For a leading US social media company, data center operations are critical to serving a global audience. The company has operated its own server infrastructure in leased data centers across Northern California, the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast. In early 2023, its data centers housed hundreds of thousands of servers and millions of hardware components.
Teams continually deploy new equipment, replace older systems and return repaired hardware to service. Each deployment of new equipment brings more assets into the enterprise tracking program, creating an ongoing need for prepared RFID tags.
The company uses RAIN RFID to track servers and networking devices, saving hours on inventory counts and ongoing asset management. Its solution partner provides the readers and software and links each asset to its RFID tag.
Xerafy and its solution partner have supported the program for more than five years, providing tags, customer-specific serialized encoding and printing and repeat supply fulfillment.
Selecting and Preparing Tags for an Enterprise Program
In data center operations, vendor-applied RFID tags can streamline receiving and deployment by identifying equipment before it arrives. With tag IDs linked to asset records, the same identifiers can support arrival scans, movement tracking and inventory audits.
The Xerafy solution partner assessed tag options against three practical requirements: reliable reads as equipment passes fixed readers, enough tag surface area for a scannable barcode, and mounting that fits the server.
The Xerafy Data TRAK combines a compact, durable hard-tag format with reliable read performance on metal and non-metal surfaces. Its size and straightforward adhesive or tethered attachment make it well suited to servers and networking devices.
For this enterprise program, Xerafy combines its standard tagging platform with customer-specific printing and EPC encoding, supplying tags prepared for the company’s identification scheme.
Enabling Continuity in Repeat Orders
As data center operators add sites and expand RFID deployment, demand for tags continues to grow. For this enterprise program, repeat orders typically cover 30,000 tags for additional servers and networking devices.
Serialization gives each tag a unique EPC, with the sequence continuing from the previous order. Xerafy and its partner prepare successive batches in the established printed and encoded format, maintaining the company’s identification scheme through repeat supply fulfillment.
Maintaining RFID Identity
During the program, an RFID chip upgrade brought improved sensitivity. The transition also had to preserve the existing EPC sequence format while maintaining or improving tag performance and quality.
For a multi-year tagging program, hardware improvements and identification continuity need to work together. New batches can benefit from newer chip technology while continuing the serialization scheme used across the existing asset fleet.
Planning RFID Tagging for Your Data Center?
Start with the equipment, available mounting area and intended read workflow. Then define the printed information, EPC allocation and repeat supply requirements together.
Xerafy’s range includes TRAK hard tags for inventory identification, compact PICO tags for equipment with limited mounting space, and printable Metal Skin® labels for data center and IT assets. Selection depends on the mounting surface, available space and intended read workflow.
Our engineering team can recommend suitable options and provide printed and encoded samples. Share your equipment types, identification format and expected order volumes for a recommendation and a quote covering initial quantities and ongoing supply.
For samples to try on your equipment, request the IT Assets & Data Center Test Pack.
Xerafy develops field-proven RFID tags and labels for tracking assets in demanding industrial and enterprise environments. Its portfolio combines application-specific RFID engineering with products available for evaluation and deployment worldwide.
For requirements beyond standard products, Xerafy provides Custom RFID Tag services spanning printing, encoding, serialization and production configuration through to custom product engineering.
