Before we get started, what is asset tagging, and what are asset tags? Broadly speaking, an asset tag is any label used to identify one's property (or 'assets'). Most asset labels feature a unique serial number or barcode that can be used to distinguish the labelled object from other, similar-looking items.

Asset tagging is frequently used by businesses and other organisations as a loss prevention measure. High-value items such as computers, tools, and electrical appliances will each be assigned a unique serial number (or barcode) and marked accordingly using some sort of label or tag. Additionally, it is quite common for a business to print their name and/or logo on their asset labels for extra ease of identification.

Why It’s Important to Tag Your Assets?

 Asset tags help to minimise the risk that property will be lost or stolen in a number of different ways. Firstly, they can be used to compile a detailed database of one's assets. This means that when a labelled item goes missing, the owner can refer to their database and say, for example, that 'laptop #101158 is missing' rather than simply 'one of our laptops is missing'.

Benefits of Asset Tagging

The benefits of asset tagging, however, go further than just the identification of a specific item. If the database is properly managed, the owner may then be able to get a little more information regarding the lost object's last known whereabouts. For instance, a university library that loans out electrical equipment would be able to identify the last person who borrowed the item in question.

If the owner suspects their property has been stolen, they can quote the lost item's unique serial number when reporting the crime to the police. Asset tags make stolen goods identifiable; not only does this mean that labelled items are easier to track down, it also means that thieves are less likely to target your assets in the first place. Asset tags are a great deterrent!

Types of Asset Tags

A savvy thief may attempt to peel off an asset label in order to conceal their crime, but there are other types of asset tagging systems available for this exact reason.
High-security labelling solutions such as destructible asset labels and tamper-evident asset tags make this tactic unviable.

Destructible asset labels are a form of asset marking that are made of tamper-proof cast PVC vinyl. If you try to peel one of these labels off, the label itself will fragment, preventing it from being peeled off the item.

Tamper-evident asset tags, on the other hand, will leave behind a permanently printed pattern if removed. This means that even if this asset marking is removed, an imprint of the label will remain. Furthermore, it will be clear if someone has removed the label and then tried to reapply it, as the two parts of the label cannot be removed intact.

How Durable are Asset Tags and Labels?

Our asset tagging and tool tagging materials are created with durability in mind. Each type of asset tag is made from a different material depending on its purpose, so you can invest in the asset tagging systems that will be most suited to why, where, and when you need them.

Many of them are made from vinyl, making them suited to outdoor items if required, whereas we also have polyester asset tags for items in areas with higher temperatures.

Tagging Assets with Label Source

Click here to browse Label Source's full range of asset tags and labels, or contact us if you would like us to produce custom asset tags for your organisation.

Why waste time and effort designing and printing out your own asset tags when you could simply order preprinted asset tags from us at Label Source? We have supplied asset tracking products to a huge variety of different businesses over the years, and our expertise extends to a range of different solutions, including:

• Serial Numbered Asset Labels
• Barcode Labels
• Write-On Property Labels
• Security Marking Stencils
• Metal Serial Number Plates

When you order your preprinted asset tags from Label Source, you don't just get to specify the serial/barcode numbers that will appear on your labels - you can also choose your print colour, add custom text (e.g. 'Property of BestCo Ltd'), and even give additional artwork instructions for our design team to follow.

This means that you can order custom-printed asset labels that harmonise perfectly with your company's brand identity. Here are some examples of what we're capable of delivering.

Types of Preprinted Asset Tags from Label Source

We have preprinted labels to suit all of your needs - but the customisation options don't end there! Our preprinted asset tags are also available in an extensive range of different materials, allowing you to order exactly the right labels for the job. Choose from the following options:

• Aluminium foil asset labels
• Destructible asset labels (cannot be cleanly removed - fragments upon attempted removal)
• Tamper evident asset labels (leaves behind a permanent printed pattern upon removal)
• Jumbo-sized asset labels
• Two-part asset labels
• Cable wrap asset labels

Click here to see our full range of Asset Tagging & Property Marking solutions, or contact Label Source to discuss your bespoke requirements with a labelling expert.

Labelling your assets is probably one of the most important things you need to be doing to all your company’s assets. By creating an asset management system you can reap numerous benefits, such as adding security to your company’s assets, tracking the whereabouts of your assets, simplifying your company’s inventory management system, monitoring your assets maintenance, and calculating depreciation plus much more.

Using Asset labels to provide quick asset identification.

When you are running a business you don’t want you or your employees wasting their time trying to track the company’s assets. As every second an employee has used searching for an asset is a loss of productivity. If you are managing hundreds of people, then the time that they are spending searching adds up equating to a significant loss in company productivity over a short period. By implementing an asset management system you can locate the needed asset in seconds.

Using Asset labels to facilitate Inventory management

For every business inventory management and stock control is one of the most time consuming activities, often performed on a monthly basis.  However, using a manual inventory system increases room of human error. Using asset labels you will be able to ensure that your inventory control database is accurate so you will not end up with stock surplus or deficiencies.

Using Asset labels to Deter Theft

One of the biggest benefits of asset labelling is to deter theft of your assets. If your company owns expensive, movable assets, for example, laptops, monitors, TV’s. Thieves will be less inclined to steal these if they are clearly asset labelled as they are more likely to get caught.

Here at label source we offer a variety of asset tags designed specifically to provide evidence of tampering. Click here to view our range of tamper evident asset tags.

Calculate Asset Depreciation

Every year companies have to file their tax returns; all companies have to calculate the depreciation rate of all their assets. Labelling your assets can help calculate the life of your assets and help you gather all the necessary data to make your calculations.

Your company may have already adopted many of the uses of asset tags, but it is always interesting to find different ways in which you can use asset tagging for your business. If you haven’t already developed an asset tagging system - Investing in asset labels can benefit your company in many different ways for years to come.  

At Label Source we are proud to offer a comprehensive range of asset labels. If you require a bespoke asset label solution, simply use our asset tag builder.  If, in the unlikely event you cannot find the tag that you are looking for then don’t hesitate to contact a member of our customer service team either by emailing info@labelsource.co.uk or calling us on 0800 3761 693

When it comes to asset labels, we at Label Source offer our customers a lot of different options. Whether you want the full package or just the basics, our design team can accommodate you - here's a quick rundown of what we're able to offer:

If all you need is your company name and a serial number or barcode, that's not a problem - our plain text asset labels are cost-effective and available in a variety of materials, including tamper-evident polyester for added security.

Want to add a bit of colour to your asset tags? Our labels can be supplied in a range of colours, including red, blue, green, and several others; this allows you to match your asset labels to your company's established branding and colour scheme.

Of course, if brand consistency really matters to you and your company, you may wish to make use of our full design service. We can create an asset label design that incorporates your company name and logo, as well as practically any colour combination you specify.

Click here to browse our full range of asset marking products, or try creating your own with our Asset Tag Builder. If you need a full design for your asset labels, please email our design team on info@labelsource.co.uk.

We at Label Source consider ourselves the asset label specialists. Not only do we sell a huge variety of asset tags and barcode labels, we also pride ourselves on being able to answer practically any question a customer might have about asset labelling and the products required to do it.

Here are a few of the most common queries:

Q: What are asset labels?

A: Asset labels are numbered tags that company owners can use to keep track of their assets. Each asset label has its own unique number, making it easy to identify and monitor the labelled items. 

Q: Why do people use asset labels?

A: Asset labels are useful in a number of different ways. By making assets individually identifiable, they speed up stock/inventory control and deter thieves. Asset labels are particularly well-suited to moveable assets (e.g. computers, laptops, tools), especially if said assets are frequently taken off the premises and into the field.

Q: Can I have my company's logo on my asset labels?

A: Absolutely! We offer a variety of customisation options to complement our standard asset labelling range - many of our clients have found that the inclusion of a logo helps to improve brand awareness and improve the identifiability of marked items.

Q: What are asset labels made of?

A: Asset labels come in many different materials, each with its own properties. Most of the asset tags we supply here at Label Source are made of self-adhesive vinyl, but we also offer foil asset labels, which have a wider operating temperature range. You may also wish to invest in destructible or tamper-evident asset labels; these tags come with additional security features to prevent them from being cleanly removed by thieves.

Click here to browse Label Source's full range of asset marking products, or contact us if you have any other questions about asset labels and their uses.