Whether you have a brand new laptop or a top-of-the range PC, it’s important to safeguard your property. Asset tags are designed to protect your belongings, so let’s look at the pros and cons of this type of security label.

The pros:

Asset tags protect against theft
Every year, thousands of people will lose their expensive electronic equipment to opportunistic thieves, but asset tags can help prevent this kind of injustice. These small, adhesive labels can warn off the most adamant burglars as they leave a nasty mark when removed and make the item more difficult to resell. Asset tags also show that all goods are accounted for and can make opportunistic thieves nervous.

Asset tags help trace items
If your PC is lost or stolen, an asset tag can make it easier for people to track it down. The unique serial number and barcode can help police identify your property and will make your PC more distinguishable. Applying a customised asset label should also increase the chances of someone returning your property to you if it does go walkabout, as it will be easier to recognise that it belongs to you.

Asset tags are small
You might not want to ruin your PC, but asset tags are small enough to go relatively unnoticed. While they should be applied to the front of your monitor, they shouldn’t ruin the look of your new toy. If anything, asset tags look professional and are ideal for personal laptops and workplace devices. They can also be applied to furniture, telephones, printing gadgets and scanners, so why not order plenty?

Asset tags help with inventory management
Inventory management involves keeping track of stock and entering important data into an inventory database. Asset labels can help with this process as they use clever barcode and a serial number system which can be easily recorded. Company equipment can be tracked and monitored and supplies can be replenished as required.

The cons:

Asset tags can devalue your property
Asset tags can devalue your property and make it hard to resell – particularly if you’ve used a customised asset label. This is because the product is not in its primary state and has been altered in some way. If you’re selling to friends, they might not mind a small label on the front, but you might find other customers more unwilling to buy.

Asset tags are hard to remove
Once you’ve applied an asset tag, they become extremely hard to remove. Many are made from tamper-proof materials and leave a nasty mark when removed. If you want to resell an item, it’s best to leave the tag on and hope for the best. People are more likely to buy a labelled item than one with an ugly stain.

Hard to scan
If applied to the wrong part of your PC, asset tags can be extremely difficult to scan. If you’re going to apply an asset tag, make sure you stick it an accessible place and make sure a handheld barcode scanner can reach it. Failing to do so could make inventory management a very time consuming experience indeed.

Using manufacturer tags can become confusing
While many companies opt to use a particular manufacturer’s tag, this isn’t always wise. Manufacturer tags are only unique to assets from that vendor, so if you start buying equipment from another company, your database might start to get confusing. It’s best to customise your own asset tags from the start so that you can spot problems within you system – should they occur.

Asset tags can protect your property, but are they right for your equipment?