Did you know you can assign labels to products?

Did you know that when returning a product, you can mark its condition? It’s a straightforward solution that significantly enhances workplace safety and streamlines the management of tools, materials, and personal protective equipment (PPE). With labels, you can not only track the condition of products, but also automatically block the issuing of items that are damaged, expired, or require servicing.

How does labeling work?

The labeling process in ASD Systems vending machines is designed to be as intuitive and quick as possible. During the return or loading of a product, the user selects the appropriate label from a list, such as “new,” “used,” “depleted,” or “damaged.” One click is all it takes to update the product’s status in the system, making that information instantly available to all authorized personnel. This way, everyone can be confident they are using equipment that is safe and compliant with internal standards.

Importantly, labeling isn’t limited to manual input. Machines can also assign labels automatically – for example, if a product has passed its expiration date (e.g., industrial paint or technical glue), the system will automatically mark it as “expired” and immediately block its distribution. In practice, this eliminates the risk of using items that are no longer safe or suitable for use.

Labeling use cases

• Automatic blocking after expiration – A warehouse worker loads industrial paint. After the expiration date passes, the system automatically assigns the “expired” label and blocks the item.
• Manual labeling of tools – An employee returns a damaged drill and labels it as “damaged.” The tool is sent for servicing and is no longer available for others to use.
• PPE condition tracking – When returning gloves into the drop chute, the employee labels them as “used.” This makes it clear which items are to be disposed of and which can be prepared for reuse.

Business benefits of labeling

One of the biggest advantages of this feature is its full configuration flexibility. You can create your own custom label names in the IDS application, allowing you to fully align them with your internal company procedures.

This means you’re not limited to standard labels – you can implement custom categories like “for servicing,” “post-calibration,” or “ready to use.” The result is a coherent labeling system that reflects the actual product lifecycle within your organization and simplifies day-to-day operations.

Key business benefits include:

• full control over the condition of all loaded items,
• compliance with internal procedures and health & safety standards,
• automated handling of defective or expired items,
• minimized the risk of using faulty equipment or inappropriate PPE.

Why implement labeling?

Labeling in ASD Systems vending machines is not just a technical feature – it’s a process optimization tool. With clear labeling:

• employees always retrieve the right products without risking the use of faulty items,
• maintenance teams have full visibility of tools that need servicing or recharging,
• the HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) team gains an extra layer of protection against expired or worn-out protective equipment entering circulation.

Moreover, all label data is stored in the system, so at any time, you can track a product’s history: who returned it, what label was applied, and what happened next. This is crucial not only for safety but also for reporting and audits.

Labeling available in the PRO version

The ability to configure labels is available only in the PRO version of our machines, so we recommend reviewing your current settings and discussing the setup with your technical representative.

If you’re using the BASIC version, it is possible to upgrade to PRO. To do so, please contact your technical advisor directly, who will help you choose the best solution for your company.