QR Codes vs RFID: What’s Best for Industrial Asset Tracking?
Introduction
In the realm of industrial asset tracking, QR codes and RFID are two prominent technologies. Understanding their differences is crucial for manufacturers and OEMs aiming to optimise operations.
What Are QR Codes and RFID?
QR Codes are two-dimensional barcodes readable by smartphones and scanners. They store information such as serial numbers, manufacturing dates, and specifications (QR Code Generator).
RFID (Radio-frequency identification) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. It consists of tags, readers, and antennas (Asset Vue).
Key Differences Between QR Codes and RFID
4. Use Case Examples
QR Codes:
- Tracking work-in-progress (WIP) items
- Equipment maintenance schedules
- Quality assurance processes
RFID:
- Inventory management in warehouses
- Monitoring production processes
- Supply chain logistics
5. How Makula Supports QR-Based Asset Tracking
Makula's Asset Hub is optimised for QR code-based asset tracking, offering manufacturers and OEMs an efficient, user-friendly way to manage equipment.
QR Code Integration: Simplifies asset tagging and tracking, accessible via smartphones and linked directly to asset profiles in the system.
Customer Portal Access: End users can scan asset QR codes for immediate access to manuals, usage history, or support tools via Makula’s Customer Portal.
This approach ensures low-cost implementation and high operational visibility—without the complexity or infrastructure of RFID.
Conclusion
Choosing between QR codes and RFID depends on specific operational requirements, budget, and scalability needs. QR codes offer a cost-effective solution for straightforward tracking, while RFID provides advanced capabilities for real-time, bulk asset management (though not currently supported by Makula).
Makula's Asset Hub enables robust QR-based tracking, empowering industrial teams to scale their asset visibility and improve maintenance workflows.
