Different Types of Tracking Devices to Manage Assets

If you’re managing construction equipment, fleet vehicles, or valuable tools, keeping track of your assets can feel overwhelming.

Misplaced tools, stolen equipment, or inefficient fleet use can cost time, money, and productivity.

But with the right tracking devices, you can take control.

From real-time GPS to Bluetooth beacons, these tools provide visibility and protection, making asset management a breeze.

Today, we’ll explain the different types of asset trackers, how they work, and how businesses like yours use them to save time and reduce losses.

Ready to dive in?

Let’s start with the QR code trackers.

QR Code Trackers

QR code trackers are one of the simplest yet very powerful ways to manage your assets.

That’s why they’re a key part of our GoCodes asset tracking software.

These trackers use customizable labels with unique QR codes that can be attached to your equipment, tools, or inventory.

Source: GoCodes

At GoCodes, we make this process effortless by including customized poly-tags in the software package.

We also offer rugged tags at wholesale prices, so you don’t need to search for additional vendors.

These tags come in a variety of materials, sizes, and options, giving you the flexibility to meet your specific needs.

Source: GoCodes

Alternatively, if you prefer, you can print your own QR code labels.

So, how do QR code trackers work in GoCodes?

It’s simple.

First, you have to attach a QR code tag to an asset.

Then, you simply scan the tag using the GoCodes smartphone app to instantly access essential information, including:

• The asset’s current location (via a GPS map showing where the tag was last scanned).
• Check-in and check-out details, including who performed the action.
• Maintenance history.
• Other important asset details.

Here is an example of one asset and all the information you can track:

Source: GoCodes

Additionally, as you scan an asset, you can update other information, such as maintenance records or notes.

The app updates asset details in real-time, giving you and your team complete visibility and control over your inventory.

Moreover, each QR code is patented and globally unique, ensuring there’s no confusion about which item you’re managing.

Their compact size—even small enough for tools the size of a coin—makes them ideal for tracking a wide range of items.

Source: GoCodes

They’re well-suited to environments like warehouses, construction sites, and offices where manual scanning is feasible.

A real-world example of QR code tracking in action comes from Safety Nets NZ, a company managing over 10,000 safety nets.

Source: Safety Nets NZ

These nets require annual testing to remain compliant and fit for use.

To streamline this process, they attached unique QR code tags from GoCodes to each net.

Using their smartphones, their riggers scan the tags to retrieve real-time information, such as when a net is due for testing, and, overall, if it’s safe to use.

This ensures that every net is compliant before it’s installed, and, at the same time, protects workers.

The QR code tags also allow the company to monitor the location of their nets via scan-based GPS tracking.

Real-Time GPS Trackers

Real-time GPS trackers are a game-changer for managing valuable assets like fleet vehicles and valuable construction equipment, as well as shipments.

These devices provide continuous, real-time location updates, ensuring you always know where your equipment is.

In GoCodes, we offer GPS trackers that are either battery-powered or plug directly into your vehicle’s OBD2 port, depending on your needs.

Source: GoCodes

When plugged into the OBD2 port, the tracker integrates with the vehicle’s diagnostic system, recording vehicle speed, engine hours, and other telematics data. 

Battery-powered options, on the other hand, can track some of these metrics using their built-in sensors.

With up to 10 years of battery life, these trackers are ideal for mobile assets that don’t require constant power sources.

When you combine either of these GPS trackers with GoCodes asset tracking software, you get more than just location tracking.

You can also set up a geofence—a virtual boundary that alerts you if your equipment crosses it.

Source: GoCodes

If an asset that has a GPS tracker attached to it leaves the geofence, you’ll receive an alert right away.

In case of theft, you can provide law enforcement with updated location information, increasing the chances of recovering your valuable equipment fast.

The applications for real-time GPS tracking are wide-ranging.

These trackers are perfect for fleet management, as they provide detailed data about vehicle performance, including speeding, braking, and engine hours.

Source: GoCodes

For industries like construction or logistics, where expensive equipment and shipments require constant monitoring, GPS trackers help prevent theft, boost efficiency, and improve operations.

A real-world example comes from a construction company that had a $95,000 Bobcat skid-steer loader stolen.

The company had installed a “decoy” GPS tracker that culprits removed, but the real tracker inside the loader kept providing instant location updates.

This helped the owner recover the stolen equipment and prevent further losses, as he explains: 

Illustration: GoCodes / Quote: CBS News

Real-time GPS trackers are also used by large organizations like the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

With a fleet of 38,000 vehicles, FSIS uses GPS tracking to monitor driver performance, vehicle diagnostics, fuel consumption, and accident reporting.

Since implementing telematics in 2021, FSIS has improved fleet efficiency, made informed decisions based on real-time data, and enhanced its overall vehicle readiness.

All in all, for businesses managing high-value assets, whether in construction, fleet management, or logistics, real-time GPS trackers bring unparalleled peace of mind and control.

Bluetooth Beacon Trackers

Bluetooth beacon trackers are small, battery-powered devices that send signals to nearby smartphones.

Source: GoCodes

They are ideal for indoor asset tracking and can be attached to tools, equipment, or inventory.

With a battery life of up to four years, GoCodes’ Bluetooth beacon trackers are both cost-effective and low-maintenance.

Below is an overview of the technical specifications of our Bluetooth beacons:

Source: GoCodes

Now, how do they work?

Beacons use radio signals to communicate with Bluetooth-compatible devices.

When a beacon comes within 300 feet (100 meters) of a smartphone running the GoCodes app, the app automatically detects the asset and shows its distance from the phone.

Source: GoCodes

This eliminates manual scanning and gives precise location data, even for assets packed in boxes or stored out of sight.

The app can also pinpoint the beacon’s location on Google Maps, guiding you directly to it.

Source: GoCodes

This is especially useful in busy spaces like storage rooms or production areas, where quick access is essential.

Bluetooth beacons can also provide environmental data, like temperature and acceleration, offering insights into asset conditions.

With the GoCodes Guardian feature, you can turn your smartphone—or multiple Bluetooth devices—into a virtual security perimeter.

If a tagged asset moves out of the 300-foot range, you’ll get instant alerts, helping you act quickly to prevent theft or loss.

Source: GoCodes

Bluetooth beacons are invaluable for tasks like tracking equipment in different facility zones or quickly finding tools in high-pressure situations.

A warehouse manager, for instance, can walk through the facility with the app, instantly viewing and updating asset statuses without scanning each one.

Similarly, a technician looking for a specific tool can use the app’s location guidance to save time.

These beacons are versatile, with applications in industries like construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and education.

If you want to learn how companies benefit from Bluetooth beacon trackers in these industries, check out our article on the topic. 

RFID/NFC Tags

RFID (radio-frequency identification) and NFC (near-field Communication) tags are small, scannable labels that make tracking assets fast and easy.

These tags store asset information that can be accessed with devices like NFC-enabled smartphones, so there’s no need for expensive scanners or special equipment.

The process is simple: just tap your phone on the tag to view or update asset details.

Source: GoCodes

Unlike barcodes, for example, RFID tags don’t need to be visible to scan them.

They can work through most non-metal materials, so you can even hide them inside equipment cases for extra security.

Source: GoCodes

GoCodes makes it even easier by letting you use your own NTAG-compatible tags or choose their customizable options.

Overall, RFID/NFC tags allow quick check-ins and check-outs, which is perfect for managing inventory or keeping track of tools and equipment.

For example, on a construction site, RFID tags can be attached to machinery or tools.

Workers can scan them to check items in or out, making it easy to know what’s been used, by whom, and where it is.

This reduces the chances of losing expensive equipment.

RFID tags are also popular in retail and healthcare.

Retailers use them to track stock quickly without needing to scan each item individually.

Hospitals, on the other hand, rely on RFID tags to monitor medical equipment and supplies, saving time and improving accuracy.

One impressive example of using these tracking devices is Decathlon, a global sports retailer.

They’ve been using RFID since 2008 to track products and improve operations.

Source: Decathlon

By 2019, every product they made had an RFID tag.

This helped them keep better control of inventory, prevent theft, and improve the shopping experience.

It also supports their sustainability goals by providing clear data for recycling and reducing waste.

To recap, RFID/NFC tags are a practical, cost-effective way to manage assets in many industries, offering speed, convenience, and better organization.

However, it’s important not to confuse NFC tags with all RFID tags, as some types of RFID tags require specialized hardware and can be more complex and costly to implement.

Conclusion

So, which of these tracking devices stands out to you?

Do you think GPS trackers would make a difference in how you manage fleet vehicles or construction equipment?

Or maybe the affordability of QR codes or the convenience of RFID/NFC tags could help streamline your asset management?

Whatever you choose, the right tracking solution—one that offers all these options—can save you time, reduce losses, and keep your operations efficient.

Take a moment to think about which one could make the biggest impact on your business.

The next step is yours to take!