in sports science involves using GPS or wearable devices to monitor athletes' performance metrics (speed, distance, heart rate, etc). It helps optimize training, prevent injuries, analyze team strategies, and enhance performance.

High value items (GBL)

Application

High-Value Items / Security

Asset tracking for high-value items involves using GPS, RFID, or other tracking technologies to monitor their location, status, and movement. It deters theft, enables real-time tracking, enhances security measures and better ensures accountability.

Warehouse (GBL)

Application

Warehouse and Inventory Management

Asset tracking in warehouse and inventory management involves using barcode or RFID technology to track the location and movement of items. It improves inventory accuracy, reduces manual errors, streamlines operations & enables efficient restocking.

Shipping (GBL)

Application

Shipping

Asset tracking in shipping involves using GPS, RFID, or IoT devices to monitor cargo and containers. It provides real-time location updates, optimizes supply chain visibility, prevents theft, ensures timely delivery and enhances logistics efficiency.

Fleet Management (GBL)

Application

Fleet Management

Asset tracking in fleet management utilizes GPS or telematics devices to monitor vehicles and assets in real-time. It enables efficient route planning, reduces fuel costs, enhances driver safety and provides maintenance insights.

IoT and AI (LC)

How IoT and AI are revolutionising Asset Tracking

The combination of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing asset tracking by introducing advanced capabilities and transforming traditional asset management practices. Here are just a few examples:

Real-Time Tracking: IoT-enabled sensors and devices can be attached to assets, providing real-time location updates. This allows businesses to track assets continuously, improving visibility and enabling quick response to changes or incidents.
Predictive Maintenance: IoT sensors embedded in assets collect data on parameters like temperature, vibration, or usage patterns. AI algorithms analyze this data to identify patterns and anomalies, enabling predictive maintenance. By proactively addressing maintenance needs, organizations can minimize downtime, optimize asset lifespan, and reduce maintenance costs.
Enhanced Security: IoT-based asset tracking systems provide enhanced security features. Real-time monitoring and geofencing capabilities can trigger alerts if assets deviate from predetermined routes or locations, helping prevent theft or unauthorized use.
Optimal Utilization: IoT and AI-powered analytics enable organizations to gain insights into asset utilization patterns. By analyzing usage data, businesses can identify underutilized or overutilized assets, make informed decisions about deployment and allocation, and optimize asset usage across their operations.
Data-Driven Decision Making: The vast amount of data collected from IoT devices and sensors can be processed and analyzed using AI algorithms. This enables organizations to derive actionable insights, make data-driven decisions, and optimize asset management strategies.
Intelligent Asset Allocation: AI algorithms can optimize asset allocation based on historical data, demand patterns, and other relevant factors. This helps organizations determine the most efficient distribution of assets, reducing costs and improving operational efficiency.
Streamlined Inventory Management: IoT-enabled asset tracking systems automate inventory management processes by providing real-time visibility into stock levels, locations, and movement. This improves accuracy, reduces manual effort, and streamlines inventory replenishment workflows.
Integration with Enterprise Systems: IoT and AI technologies can be integrated with existing enterprise systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. This allows for seamless data exchange, automated workflows, and improved overall asset management efficiency.

The combination of IoT and AI in asset tracking offers unprecedented levels of automation, accuracy, and intelligence. It empowers organizations to optimize asset utilization, enhance security, reduce costs, and make data-driven decisions that drive operational excellence.

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Asset Tracking Experts

Better connected through LinkedIn

Connect with Harvey Wilson, Systems Engineer Professional and Asset Tracking expert at Avnet Silica, on LinkedIn.

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Asset Tracking Article (GBL)

Article

Optimising capital assets & enabling real-time supply chain visibility

With such a diversity of potential asset classes to track, there are several vital factors engineering teams should review before designing an embedded wireless asset-tracking solution.

IoT Solutions (GBD)

Solutions

IoT Solutions

Explore Avnet Silica's full IoT solutions suite and learn more about IoTConnect - Avnet's Data Automation and insights tool.

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Solution

Smart Tracking Labels from Renesas

Renesas' Smart Tracking Label design is optimized with ultra-low power devices and several standby options for minimal current draw.

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Markets

AI/ML Solutions

Avnet Silica focuses on machine learning on the edge, in the cloud, and on-premises and supports customers in understanding and building their machine learning application. We make your devices smarter.

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On-demand webinar

Asset Tracking Discovery Days

Join Avnet Silica’s Asset Tracking webinar to learn more about the latest solutions on the market from our leading manufacturers and find out how asset tracking can help you optimise your business.