Robert Freedman’s recent article, Using Asset Tagging to Improve Equipment Maintenance, hits the nail on the head: done right, asset tagging makes maintenance seamless, saves time and prevents costly breakdowns. Facilities managers know this. It’s why asset tagging specs are written in the first place.
So why does it so often go horribly wrong?
We’ll tell you why. The spec is put together properly – and then the cost-saving conversation kicks in. Someone in procurement decides that a couple of pence per label is worth shaving off. Short-term savings = long-term disaster.
Brinker International – We Hope You Read This!
Brinker International is featured in Freedman’s article as an example of a company using asset tagging to improve efficiency and reduce maintenance headaches. It’s a smart strategy – but only if it’s executed properly.
We’ve seen major facilities managers implement near-identical plans, only to sabotage their own efforts by choosing the wrong asset tagging labels. Here’s how it typically plays out:
Equipment gets tagged with budget labels – They look great at first, everything is scanned into the system and managers assume it’s job-done.
Some months or maybe a year later, problems start – Labels fade, making barcodes unreadable. Adhesives fail, so tags fall off equipment. Some tags become brittle and crack.
Now it’s a maintenance nightmare – Engineers can’t scan assets, records become unreliable, and tracking breaks down. Suddenly, the entire asset tagging project is undermined – just because of a bad choice in labels.
This is not a hypothetical scenario! We’ve seen real businesses lose thousands of pounds because they cut corners. We’re not naming names, but we’ve been called to rescue some very embarrassed facilities management companies when their cost-saving decisions led to a complete failure of their asset tracking system.
So, Brinker International (and any other facilities teams reading this), make sure your labels last as long as the equipment you’re tagging – or risk undoing all the benefits asset tagging is meant to deliver.
What Happens When You Cheap-Out on Asset Labels?
Here’s the brutal truth: We’ve seen this so many times – and it always plays out the same way. Facilities teams choose budget asset tags that:
Fade in months – The barcode becomes unreadable, asset numbers illegible.
Fall off equipment – Because the adhesive wasn’t fit for purpose.
Crack, perish, or disintegrate – Particularly in high-use, high-temp, or chemical-prone environments.
And then what happens? Thousands of pounds wasted sending engineers back out to re-label everything – this time, with the right stuff. But by that point, the person who made the cost-cutting decision has moved on, leaving someone else to clean up the mess.
Seareach® can help (But let’s do it properly, this time)
If you’re already dealing with failed labels, we feel for you. We know how painful it is to be left holding the bill for someone else’s mistake. To help soften the blow, we’ll consider discounting your first order – on the condition that moving forward, we’re your preferred supplier.
Because we don’t want to see you go through this again.
So next time (before you approve a cheaper alternative), ask yourself:
- Will it still scan properly in six months / two years?
- Will it stay stuck in harsh environments?
- Will the person who picked the budget option still be around when it fails?
If you’re not 100% sure, let’s talk. Because buy once, cry once – or buy cheap and cry every time you have to fix it.
Don’t Let This Be Your Problem – Fix It Now
If you’re already dealing with failed asset tags, let’s talk. We’ll work with you to get a proper solution in place – and to soften the blow, we’ll consider discounting your first order so you can fix the mess without taking the full financial hit.
If you’re just starting out, even better. Let’s get it right from the beginning so you don’t end up wasting thousands on re-marking.
Call us now on +44 (0) 1702 476 286 Or contact us here
Email: info@seareach.co.uk
Read about our products here: Seareach® Asset Labels
Because asset labels should be a one-time purchase, not an ongoing headache.