Barcode tracking your AV gear
We’re fans of the AV industry at Cheqroom, for multiple reasons. We’re gearheads and makers at heart, and we love to see good equipment being put to use by other creatives, like our customers. Many of them are in the AV industry, and they spend a pretty penny on their equipment. When expensive AV gear gets lost, that’s a problem. That’s where barcode tracking becomes important.
All the more reason to track assets perfectly. Barcodes are an excellent way to do it.
Which asset tracking options exist?
Multiple methods exist for tracking your AV assets. The most typical ones are barcodes, RFID (Radio Frequency ID), and GPS. For most use cases, we like barcode tracking.
You simply attach asset tags or barcode asset labels to your AV items. Then you can safely monitor their every movement by scanning the barcode with a mobile scanner or a smartphone. You can see who last used or rented an asset or when it’s up for maintenance. Barcode scanning also significantly speeds up the check-out process.
Once the barcode on a specific piece of gear has been scanned once, it is forever in the inventory database. This means you can look the item up wherever you are – provided your equipment management software works on the go – and check its real-time status. Should there be any issues with the asset, you can flag them on the spot.
Barcode scanning thus becomes an attractive solution for AV teams who want everyone to stay up to date on which equipment is available and ready to use.
Why is barcode tracking a great option for AV gear?
Barcode tracking is popular because it’s certainly the easiest and most cost-effective way of electronic asset tracking. That’s why over 5 billion barcodes get scanned daily.
All you need are:
- Barcodes on labels or tags
Bulk barcodes cost no more than a few cents. Much cheaper than more advanced options like metal RFID tags and GPS trackers, which can go up to $150.
You can print barcodes yourself or buy from different providers. The material you choose for your barcode labels depends on a number of factors: the asset you’re applying it to, what the asset is made of, and the wear and tear you expect the labels to go through - A hand-held barcode scanner
Although mobile scanners exist specifically for barcode scanning, this scanning device could very well be your smartphone or tablet. Your device’s camera then functions as the scanner. The easiest way to do barcode tracking
Not requiring specialized scanners, as RFID does, confirms the democratic nature of barcode scanning. - Cloud-based asset-tracking software
Cloud-based software is the last leg of the tripod. It serves as an easy-to-use tool for equipment managers and users alike to track and monitor assets, avoid losing gear, streamline the booking and check-out process and simply get the most out of their AV equipment.
See what other equipment rooms look like in our 'My Room or Yours' video series
Barcode tracking with Cheqroom
Cheqroom is a simple barcode tracking app that gives you full control over your assets. Know where the equipment is at, who is using it and when it’s due back. Anytime. Anywhere.
Meet Hana Belbecir, our dynamic content marketer. She infuses creativity and strategic vision into the core of our brand. Hana, passionate about storytelling and has a keen eye for market trends, is devoted to creating a unified brand identity for Cheqroom. Her favorite part? Working & brainstorming with different creatives.
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