Smart Tracking Technology for efficient operations

RFID tags come in two main types. Passive tags have no battery — they draw power from the reader’s radio field when in range (typically up to 10 metres for UHF RFID). They are inexpensive, long-lasting and ideal for most asset and inventory tracking. Active tags have their own battery and can broadcast signals over much longer ranges (up to 100+ metres) and are used for tracking large equipment across expansive sites. Data Scan will recommend the right tag type based on your read range requirements, environment and budget.

Reduced losses, better utilisation, accurate financial reporting, faster audits, and significant time savings compared to manual, spreadsheet-based tracking.

No — and this is one of RFID’s most powerful advantages over barcode. Radio waves pass through most non-metallic materials including cardboard, plastic and fabric. This means you can scan an entire pallet of boxed goods without opening any boxes, or read all items on a shelf without removing them. Note that metal and liquids can interfere with radio signals — Data Scan uses specialised on-metal tags and antenna positioning to address these environments.

A typical RFID project , from site survey to go-live, may takes between 2 and 10 weeks depending on site complexity, the number of assets and the level of software integration required. Data Scan manages the full process including site survey, hardware specification, tag selection, software configuration, testing and staff training.

RFID ROI is typically realised through three areas: labour savings on stocktakes and audits (organisations regularly report reducing days-long counts to hours), reduced asset loss and shrinkage (better visibility means fewer lost or stolen items), and compliance cost reduction (automated audit trails replace manual paperwork). Most Data Scan customers achieve full ROI within 6 to 18 months of deployment.

GPS and IoT tracking is designed for mobile or remote assets — things that move or are deployed away from a fixed facility. Common examples include vehicles and fleet (trucks, forklifts, site vehicles), heavy plant and machinery (excavators, generators, compressors), field equipment (tools deployed to remote sites), shipping containers, and any high-value portable asset that operates outdoors or across multiple locations.

Most GPS IoT tags transmit location and sensor data via mobile network (4G/LTE or 3G). This means coverage quality affects data frequency in remote areas. Data Scan also offers solutions using satellite communication networks (such as Iridium or Globalstar) for assets in areas with no mobile coverage — ensuring visibility even in remote outback mining or pastoral locations anywhere in Australia.

Battery life varies by tag model and update frequency. High-frequency tracking (every minute) typically delivers weeks to months of battery life. Low-power IoT tags configured for infrequent updates can run for 2 to 5 years on a single charge. Data Scan selects the right tag hardware based on your expected update frequency, environment and maintenance access constraints — particularly important for assets in remote locations.

A geo-fence is a virtual boundary you define on a map around a specific area — such as a mine site, depot, job site or city boundary. When a GPS-tracked asset crosses that boundary (either entering or leaving), the system immediately sends an alert to nominated staff via email, SMS or app notification. Geo-fences are invaluable for theft prevention, unauthorised movement detection, ensuring equipment stays on licensed sites and monitoring contractor compliance.

Yes — this is where IoT technology adds significant value beyond simple GPS. Data Scan’s IoT tags can monitor temperature and humidity (critical for cold chain and pharmaceutical logistics), vibration and shock (detecting rough handling or equipment impacts), tilt and orientation (overturning detection for vehicles), ignition status (for fleet management) and battery or power levels. All sensor data is logged alongside location in the management platform.

Yes. Data Scan’s platform stores a complete movement history for every tracked asset. You can replay the route an asset took over any time period, view dwell times at specific locations, generate movement reports for compliance or insurance purposes, and investigate incidents by reviewing exactly where an asset was and when. Historical data is invaluable for theft investigations, contractor billing verification and equipment utilisation analysis.

Mining and resources (tracking equipment across large remote sites), construction (monitoring plant across multiple active job sites), logistics and transport (fleet tracking and cold chain compliance), defence (sensitive equipment accountability), utilities (field crew and equipment management) and agriculture (machinery and infrastructure monitoring across large properties) all see significant operational improvements from GPS and IoT asset tracking.