In large industrial plants and complex building structures, countless machines, pipes, switch cabinets, and valves are installed. In theory, a simple scan of a tag should provide immediate access to all relevant information. But in practice, it’s often much more complicated. Traditional labels and tags have been around for years, but barcodes and QR codes have recently become increasingly common.
The challenge is efficiently utilizing this variety of markings without requiring employees to manually scan each code and link it to a database. This is exactly where FRAMENCE comes in. Our technology automatically detects barcodes, QR codes, and other tags, enriches them with relevant data from connected databases, and integrates them directly into the digital twin—fully automated. Let’s look at how this works in practice through the everyday experience of a service technician.
The manual struggle: A day in the life of a technician
Imagine a service technician working in a large industrial company, responsible for maintaining machinery and equipment. One day, he receives a notification: a machine is malfunctioning. To diagnose the issue, he first needs to identify the machine.
He heads to the site and searches for the nameplate, hoping it hasn’t been obscured by dust, grease, or rust—or well, that it’s still attached to the machine. Once found, he scans the QR code with a handheld scanner or a mobile app. But the QR code only contains a serial number, not the actual information he needs.
Now, he has to switch to a computer, log in, enter the serial number, and manually search for the relevant data. If the asset wasn’t properly linked to the system, he must manually investigate maintenance records, spare parts, or live data.
This process takes a lot of time—and time is money, especially when a machine breakdown leads to costly downtime.
But that’s not the only issue. If the technician or a colleague forgot to correctly link the QR code to the database months or even years ago, he might not find any useful information at all. In that case, his only option is a manual inspection—or calling a coworker who might (or might not) remember the details. Inefficient, frustrating, and prone to errors.
The solution: automated barcode and QR code recognition with FRAMENCE
Now, let’s imagine an alternative scenario—a world with FRAMENCE. The technician receives a notification, for example via email: a sensor has detected an issue or a low water flow rate. To investigate, he simply opens FRAMENCE on his tablet or laptop and instantly sees where the affected sensor and pipe are located.
He clicks on the QR code, which is connected to a Point of Information (PoI) in the digital twin. The PoI is linked to a database. Within seconds, he has access to all relevant information: maintenance history, technical documentation, spare parts, live data—all with a single click.
Why? Because FRAMENCE automatically recognizes barcodes and QR codes using OCR technology and links them to the correct data.
As soon as a QR code or barcode appears within FRAMENCE’s digital twin (for example when the twin is updated every time a new asset is added), the system detects the code, retrieves the corresponding data from the linked database, and embeds it directly in the correct location. All without any manual input.
This means the technician doesn’t even need to be on-site to access the relevant information. He no longer needs to scan the barcode manually or link the database by hand. In an environment with thousands of assets, this saves an enormous amount of time and reduces errors in data management.
What this means for businesses
Automating this process doesn’t just benefit technicians—it transforms the entire approach to asset management. With instant access to information, equipment failures are resolved faster. This minimizes disruptions and maintenance teams no longer waste time searching for information, since everything is available with a single click on one platform. Also, automated barcode and QR code recognition ensures that technicians always have the correct, up-to-date information at their fingertips.
With FRAMENCE, companies can streamline their maintenance processes, enhance operational efficiency, and significantly reduce downtime. Want to see how it works? Contact us for more information or schedule a free demo today!
