The Top 5 Healthcare Asset Tracking Software Options in 2024

Healthcare organizations often struggle to manage vast inventories of vital medical equipment, essential to patient care. Misplaced or unavailable devices can lead to delayed treatments, compromises in patient safety, and even financial losses.

That’s why healthcare asset tracking software is essential. The best asset tracking software lets hospitals and healthcare clinics streamline equipment management, ensure optimal availability, and improve patient care outcomes.

However, choosing the right healthcare asset tracking software can be time-consuming. To help, we’ve shortlisted the top five options and provided an in-depth analysis to guide your decision-making. If you’re after immediate answers, consider using our asset tracking software comparison tool.

The 5 Best Healthcare Asset Tracking Software Options: Summary

Choosing the right healthcare asset tracking software depends on your organization’s specific needs. To make the comparison easier, here are the key features of the top five options:

1. Asset Panda – Best Overall Healthcare Asset Management

Asset Panda is a robust cloud-based asset tracking solution with a strong reputation for its flexibility and ease of use. It’s suitable for healthcare institutions of all sizes.

The platform’s mobile app is a significant advantage, allowing staff to scan barcodes or RFID tags to locate equipment quickly, update statuses, and schedule maintenance on the go. This streamlines workflows, improves equipment availability, and ultimately enhances patient care.

Asset Panda achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance in 2023, demonstrating its commitment to data security. This sets it apart within the healthcare tracking space from solutions like GuardRFID that don’t offer this level of compliance.

2. Zebra – Best for Large-Scale Enterprise Asset Tracking

Zebra is a well-established name in the asset tracking industry, known for its robust hardware solutions and software capabilities. Its healthcare offerings are particularly suitable for larger hospitals and healthcare networks that must manage many assets across multiple locations.

Zebra’s real-time location tracking (RTLS) technology is a standout feature, providing precise location data for medical equipment. Additionally, it boasts seamless integration with existing healthcare systems like electronic health records (EHRs), which streamline data flow and improve operational efficiency.

Its new HC20 and HC50 mobile computers address fundamental healthcare-specific needs with features like disinfectant-resistant casings and a dedicated emergency button. This focus on specialized hardware sets Zebra apart from competitors like Asset Panda which rely on more general-purpose devices.

3. ASAP Systems – Best for Streamlined Inventory and Asset Management

ASAP Systems offers a comprehensive asset tracking solution specifically tailored to the needs of hospitals and clinics. Its primary focus is streamlining inventory management, ensuring essential medical supplies and equipment are always readily available.

ASAP Systems simplifies stocktaking, reorder management, and reporting, ultimately helping healthcare institutions optimize resources and reduce costs associated with lost or misplaced assets. The platform’s customizable workflow is also valuable, allowing you to tailor it to your organization’s specific processes and procedures.

ASAP Systems caters to a range of industries with its barcode-centric inventory management software—BarCloud. This software offers a user-friendly interface, real-time tracking capabilities through RFID integration, and reporting tools to streamline inventory control.

The focus on affordability and ease of use makes ASAP Systems a strong contender for smaller healthcare facilities or departments seeking a more cost-effective solution than Asset Panda or Zebra.

4. Centrak – Best for Real-Time Location Tracking of Medical Devices

Centrak specializes in real-time location systems (RTLS) designed to track medical devices with a high degree of accuracy. This technology is crucial for hospitals that need to locate critical equipment quickly, such as infusion pumps or ventilators.

Centrak’s RTLS also provides insights into equipment use and can even integrate with environmental monitoring systems. This ensures medical devices are stored at optimal temperatures and humidity levels, critical for patient safety and compliance.

Centrak’s recent innovation, the BLE Multi-Mode Platform, further sets it apart from competitors. This platform leverages Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, which uses small, energy-efficient beacons attached to assets. These beacons constantly transmit their unique ID and other data.

This technology is different from RFID, which requires a nearby reader to power and read data from tags attached to assets. For facilities with existing BLE infrastructure, this translates to faster adoption of location-based services without a complete system overhaul.

5. GuardRFID – Best for Security-Focused and All-In-One Asset Tracking Solutions

GuardRFID is a leader in RFID-based asset tracking solutions with a strong focus on security. The company’s solutions are ideal for healthcare facilities concerned about the theft of high-value medical equipment or sensitive patient data.

GuardRFID offers both active and passive RFID asset tagging and provides flexibility in implementation. In addition to asset tracking, GuardRFID’s platform can be integrated with access control and other security systems, offering a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to protecting healthcare resources.

GuardRFID launched a Digital Wayfinding Indoor Positioning Solution in 2023, expanding capabilities beyond asset tracking to improve patient and visitor experience. This solution provides turn-by-turn navigation within the healthcare facility, helping people easily find their destinations and reducing stress and confusion.

This stands in contrast to solutions like Zebra and Centrak, which have a greater focus on purely behind-the-scenes equipment tracking.

How To Choose a Healthcare Asset Tracking System

The best healthcare or hospital asset tracking software for your organization depends on several key factors:

• Size and scope: Determine the number of assets you need to track and the complexity of your operations.
• Budget: Some providers offer subscription-based models, while others require upfront hardware costs.
• Ease of use: Look for software with an intuitive interface that minimizes the need for extensive staff training.
• Integration: If integration with existing systems like EHRs, scheduling, and other healthcare software is important, ensure the provider you choose offers such capabilities.
• Security: Prioritize solutions with robust security measures to protect sensitive patient data and prevent equipment theft.

In addition, consider the core features crucial to your needs, such as:

• Tracking technology (e.g. barcode or RFID)
• Inventory management
• Real-time tracking
• Maintenance scheduling
• Reporting and analytics

Research Methodology

To determine the top healthcare asset tracking software for 2024, we looked for solutions with a range of critical features, such as asset tracking accuracy, inventory management tools, real-time location tracking, compliance reporting, and security protocols.

We prioritized software with intuitive interfaces, minimizing the need for extensive training, and mobile compatibility for on-the-go access. We focused on solutions with a proven track record in healthcare settings, positive feedback from users, and recognition within the asset tracking industry.

Finally, we considered industry trends and recent developments within asset tracking technology to ensure recommendations are relevant to current and future healthcare needs.