4 uses for tamper evident materials

 

Tamper evident material has a number of uses in the office, in warehouses and in customers’ homes. It plays a vital role in keeping both people and products safe and could potentially save your business a lot of money.

This article explores the many uses of tamper evident materials and how they could help your business to protect its most valuable assets.

Prevent electrical tampering

Stopping electrical asset tampering is an important issue many businesses face. Keeping equipment safe for customers and staff members should be a number one priority, especially in sectors that deal with medical equipment and customer products (such as mobile phones, laptops, etc.).

By securing equipment with tamper evident labels, particularly those small enough to use over screws, employees can be certain whether or not equipment has been altered in some way.

 

Stop product swapping

Another benefit for the electronics industry is that tamper evident materials can prevent product swapping by untrustworthy customers. With void tamper labels, you can clearly see when a box has been opened, making it easier to decide whether or not a product has been swapped for another.

Unfortunately, this practice is something that’s becoming an increasing problem within the industry, as more customers buy and return their electronic devices online. By protecting your assets with tamper evident technology, you could potentially save yourself thousands of pounds in swapped or damaged goods.

Easier theft detection

No one likes to think about having their assets stolen but unfortunately, it can occur from time to time. Therefore, it’s still important to implement a solution to help make the situation less painful should it happen to you.

Whilst tamper evident labels aren’t going to help the authorities find stolen good any quicker, they can make the return process easier. Tamper evident material never comes off in one piece, which makes it easier for lost property to find its way back to you once it has been retrieved.

Unless you’re unlucky to encounter a very determined thief, most of your company name or serial numbers should be intact.

 

Supply chain protection

Supply chains can be busy and complicated, meaning products can change hands several times before reaching a customer. To minimise the risk of products being lost or put into circulation with damaged parts, tamper evident material can be used. Tamper asset labels aren’t only there to stop unauthorised access, they can be used to deter unlawful asset transfers and sift out damaged goods from supply chains too.

It only takes one dishonest person in a vast supply chain to cause significant financial damage to your business, which is why a small expense now could save you from a much larger one in the future.

The best methods for tracking fixed assets

What is fixed asset tracking?

Fixed asset tracking (also known as fixed asset management) is an accounting process that helps business to continually calculate the cost and volume of their fixed assets for a variety of reasons.

UV security marking for businesses

 

 What is UV marking?

UV marking is a technique that’s used in many industries to protect assets, money and documents. It uses an invisible substance, usually ink, to stencil on or write down important information that can only be seen under a special UV light.

The UV ink dries invisible, meaning that only the original owner knows it’s there and makes it easier to track items no matter where they end up. Many companies choose to use a combination technique of asset labelling and UV marking to ensure they have the ultimate protection for their goods.

Why you should be using asset stickers

Asset stickers should be an essential and important part of your organisation because of their many benefits. There are so many different reasons to consider the use of asset labelling but we’ve listed some of the best reasons below.

Quicker asset audits

Asset audits are an important and often essential aspect of managing your fixed goods but it can often be a very extensive process. It’s crucial to get an audit correct because the results can impact upon your finances significantly. To ensure this process goes as quickly and as smoothly as possible, you should seriously consider asset stickers with unique product numbers or barcodes.

Deter thieves

With the ability to print addresses, unique barcodes and contact details onto high strength labels, it’s no surprise that asset stickers are an excellent way to deter thieves. These simple but effective tags are almost impossible to remove, even for the strongest thief. In the unlikely event that something is stolen, an asset sticker will also help you quickly and easily identify what equipment has gone missing, so that you can give police an accurate description.

Asset sticker as an investment

Asset stickers are strong, durable and really do stand the test of time. There are many different types of label to choose from depending on the needs and budget of a business but ultimately, they should be seen as a long term investment. Spending out on unique asset labels may seem like an unnecessary expense at first but they can save organisations large sums of money in the long term, as the need for replacing lost and stolen goods is minimised.

Prevent asset swapping

If you are selling goods, you might be concerned about the possibility of asset swapping. With a tamper evident asset sticker, you can say goodbye to those worries as they are designed to clearly show you if a product has been tampered with prior to use. These are fantastic for businesses selling electronic equipment such as tablets, phones and laptops and can save you serious time and money when dealing with dishonest behaviour.

Easily differentiate between identical goods

No matter if it’s a school, a large office or a warehouse, there’s always the possibility of identical equipment creating confusion. The best way to differentiate between each item is to give every piece a unique number or code and detail these within an online inventory. Asset stickers help you to do this with clear but inconspicuous markers on all of your goods.

Asset Tracking Systems and Their Uses

There’s nothing more irritating for a classroom than to find that very valuable equipment has gone inexplicably missing. 

At a time when schools are becoming harder and harder pressed to adequately provide for the academic needs of all their students losing valuable equipment can be a terrible blow. 

Currently a lot of the equipment that schools need to conduct their business isn’t cheap. So coming up with effective asset tracking systems is crucial if you wish to maintain your school’s hold on its assets.

Sadly lost equipment isn’t exactly a rare occurrence either. A study conducted by the School of Education Admission found that as many as four fifths of schools have, at some point through the year, will suffer from theft of school equipment. 

Often, these thefts were from the school’s ICT department, and more occasionally the audio-visual hardware from media studies classes.

Naturally this equipment is very expensive to replace, and its loss can also be damaging to the students whose courses rely on access to that equipment. 

It’s hard to learn about computer technology without ready access to a computer, after all. 

Of course keeping track of your school’s laptops, microscopes and video recording equipment isn’t something you can do in a day. It takes a lot of work, effort, and not a small amount of proper financial investment as well.

Asset Tracking Systems Made Easy

The easiest way a school can keep track of where its equipment is going is to properly catalogue and record the things it has to begin with. 

One way this can be achieved is to give each piece of equipment its own serial identification number, which would be unique to that item. To make things easier, you can also give that equipment tamper-proof number ID tags to further improve their security and reduce the chances of theft.

It may be an idea to create the system in such a way that objects are not only divided by type, but also by department and storage area as well. 

So, for example, if you have a video projector that’s used by the science department in Building Two, you could have a three-part code that reflects all this information. 

Suddenly it’s become tremendously easier to figure out where everything is supposed to fit in, which also helps prevent accidental claims of theft when, in fact, a piece of equipment was simply returned to the wrong storage cupboard. 

This saves on valuable time and frayed nerves.

Furthermore, you can also give each piece of equipment its own unique barcode. This means that when equipment is taken out, it can be recorded on a computer database as well as a physical logbook for greater accuracy in bookkeeping.

Of course asset tracking systems aren’t any good if you pay no attention to where the assets in question are being moved to. 

Whenever equipment is removed from the storage cupboard, make sure that the identification tag is noted and marked off on a register, with a note detailing when it was borrowed, by whom and for how long. 

This can be used, then, to track where the equipment was last held before it went missing.

Protect Your School’s Assets

No solution is entirely fool proof. 

One of the main quirks of using security ID tags for valuable equipment is that it’s meant to deter thieves, but this doesn’t always work as planned. 

Instead, asset tracking systems can be used to get an idea of when items when missing and where they could have gone, all of which can greatly speed up the process by which it can be safely returned.

Design and Order Asset Labels Online

Asset Protection for Schools

As more schools update their IT equipment with more portable devices and other teaching aids the process of keeping track of all these often expensive items has become extremely important. 

This is quite a challenge in some schools as there can be a clear separation between the staff who utilise the equipment (often the teaching staff) and those who's responsibility (often members of the admin team) it is to keep track of the location, quantity, condition and maintenance status of these items.

Those using school equipment want to be able to find and use the items they need quickly and be sure they are in good working order. Those responsible want to have clear traceability and updated records so they know where these items are and their condition. They can also then quickly address any shortages and damaged/lost equipment issues.

The best solution to meeting the needs of both these groups is to use an asset management system. Each asset is labelled with its own unique number or barcode and school name. The numbering system or barcode can be used to create an inventory, while the label with the school name helps to make the ownership of the item clearly visible.  The inventory can be combined with an asset register, a copy of which may be kept off-site or in a fire-proof safe that is locked each night, to prove ownership.

Taking asset protection seriously

When people can see that equipment is being tracked, there is a strong disincentive for items to be “borrowed” without permission. It is also reassuring to insurers would will need to ask fewer questions and can actually reduce the annual premium. 

Asset Labels - Which Ones to Choose

Asset labels vary depending on the materials used and these range from inexpensive vinyl through to highly durable materials such as aluminium foil and polyesters.  The asset label materials used are important because you don't want your labels to be easily removed.

For asset labels that clearly show any tampering “ultra destructible” asset labels use a material that will break into small pieces if someone attempts to remove it. 

For ultimate strength you can use aluminium or stainless steel asset identification plates with industrial adhesive – these require a tool to be removed!

Why choose Dantech asset labels and plates

Dantech Ltd is an acknowledged supplier for more than 15 years to both industry, government departments and the educational and health sector of security marking products, asset labels and security labels.

With a high reputation built over the years on customer satisfaction Dantech can provide help and advice with your marking requirementscontact Dantech on 01354 688 488 for expert and unbiased help and advice.

Why use Asset Labels?

All organisations have a number of valuable assets that need to be managed and protected. One of the best ways to due this is by using asset labels or tags. 

By attaching a individually numbered or barcoded asset label to each item you can easily keep track of each item using asset management software. The asset numbers are stored in an asset register which allows you to track and monitor all your equipment condition, location and value.

Key reasons for using asset labels

Some of the key reasons for using asset labels include:

• Asset labels deter thieves. Potential thieves will be able to see that you track and monitor your equipment and therefore are less likely to risk stealing it.
• Easy equipment audits. Barcode labels and asset tracking software makes it quick and easy to do an asset audit.
• Locate assets quickly. Avoid wasting company time looking for misplaced assets and equipment or, worse, replacing equipment only to find out later that you had the items all along but couldn't locate it.
• Easily manage assets on loan. If you have equipment that you loan out, using asset labels makes co-ordinating very simple. At any time the co-ordinator will know where an item is and also how many items are available.
• Tell assets apart. If you have many identical looking items, it can be difficult trying to keep track of each individual item. This can be a problem with, for example, school equipment such as musical instruments. Using asset labels with a number will simplify this process.
• Proof of ownership. It's important to remember that some insurance companies insist on seeing proof of ownership of business items. An asset register can provide this.

Asset label benefits

• Asset labels are an investment which can save your company money in the short and long term. You'll waste less time and money on looking for equipment and replacing items that are lost or stolen.
• Asset labels prevent theft and item swapping. Labels are available which leave a VOID mark if removed, making stolen or swapped goods pretty much useless in terms of being sold on.
• Asset labels are suitable for all types of assets and equipment in all sectors. This includes schools, private companies, government organizations, manufacturing plants and warehouses.
• Asset labels include company name and can also include with your company's logo, making your equipment instantly recognisable.

Dantech is a leading provider of asset labels. Our knowledge is extensive and our customers include companies, schools and universities, health sector organizations, the police, local and central governments, as well as manufacturing plants and warehouses. Call 01354 688 488 or visit http://www.idassetlabels.co.uk for more information.

Protecting Laptops, iPads & Tablets

Several years ago Bryanston School based in Dorset decided came to the decision that the school needed to track and check its ever growing stock of IT equipment. 

After looking at a number of options they felt the most sustainable and cost effective solution was to label their on site laptops and equipment not just with the school’s postcode but also with the name of the student who owned the computer using a system called ID SILVER MARK. Over time the school has been able to use the same system to security label iPads, iPhones and hard drives.


The system is simple each September the school orders silver mark labels for the new intakes, being sure to order enough security labels for existing equipment plus two further labels per student in case the students get new laptops during the year.

What if someone removes the label?

The great thing about silver mark labels is if the security label gets peeled off, the UV paint still show the schools postcode and pupil name.  This UV marking is permanent and makes it much easier to track equipment.


In addition the Police and Insurance companies have noted that the ID MARK conforms to Home Office Guidelines - by using your name and postcode as a way of identifying your property, this helps with item recovery in case of theft.

More than just a solution for schools

Silver mark security marking is the perfect solution not only for schools, but for a wide range of organisations and businesses wanted to keep track and protect their valuable equipment.

ID Silver Mark is available in black or silver materials with permanent adhesive. All Dantech asset labels are personalised with your name and logo as well as sequential numbering or barcodes.

There is more information on asset labelling visit http://www.idassetlabels.co.uk/ or for security marking including ID Silver Mark visit http://www.idmark.com/