In the construction industry, effective management of various assets (vehicles, equipment, tools, etc.) is crucial for ensuring operational efficiency and minimizing costs.
With the right asset management software, contractors can track asset locations and usage, schedule maintenance, and optimize resource allocation.
However, choosing the best solution among the vast array of asset management tools can be challenging.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 7 best asset management tools available, highlighting their essential features, differences, and prices.
They are not ranked in any particular order.
In this article...
GoCodes
Let’s start with introducing our own asset management solution, GoCodes.
GoCodes is an all-in-one asset management solution that consists of:
- simple and user-friendly cloud software (+mobile app),
- in-app scanners and readers,
- various asset-tracking devices.
This means you can use GoCodes to track and manage any type of assets, from the largest pieces of heavy equipment to the smallest hand tools.
For starters, you can tag all your assets with the most affordable tracking devices, QR codes.
Once attached to your assets, these QR codes can be scanned with a smartphone or tablet to view and update various equipment data and store it in the GoCodes’ cloud database.
This database provides easy access to information on each tracked asset.
Asset pages can be populated with any data you find relevant, from maintenance history to financial details (for depreciation and tax purposes).
Of course, you also get a central list of all tracked assets.
With this QR tag-based asset management system in place, your equipment manager or employees can also:
- scan assets when taking (check-out) and returning them (check-in),
- easily find an asset they’re looking for,
- view an asset’s last-scanned location.
The GoCodes app can also be used to create, assign, and schedule maintenance tasks as well as set up automated alerts for upcoming maintenance or low inventory levels.
As for the last item on the above list, GoCodes’ patented QR codes are GPS-enabled, meaning that our software automatically captures the scanned asset’s last known GPS location.
Here’s how this works.
This functionality enables you to keep tabs on where all your assets were when last scanned and who was using them.
However, for your most valuable equipment, such as heavy machinery and vehicles, you’ll probably want to ensure their location is tracked at all times.
To do so, you can use our real-time GPS trackers.
When these trackers are attached to your vehicles and heavy equipment, you’ll receive minute-by-minute updates of their GPS location along with usage data like speeding, harsh braking, engine hours, and more.
Additionally, you can set up an invisible security perimeter (geofence), thus ensuring you’re alerted if your equipment is removed from the jobsite or storage without authorization.
In addition to QR codes and GPS trackers, GoCodes also offers:
- Bluetooth beacons (remote detection of assets and geofencing within a limited range),
- RFID/NFC tags (no scanning required, also limited range).
As for pricing, we offer a free trial and five pricing tiers:
Except for the first tier, all other packages include custom tags whose design you’ll approve before they’re shipped to you.
As for GPS trackers and other tracking devices, these are priced separately, so feel free to contact us for a quote.
In summary, GoCodes is a complete asset management solution construction companies can use to track and manage all their assets in a simple, user-friendly, and cost-effective way.
Tenna
Tenna is another all-in-one asset management platform specifically tailored for the construction industry where users can choose from a variety of asset trackers.
Tenna’s key features cover all the aspects you would expect, such as:
- a simple mobile app and web interface,
- real-time GPS tracking (with GPS trackers),
- geofencing (GPS and Bluetooth),
- asset maintenance and management features.
Regardless of the type of trackers, all tracked assets are handled within a single platform, the basis of which is their software TennaCORE.
However, TennaCORE is only the basic asset tracking and management app, meaning that some features, such as scheduling, maintenance, and integrations, are not included but are charged as add-ons.
As for tracking capabilities, Tenna offers a wide range of tracking devices (QR, Bluetooth, GPS) as well as AI-powered dashcams for on-road safety.
In terms of pricing, all Tenna’s products are quote-based, so you’ll have to complete their price calculator and submit your company’s details to find out the exact price.
Overall, we could say that Tenna is similar to GoCodes.
The differences are that Tenna provides more models of tracking devices and dashcams, but also charges for more add-on features, making it a potentially expensive option for some companies.
Reftab
Reftab provides only an asset management mobile app set to work with self-printed QR codes.
That makes it different from GoCodes and Tenna, which offer both desktop and mobile applications.
Their product package includes a barcode/QR code generator, which allows you to design and print asset tags that fit your needs.
Once these asset labels are ready, they’re attached to the assets you want to track.
If you have equipment or tools that are already tagged, Reftab can read these tags and make them part of the tracking system.
When your barcode/QR code system is set up, you can use the Reftab mobile app or a handheld scanner to scan items when checking them out and in or when viewing/updating asset data.
This functionality gives rise to many other features, such as:
- Upfront asset reservations
- Loan tracking with translation history
- Managing accessories and connecting them to assets
- Custom alerts on quantities, upcoming maintenance, etc.
Just like with GoCodes, you can use the Reftab app to set up automated alerts for low inventory quantities, overdue equipment, or scheduled maintenance tasks.
As for pricing, they offer a free forever plan for up to 50 assets.
Reftab’s other packages are shown below.
To recap, Reftab is a convenient, barcode-based asset management app suitable for tracking a range of smaller, less valuable assets.
However, if you’re interested in real-time GPS tracking for some of your assets, you’ll need to arrange that with another provider.
Hector
Hector is another cloud-based asset management software that leverages barcodes and QR codes for tracking and managing equipment, tools, and other items.
Just like Reftab, Hector provides only the mobile app while leaving the barcode design and printing up to you.
When the system is set up, your employees can use handheld scanners or an in-app scanner on their mobile devices to scan barcodes and access the list of tracked assets.
This allows users to scan a tool or a piece of equipment when taking and returning it, like with other asset management systems.
This ensures no assets are lost or stolen without knowing who was the last accountable for them.
Beyond that, Hector’s features include the alerts we mentioned, such as notifications for upcoming maintenance or low inventory (spare parts, cables, etc.).
However, it seems that Hector’s QR codes or barcodes are not GPS-enabled, so an asset’s location is tracked only manually, i.e., by employees entering the location data.
Here’s their pricing.
All pricing tiers have an unlimited number of users, and you can check out the software through a 15-day free trial.
Overall, Hector is a practical asset management tool for basic administrative tracking and management but with no GPS location tracking abilities.
Chevin FleetWave
Chevin FleetWave is a comprehensive fleet and maintenance management solution focused on digital data management.
More precisely, FleetWave is a software-only solution intended to be integrated with third-party GPS and telematics providers.
Therefore, any barcode-based, real-time GPS and other tracking devices will have to be acquired from other providers and integrated with FleetWave.
As a standalone solution, FleetWave can digitize most paper- or spreadsheet-based asset management processes.
This allows you to streamline the management of the entire lifecycle of your vehicles and equipment and generate benefits like reduced fleet downtime, improved productivity, and increased asset visibility.
Similar to other software solutions outlined here, FleetWave’s system will collect and store all asset-related data in a single, cloud database.
Your employees can access this database via any internet-connected device.
Through its integration capabilities with other asset-tracking devices and software solutions, FleetWave aims to become the main fleet management platform for the construction business.
Since it’s software-only, FleetWave’s pricing is based on the number of assets (e.g., vehicles) you’ll manage within the system.
The subscription for the Lite version is annual while Core and Advanced plans are subject to three-year contracts.
Overall, FleetWave is a user-friendly fleet and maintenance management software whose full functionality is unlocked through integration with third-party tracking devices.
BlueTally
BlueTally is another asset management solution based on scannable QR codes.
As opposed to real-time GPS trackers or scan-based location tracking via GPS-enabled QR codes, locations of assets are tracked by users manually entering the location in the BlueTally app.
BlueTally’s QR codes can be easily customized, printed, and attached to your assets.
Once the asset tags are printed and the software’s cloud database is populated with relevant asset data, users can access all this information by either scanning the tag or logging into the app.
For this purpose, BlueTally provides a central dashboard with all the key asset data.
Similar to other tools we covered here, users can view and update asset information (warranty, depreciation, maintenance history) on individual asset pages.
As for pricing, BlueTally provides a free version for up to 50 assets along with four pricing tiers you can see below.
All tiers include an unlimited number of assets and users.
Unfortunately, while BlueTally excels at digitizing and simplifying asset management, it does not provide more comprehensive GPS or telematics-enabled options.
Limble CMMS
Limble CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) is an easy-to-use, mobile app that, in addition to QR code-based asset tracking, focuses on maintenance and spare parts inventory.
This means Limble is another solution whose offer includes only self-printed QR codes and excludes real-time GPS, Bluetooth, RFID, or other asset-tracking devices.
Being a maintenance management system, Limble can help you organize assets, keep track of maintenance requests and work orders, as well as assign, schedule, and monitor maintenance tasks.
These features enable your workers to report issues with equipment or tools by scanning the QR code or logging into the app.
From there, managers can generate maintenance work orders, assign them to service technicians, and track their progress in real time.
You can also use the Limble app to set up automated email and in-app alerts for upcoming maintenance or low spare parts inventory levels.
When pricing is concerned, Limble offers a free, basic version and three pricing tiers.
As illustrated, the full range of asset management features is available in the Premium+ plan priced at $69 per user/month, or in the Enterprise plan.
To recap, Limble CMMS focuses on enabling you to digitize asset management and maintenance workflows and track assets via scannable QR codes; however, it offers no other asset-tracking devices.
Conclusion
We’ll close this article with a few important recommendations for finding the right asset management tool for your construction business.
For starters, you should determine what your asset management needs are, since that will guide you when considering factors like tracking technology and critical software features.
From there, you should shortlist suitable candidates, compare their features and pricing, and clarify any uncertainties directly with potential providers.
Finally, you should select a comprehensive yet easy-to-use and affordable asset management solution that meets all your asset tracking and management requirements and then try it out for yourself.
We hope you find the best fit for your business!
