--- title: "Small asset tracking and inventory – BLE, NFC, QR code" url: "https://help.kiho.fi/en/article/small-asset-tracking-and-inventory-ble-nfc-qr-code" language: "en" last_updated: "2026-11-04T06:26:16.438Z" --- # Small asset tracking and inventory – BLE, NFC, QR code Assets can be tracked, identified, and inventoried in several different ways - Active vehicle tracking - - GPS/LoRa-type trackers - Small asset tracking - - BLE beacons, passive tracking - Small asset inventory with tags - - **NFC tags** - **Pattern codes** (QR/barcode-type tags) ### Permissions - There are specific permissions for using and managing tags that support the intended use cases: - - **View, all. NFC reading** – Allow viewing all of the company's assets by scanning an NFC tag - - With this permission, the user can open asset cards by scanning an NFC tag, *even for assets they would not otherwise have permission to view*. - **Manage NFC tags and QR codes** – Allow adding and removing asset NFC tags and QR codes - - With this permission, the user can add and remove asset tags. - **Update asset location data** – Allow recording asset location data - - With this permission, the user can optionally update the asset's location when scanning a tag. The asset's location on the map updates based on the terminal's GPS. The app prompts the user separately to confirm if they want to update the location. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/4e2cf41a-caca-498b-ac08-bdbcc769300e) ### Tag management - Tag management is primarily designed to take place on mobile devices. Tags can also be added and removed to some extent in V3, but management is smoother on mobile. - The use cases are also primarily designed around mobile management. ### **NFC tags** - A wide variety of NFC tags are available on the market for different purposes. - Reading an NFC tag requires a device with NFC reading capability. On phones, this feature is typically standard, and the reader is located on the back of the phone. - In Kiho, a tag can be linked to an asset, serving as the asset's unique identifier. - - When a tag is scanned with a phone while the Kiho app is open, the asset card for that asset opens automatically, or the app notifies you of an "unknown tag" if the tag is not linked to any asset. - If the tag is scanned using the phone's native reader function without Kiho being open, the phone reports that the tag is empty. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/32699bad-f5e1-4b6b-83ba-b39a414fc1ae) ### Linking an NFC tag to an asset Open the asset list and click the new asset icon. Select the NFC tag option. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/68d5cf65-3645-4981-8294-68679a8b67a4) Scan the NFC tag, and the app will ask if you want to create a new asset with that tag. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/637955f7-ebe2-4c5d-a7f8-86161317bac3) ### Pattern codes - Pattern and barcode recognition is based on identifying the pattern using the device's camera. - QR code scanning is typically a standard feature on phones and tablets. - The content of a pattern code can be text-based information, such as a product code or a URL. - - If pattern codes are created in advance, generate a unique identifier as the content, for example, using a "Kiho-" prefix followed by a UUID (https://www.uuidgenerator.net/) - - Kiho-{{uuid}} - Pattern codes can be easily created in various online services, such as [https://qrfy.com/](https://qrfy.com/) - In Kiho, a pattern code can be linked to an asset, serving as the asset's unique identifier. - - When a tag is scanned using the **Kiho app's pattern code feature**, that asset's asset card opens automatically. - If the pattern code is not linked to an asset, the app prompts you to create a new asset with the code. - If the pattern code is scanned with the mobile device's native camera or QR code feature, it displays the content of the code but will not open the Kiho app or the asset card. **QR / Data Matrix** ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/f2cf63f8-654b-4935-8cf1-f817f2f8a314) **EAN-13, EAN-8** - An EAN barcode is a numeric product identifier in an electronically readable format (converted into bars) and can be found on almost all products on the market. - Mobile devices do not typically support native barcode scanning, so attempting to scan the code using a phone's camera, for example, will not trigger any action. - At the time of writing, Kiho Mobile supports EAN-13 and EAN-8 codes. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/d28cbefe-46f3-4df7-a2e9-dd62fb1f55e4) **Other pattern codes** - Support for different types of codes can be added to Kiho Mobile. If the app does not recognize a scanned code, support may be added (provide the code type to product development). ### Reading a pattern code The pattern code scanning feature can be found by clicking *Asset list* > *Search* > *Pattern code* icon. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/4dda86bf-ee91-4626-bfb3-a84eba6e604a) If a pattern code is linked to an asset, the app opens that asset's asset card. If the pattern code is not linked to an asset, the app prompts you to create a new asset. ### Creating an asset using a pattern code Open the asset list and click the new asset icon. Select the pattern code option. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/41376585-0cbf-4266-8416-236ef9b849f2) The app opens the phone's camera. Point the camera at the pattern code. The app will prompt you to create a new asset with the scanned tag. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/351a7cd6-8b69-40fd-91ec-7c4c13392cce) Tags linked to an asset and their content can be found on the asset card under Tags. ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/02bc097b-e715-49ec-b14f-fd76e4470a8b) Unlike NFC tags, a pattern code is not saved in the system if it is removed from an asset. If you want to use a previously used pattern code as an identifier for a device, add it like a new tag using the scan function (by scanning the tag again). ## The asset's external identifier is available in the following APIs - Mapon integrations — asset location data, statuses, and working statuses via the API - Netvisor - Procountor - Talenom