Before you start tagging your equipment, choose the right equipment type in Rentman. RFID tags are linked to serial numbers, so only equipment types that support serial numbers can be tracked with RFID. This article explains which types those are and how to link tags to each.
Equipment types and RFID
One RFID tag should always correspond to exactly one serial number in your database. The only type that can be tagged is a serialized item.
| Equipment type | RFID | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Serialized item | Supported | A single piece of equipment tracked individually, such as one specific speaker or moving head. Each unit has its own serial number, and therefore its own RFID tag. |
| Bulk item | Not supported | Stock counted as a quantity, without serial numbers. |
| Physical combination (bulk) | Not supported | A fixed group of items always rented together, such as a flight case with contents, tracked as one unit without serial numbers. |
| Physical combination (serialized) | Partially supported | The same, but each flight case is tracked separately with its own serial number and QR code. The contents can also be tracked per serial number via Actual content. Only individual serialized items in the combination can be tagged with RFID. |
| Virtual combination | Partially supported | A group of items that can be rented together or separately. Only individual serialized items in the combination can be tagged with RFID. |
Which type should I choose?
| Situation | Recommended type |
|---|---|
| Individual high-value item (camera, projector) | Serialized item |
| Group of items always rented together, not tracked individually | Physical combination (bulk) - note: no RFID |
| Flight cases tracked per unit with specific content | Physical combination (serialized) |
| Mix of fixed and flexible content | Serialized physical combination + "Reserved from stock" setting |
Examples
An amp rack with two amplifiers. Create the rack as a serialized physical combination and the amplifiers as serialized items assigned to it. Each of the two amplifiers gets its own serial number and RFID tag. The rack gets a QR code. Use Actual content to record which amplifier serial numbers are inside which rack.
A CDJ player that always ships in a case with three cables. If the cables are always the same and never rented separately, the simplest setup is a serialized physical combination (the case) with the CDJ as a serialized item inside, and the cables as fixed content. As the cables are essential for the CDJ, you can tag and serialize them as well and track them via Actual content.
Linking RFID tags to a serialized item
- Gather and physically tag the equipment you want to link.
- Open the Rentman app on the Zebra RFID scanner.
- Navigate to the Equipment module.
- Open the item you want to link a tag to.
- Go to the Serial numbers tab.
- Select the serial number you would like to add an RFID tag to.
- Scroll down to QR codes / RFID and click Edit QR codes.
- Pull the top trigger on the RFID scanner to scan the tag.
- Check that the new code is correct.
- Tap the check mark to confirm.
Each scanned tag is added as a QR code / RFID number to the selected item.
Items that are not yet serialized
If your items are not yet serialized, first change the item's stock calculation method to Individual - based on active serial numbers. Then scan all items with RFID. Rentman automatically creates and links a serial number for each scanned tag. This is a great way to bulk-add tags.
Linking when a QR code already exists
You can combine RFID tags and QR codes on the same item. The RFID tag is added to the existing serial number.
Things to keep in mind
- One RFID tag corresponds to one serial number.
- A serialized item assigned to a physical combination cannot be assigned to another combination at the same time.
- You can use RFID tags and QR codes side by side on the same item.
- RFID gates are not yet supported. Scanning is handheld only. For inquiries about RFID gates, you can contact our hardware partner Geartracking.
FAQs
Yes. RFID tags and QR codes can be combined on the same item and serial number.
If you have overwritten the serial number fields with an import, the solution is to restore a backup or to import an older file with the previous serial numbers.
At Geartracking.com.