Asset Operations: Your Partner in Precise Asset Auditing

Time taken in asset tagging is based on the locations of the client, number of locations of client, number of resources that we will deploy at each location, number of Assets, type of Assets etc. Share your requirements with us for a time estimate. 

Yes, we can. The countries that we are open to serve in as of now are India, Middle East and a few others.

Yes, it is possible to put Tag with just QR Code and the Serial Number of the asset, if we scan it, we will be able to get the complete information of the asset.

Verifiable assets have 2 categories: Taggable and Non-taggable assets. Some assets cannot be tagged because of aesthetic or usability issues and are called non-taggable assets. For example: Mirror – we can verify but cannot tag a mirror, because no guest would like that. Any scenery – we can verify but cannot tag it. We can tag TV, etc. (so they are taggable Assets).  

We have several options – Polyester Tags, RFID Tags, Metal Tags. Depending upon budget/requirement we use different tags. Costing is different as per material. Polyester Tag is cheapest followed by Metal Tag and then RFID tags. To scan RFID tags, we also need an RFID scanner which has an additional cost.

We have a thumb rule for this. If there is one verifier, he verifies 150 assets in a day (on average). So, depending on the number of Assets we define the number of people we require to verify all the assets present. For example: If a hotel has 200 rooms and there are 25 assets per room. Total assets are 5k (in rooms). Other than rooms (kitchen, lobby, reception etc.) let’s say they have 5k assets. Total assets = 10k. 10k/150 = 60 man-day. 2 people working (verifier) we need 30 days and so on.

For this we make a SOP- Standard operating process. Our first step in this process is to study the premises in which we need to put the tags. For example: If we go to a hotel, we study how many standard rooms they have, how many deluxe rooms, how many suites etc. We take one set of assets out of each. Say if there are 50 assets in a suite, there would be 50 assets in the other suites too. Like this we keep a track of all the assets and maintain it in the system.

We mutually decide this with clients. We do a dummy set and take pictures, and get it approved with the client. For example if we are putting a tag on table on the right side bottom in the dummy set, we will put it on the right side of the table every time for that client. We capture all this and even click images for the same, so that the tagging team always follow the same procedure whenever they go to a new location for the client.  

There are times when only Asset Serial number and QR code is present on the tags and then there are times when serial number, QR code, Asset Location, Asset name etc. are also there on the tags. So basically, the information present on the tags can be customized according to the need of the client. 

No, you don’t need to install the QR code and Barcode again. If they are already present, we'll map the same tags to our system. But if there is any additional information in the tags vs what’s uploaded to asset infinity, then we would not be able to read the information.

Most clients clean their assets with cleaning sprays like Colin or other industrial cleaners which results in fading of the tags (over a period) if they are not protected with any layer. Solution: We use polyester stickers; it does not tear up and we add a transparent sheet on it for extra protection. Durability with this method is usually 3-5 years.  

We avoid assets which are in high temperatures, for instance on generators we put stickers on the generator panel instead. If a client insists that they want to stick the tag on the generator itself, then we suggest using metal tags. All the information is engraved on metal tags. We can screw it, rib it, paste it, or permanently stick metal to metal using metal adhesives.

The technical difference is with QR Code one must do manual scan for capturing asset information but in the case of RFID, an RFID scanner can automatically capture asset list within 10 meters radius. So an RFID eliminates manual scanning of assets. 

Yes, we have a provision in Category Master through which you can categorize and enter any detail about the asset that you want. It would be reflected in the system.

The best use of RFID tag scanner is premises where with just one click it will show you all the assets present in a room/location.  

There are two types of RFID tags Non-metal tags which cost Rs. 20 and metal tags which cost Rs. 50.  

We have partners across India that help us with tagging in non-metro locations. We also have partners in a select few international locations.  

Based on number of locations of client, number of Assets, type of Assets we decide number of resources that we will deploy to each location. Example: If it is a Manufacturing firm, we analyze that majorly they would be using machines, and Office equipment. If it is an IT Company, they would be using more IT Assets. We need to identify the assets and tag them on that location. We calculate how many people we would be deploying to that location for tagging. Based on this we calculate the timeline. We majorly define a timeline with 3 things, based on location, location and type of Assets.  

We do tool-based verification unlike Conventional Verification which uses papers. We do not rely on the traditional method of jotting assets down on paper and cross-checking them while verifying etc. It is all done using the tool or the mobile app. 

We have 2 processes to do the verification. self-verification and Aided Verification. 

We follow rules of thumb and estimations.  For example, Hotels:  We have thumb rules: Number of Rules * 25 = No. Of Assets in room. Double this number and we get the total number in the complete Hotel.  This helps us identify the no of assets they have (approx. idea). 

If they have a readymade FAR, in any format in any form/system, we take it as a base we verify it. On the basis we print tags and verification and put tags on the assets. We rely on that list/data that they give us and make it a base even though it may not be 100% true. Even if it is 80% correct, we take it as a base and print tags accordingly, because it is not possible to print tags for every room right there, so we keep them handy. This is called – Book To Floor.

Another method is Floor To Book. If they do not have a list/data present with them, they just have financial data of how many computers/machines/etc they have, they have the value of each item. What we do is verify all the assets on the floor, tag them and list them on our system. We make a comprehensive list of all these assets and give it to them.  

We follow Book to Floor and Floor to Book. Both methods depend on where the customer is, depending on if they have the data or not, depending on the level of customer. 

Yes. In this case we print tags with just serial numbers. When such a tag it attached to an asset, we scan it and feed the asset data. In this case, we do not need to pre-print the tags basis asset categories, the no. of assets in each category or even assort through the assets by location or sub-location. This method is faster.

We identify verifiable and non-verifiable assets. Tangible Assets example TV, sofa, Fridge, table, etc. Non-Tangible Assets Example Ducting, installation expenses, Cabling etc, we cannot verify all this. We need to segregate all this.  

Verifiable has 2 categories: Taggable and Non-taggable. Some we can tag some we cannot Tag. For example: Mirror – we can verify but cannot tag a mirror, because no guest would like that. Any scenery – we can verify but cannot tag it. We can tag TV, etc. (so they are taggable Assets).   Now the assets which are taggable we print tags for them. We print it room wise/category wise. Make different packets for each kind of Assets.  

We have several options – Polyester Tags, RFID Tags, Metal Tags. Depending upon budget and requirement we use different tags. Costing is different. Polyester Tag is cheapest – 3-4 rupees, for Metal Tag – 30 rupees, for RFID tags – 50 rupees. To scan RFID tags, we need an RFID scanner which costs approximately 60k.  

We have a thumb rule for this. If there is one verifier, he will verify 150-160 assets in a day (on average). So, depending on the number of Assets we define the number of people we require to verify all the assets present. For example: If a hotel has 200 rooms and there are 25 assets per room. Total assets are 5k (in rooms). Other than rooms (kitchen, lobby, reception etc.) let’s say they have 5k assets. Total assets = 10k. 10k/150 = 60 man-day. 2 people working (verifier) we need 30 days and so on.  This is based on the assumption that the location will be available to us. (For example, unoccupied hotel rooms, empty restaurant kitchens)

There are times when a client says that they have Financial Data of their assets and the list of their assets separately and want us to reconcile these two things. We have partner CA firms that help with this reconciliation.

We have not yet launched this service, but we will be doing so in sometime

For this we make a SOP. Standard operating process. Our first step in this process is to study the premises in which we need to put the tags. For example: If we go to a hotel, we study how many standard rooms they have, how many deluxe rooms, how many suites etc. We make set of assets for each type of unit. Say if there are 50 assets in a suite, there would be 50 assets in the other suites too. With this we extrapolate the data for the entire location, print tags accordingly and get to asset tagging.

This is based on a pre-agreed arrangement with the customer. We take one sample set and co-decide with the client on a pattern of where the tags will be affixed. (For example: On tables client wants it on the bottom left, on refrigerator they want it behind the refrigerator on the top right). We then do tag for a sample space and click pictures for the same, so that the tagging team always follow the same procedure and tagging position wherever they go.