How asset identity (QR/NFC) works in Wertek AI

How it works (concept)

Asset identity in Wertek AI follows a cycle: QR/NFC tag → scan → orphan asset → adoption → managed asset. Every piece of equipment gets a unique digital identity that you reach by simply scanning its tag; the asset exists digitally before anyone interacts with it, and its history (measurements, work orders, photos, documents) travels with the equipment, not with whoever happens to be on shift. Registering orphans is free and unlimited; only adopted assets count against your plan limit. The full set of capabilities is described in digital asset identity with QR/NFC; this guide teaches you how to use them.

Assets live in a location hierarchy: Organization → Plant → Area → Asset, and an asset can contain sub-components that are also assets (the pump contains its motor and its drive). The practical rule for deciding whether something deserves to be its own asset or just a property of the parent equipment is four questions: do you measure it separately (its own sensor)? do you replace it separately (its own serial number)? do you maintain it separately (specific work orders)? does it have its own programming or configuration (drives, PLCs, controllers)? With at least one "yes," model it as a child asset; with four "no," record it as data on the parent asset.

First 15 minutes

1. Get tags. Any QR label printed from the platform works, as does any commercial NFC tag (for metal surfaces use "on-metal" tags). Wertek AI does not force you to buy proprietary hardware.
2. Generate the asset's tag. On the web, every registered asset has its QR code from Register Asset; NFC tag management and the label-printing guide live in Settings → NFC Tags and Settings → Printing Guide. In the mobile app, from the asset record you can open the label generator and write the NFC tag; the Quick Tag flow creates the asset and writes the tag in a single step, and Batch Tagging processes batches of pre-loaded codes (designed for integrators).
3. Stick on the tag and scan it. With the phone camera (QR) or by bringing the phone close to the tag (NFC, from the app). Depending on the asset's status you will see a different screen: if the code is not linked to anything, the app offers Register New Asset right there; if the asset is an orphan, you will see the Available status with claim options; if it already has an owner, you will see its record (or the dispute option if you believe it should be yours).

Typical step-by-step flow

Adopt an orphan asset (from the mobile app, when scanning):

1. Scan the equipment's QR or NFC tag. If it is Available, you have two paths:
   • Claim Free (14 days) — a trial period to evaluate the asset; to keep it permanently you need an active paid plan.
   • I Have the PIN — ownership verification: enter the 6-character PIN printed on the equipment's tag, or use Verify with NFC. With verification you become the Verified Owner.
2. When you adopt, the asset counts against your plan's adopted-asset limit and its full management is unlocked. After the claim, the app offers to associate its sensor or telemetry source.
3. If the asset has already been claimed by another organization and you believe it belongs to you, use Open Dispute: evidence is required (proof of purchase or ownership), the asset is frozen in read-only mode while it is reviewed, and resolution typically takes 5-7 business days. The strongest evidence always wins, not whoever arrived first.

Build the plant → area hierarchy (from the web):

1. In Settings → Plants & Areas create your plants and, within each one, its areas.
2. Assign each asset to its plant/area from its record in Assets. For bulk creation use Import (CSV): you can bring equipment in as orphans or straight to monitoring with the "Monitor (uses licenses)" option — the screen shows you how many plan licenses it would consume before you confirm.
3. Naming best practices: use the plant tag your team already knows (for example CHWP-1 Chilled water pump), avoid generic names ("pump," "motor 2") and don't nest more than necessary — plant → area → equipment → sub-component is usually enough.

Declare the equipment's connections (recommended):

Beyond location, declare how each piece of equipment relates — that is what makes alerts land where the problem is:

1. On the asset's record, Hierarchy tab, Connections section: declare what this instrument measures (a meter → its panel), what this drive drives (→ its motor or blower), or what this panel feeds. You can also draw the connection directly in Diagnostics → Graph with Connect mode (administrator role required).
2. With connections declared, a power-quality problem detected by the meter lands on the panel; what the drive detects about its load lands on the motor — and the graph can answer "what is affected if this fails?".

Common errors and solutions

• "QR scanning isn't working" — check that the app has camera permission, clean the tag surface and try in good light. As a fallback you can always enter the code manually.
• "The NFC tag won't read" — confirm that the phone's NFC is turned on and bring the phone slowly toward the tag (the NFC antenna position varies by model). On metal, use on-metal tags; if the tag was damaged, use the QR code or the manual code.
• "The tag was damaged or lost" — identity lives in the platform, not in the tag: reprint the QR from the asset record or write a new replacement NFC tag from the app; the history is not lost.
• "Invalid PIN" when verifying ownership — the PIN is the one on the equipment's tag (6 characters, letters and numbers). If you don't have it, ask the site administrator to invite you or contact support.
• "I can't adopt: plan limit reached" — un-adopt assets you no longer manage or upgrade your plan in Settings → Subscription. Orphans do not consume the limit.
• "The asset already has an owner" — if it is legitimate (for example, a supplier that registered it for you), request the transfer; if you think it is an error, use Open Dispute with your evidence.
• "I created a duplicate asset" — before creating, scan or search by name/tag in Assets. If a duplicate already exists, keep the one with history and archive the other; if both have history, contact support to consolidate them.

What's next

With the asset identified and adopted, everything else hangs off that identity:

• Measure it: vibration, ultrasound and sensors → diagnostics
• Monitor its energy → energy
• Maintain it: work orders, preventive maintenance and routes → CMMS
• Work it from the field: scanning, photos and observations → mobile app