ASSET TAG PRINTING & ENCODING

Use Existing or Create New Labels – and Get Tracking

Turning your physical assets and inventory into digital data ‘gold’ requires input that machines can recognize. Print and encode your own custom bar code and RFID labels, quickly and easily, with RedBeam.

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Get the Right Label for the Right Outcome

Asset tags are a critical piece of any equipment or inventory tracking system. They’re available in all sizes and price points, and choosing the wrong ones – labels that can be easily removed or fall off, for example – can impact your tracking system ROI.

Likewise, adding RFID into your mix increases complexity and cost, but also gives you options for specialized tracking applications – like on-metal, hardened tags for tracking equipment in harsh conditions.

RedBeam gives you flexibility to:

Choose asset labels that work for your budget and operational need – including any 1D/2D/UHF passive RFID label types.
Scan existing barcode labels and RFID tags, or use RedBeam to print and encode your own as needed.
Design and print asset tags with both human-readable information (i.e., “property of …”) and bar code symbologies (1D/QR).
Auto-encode RFID tags as you print, or use our mobile app to re-encode existing labels on the fly.
Print in mass, and assign labels to items using our mobile app.

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Design custom asset tags

Format a 2x1 label that includes your choice of barcode (1D/QR code), human-readable text, and an asset or item attribute tracked by RedBeam (i.e., serial number, status, custom field, etc.). If you’re using RFID, you can set up the information you want encoded on the asset tag as well.

Print & apply labels to specific items

Print asset tags individually or by the thousands. Select your unique label template and print, using either the Zebra ZD421 compact desktop printer or the ZT411 RFID on-metal tagging solution with Silverline Blade ii labels. Apply the right label to the right items, and start tracking.

Print & apply blind labels

When it’s easier to print blind labels and physically assign them to specific assets or items in the field, RedBeam’s got you covered. Print a user-defined range of asset tags, and assign items to them on the spot using the RedBeam mobile app.

Encode labels with a mobile device

RedBeam lets you update or change the encoding on an existing RFID asset tag with our mobile app. You can also use the app to re-assign IDs on already encoded tags to new assets.

INDUSTRY USE CASES

Level Up Your Tag Game in Any Industry

Manufacturing
Retail
Transportation & Logistics

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Keep valuable assets from slipping away

Manufacturers tend to track very expensive fixed assets across a range of locations, including machinery and electronics in factories and artwork in corporate offices. RedBeam makes it easy to create and assign the right asset tags for every audit and tracking need.

Tag assets for any environment – Encode and track a range of label types – including on-metal tags for heavy machinery and industrial tools.
Speed up audits safely – Use mobile RFID encoding to capture and update asset tags from a distance, keeping auditors safe in hazardous work zones.
Simplify large-scale asset tracking – Print and assign custom asset labels that work seamlessly with mobile or fixed RFID readers across your entire facility.

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Maintain accurate inventory visibility

For retailers, the volume and cost of RFID tags used in inventory tracking can be significant. Whether vendors source-tag your goods or you need to print and apply tags to the inventory you receive, RedBeam RFID works seamlessly with any passive UHF label that comes its way.

Print and encode on your terms – Create custom asset tags and labels in-house, or track tags pre-encoded with Serialized Global Trade Identification Number (SGTIN) standards.
Automate inventory visibility – Use RedBeam to assign and track asset tags automatically, and give your merchandising system accurate, discrete on shelf availability (OSA) data.
Support large-scale operations – Manage and print high volumes of labels with a unified platform that connects data across multiple store locations and warehouses.

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Read yard-tested asset tags

Yard management demands more than standard labels – especially when tracking trailers and heavy equipment. While RedBeam doesn’t support your ability to create these tags in-house, our system absolutely can read them – so no matter what type of asset tags you need to capture, RedBeam can handle them.

Track heavy-duty tags – Easily capture the durable, weatherproof types of tags required for keeping up with all your trailers and heavy equipment.
Stay compatible – Use RedBeam RFID to read any passive UHF label type across your fixed reader infrastructure.
Assign assets in seconds – Quickly link encoded tags to trailers and other yard assets, giving you real-time visibility across your operations.

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What Are RFID Tags? How They Work, Benefits, and Top Uses

Asset Tagging System: Benefits & Best Practices For Businesses

What Is Asset Identification? Methods and Importance

What are asset tags used for in asset management?

Asset tags – which may also be called property tags, asset ID labels, or equipment tags – are used to associate specific physical assets with unique identification numbers . When paired with tracking software, asset tags allow organizations to scan, assign, and monitor assets across locations, improving visibility and reducing loss.

When it comes to asset tracking tag types, what’s the difference between barcodes, RFID, GPS, NFC, and BLE?

Each asset tagging technology offers unique benefits depending on how and where you need to track items.

Here’s a quick comparison of how common options stack up:

Barcode labels
Best for: Standard inventory and asset tracking.
Pros: Inexpensive, widely supported, easy to print and scan.
Cons: Require direct line of sight; scanning is one-by-one; easily damaged or obscured.

QR code tags
Best for: Mobile-friendly applications and linking to detailed item data.
Pros: Scannable with smartphones; easy to deploy; no need for specialized scanners.
Cons: Must be scanned close-up; not suitable for high-speed or bulk scanning.

RFID tags
Best for: Fast, contactless scanning across large inventories.
Pros: No line of sight needed; supports bulk scanning; great for automation.
Cons: Higher cost; requires RFID readers and infrastructure.

NFC, GPS, and BLE tags
These technologies support other forms of asset interaction or real-time tracking. NFC offers secure tap-to-access functionality, GPS enables location tracking over long distances, and BLE provides proximity-based awareness indoors. While RedBeam doesn’t support these methods, they may be useful in highly specialized scenarios – like those requiring real-time geo-tracking or mobile interactivity.

Bonus tip: Technology aside, don’t overlook tag construction. Metal tags are built for harsh environments, tamper-evident labels improve security, and industry-specific formats – like UID labels or rack tags – can help you meet compliance needs or streamline operations.

RedBeam supports all 1D (barcode), 2D (QR code), and RFID-enabled asset tracking, giving you flexibility to balance cost, performance, and scalability.

Do the types of barcodes I use dictate the type of scanner I need?

Yes, to ensure a good user scanning experience, your barcode label choice should certainly influence the type of scanner you use. The short answer: 1D barcode symbology works best with laser scanners, while 2D barcodes work better with imaging sensors.

In practical terms, here’s what that means:

Mobile phones do not use lasers for scanning, so it may be more difficult to capture 1D bar codes with them. How your phone is oriented in relation to your barcode label, room brightness, distance, etc., can all be problematic for getting a good, quick, easy scan. However, smart phones with camera imagers work very well with 2D (QR Code) barcodes.
Commercial grade scanners and imagers are often optimized to scan both 1D and 2D barcodes. Zebra Technologies offers many bluetooth wedge scanners and mobile computing scanners that are designed specifically for high-scanning needs in commercial environments. These devices provide the most flexibility, regardless of which type of bar codes you use.

Can I use any label I want with RedBeam RFID?

Yes, with RedBeam RFID, your label choice is more about matching your operational need, scanning solution, and budget than it is about compatibility with our system. RedBeam supports scanning any 1D/2D (QR Code)/passive UHF labels.

Does RedBeam support active RFID tags?

No. Active RFID deployments are not common and are mostly applicable to very specific operational needs. At this time, RedBeam does not support active RFID deployments.

Do low-cost RFID labels work well?

While many low-cost labels are available, our customers share that it’s often difficult to continue procuring them long term. RedBeam works with major label manufacturers (Zebra, Avery Dennison, HID) to ensure that not only will the asset tags work and the quality control will be good, but stock will also be available whenever you need a refresh.

Can I put an RFID label on a metal surface?

Yes, but it’s important to understand that RFID labels come in many variants for good reasons. Using a standard RFID label on a metal surface will greatly reduce or even eliminate its read range. ‘On-metal’ labels are specifically created and intended for application to metal surfaces in order to deliver the performance you need.

Can I put an RFID label on a container with fluid?

Yes, though certain RFID label types will deliver better performance than others. Depending on the type of container your liquid is in, you may be able to apply an RFID asset tag directly onto the vessel itself. In other cases, a label may require a bit of separation from the container – in which case, we can help direct you to the many RFID labels available that solve this exact issue.

Can I use any type of asset tag I want with RedBeam RFID?

Yes, with RedBeam RFID, your label choice is more about matching your operational need, scanning solution, and budget than it is about compatibility with our system.

With RedBeam, you can custom print the asset tags – everything from barcode labels (1D or QR code) to on-metal RFID tags and standard UHF passive RFID labels – you need to track items across offices, warehouses, job sites, and more.