Material tracking with Quantum RTLS gives teams real-time 3D visibility into pallets, carts, containers, WIP, inventory, tools, and other physical assets as they move through a facility. 

Instead of relying on manual searches, delayed scans, or last-known locations, teams can see where materials are now, where they have been, and how long they have been sitting in a zone. 

For material tracking, the primary tag is the QTM-DMC10 Mobile. It is an ultra-compact Mobile designed for supply chain track-and-trace and automated inventory workflows. 

The QTM-DMC10 is small enough to mount on pallets, bins, totes, carts, containers, fixtures, and other material-handling assets. Device specifications are 36 × 36 × 11 mm and 13 g, with a replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery.   

Battery life depends on how often the Mobile reports position. The QTM-DMC10 can be configured to report on demand, at defined intervals, or when motion is detected, so a tag that only wakes up when needed will last much longer than one reporting continuously.   

For active tracking use cases, typical real-world scenarios result in up to 6 months of battery life. For low-duty-cycle workflows, up to 96.5 weeks of battery life is possible.   

Deep sleep is a low-power state used when the tag does not need to report position continuously. 

For example, a tag on a pallet, cart, or container can remain in a low-power state while idle, then wake when motion is detected, when a scheduled update is required, or when the asset is queried. This helps preserve battery life while still giving teams location visibility when the material moves or needs to be found. 

Yes. The QTM-DMC10 features a user-serviceable CR2032 coin cell battery. The battery is accessed by removing the rear panel and inserting a new battery.   

This allows tags to stay in service across long asset lifecycles without being discarded when the battery is depleted. 

Ping to locate lets a user search for a tagged asset and request an updated position from the Spatial Intelligence Platform dashboard. 

For example, if a cart, pallet, or container is missing, the system can request a location update from the associated Mobile and show the asset on a map, or last reported position if it has left the positioning area. This is useful for reducing manual searches, finding idle WIP, confirming material is in the right area, or locating items that have not moved recently. 

Not always. Some workflows need a Mobile on every pallet, cart, or container. Others can combine direct asset tracking with scanner tracking, vehicle tracking, zone events, or workflow data. 

For example, a barcode scanner can be tracked and the system can record the scanner’s location at the moment of scan. That approach can update item location without tagging every individual item, while still giving teams a reliable spatial record. 

Quantum RTLS devices should be mounted where its ultrasonic signal can reach the Anchor network. It should generally be outward-facing and not buried inside, underneath, or fully blocked by the material being tracked. 

Avoid placing the tag where it is obstructed by materials, packaging, pallets, or equipment that could block the ultrasonic path. A good mounting location is visible to the environment around the asset and protected from impact during normal handling. 

Quantum RTLS uses ultrasonic positioning, so the Mobile needs a usable ultrasonic path to the Anchors in the tracking area. If the tag is inside a sealed container, under a pallet, behind dense material, or covered by metal, the signal may not reach the Anchor network reliably. 

In practice, placement is usually straightforward: mount the tag on the outside of the pallet, cart, bin, or container where it has exposure to the surrounding space and will not be damaged during handling. 

Yes. Quantum RTLS data can be connected to systems such as WMS, MES, ERP, BI, planning tools, and analytics platforms through ZeroKey’s software platform and API. 

Typical integrations include updating asset location, logging zone entries and exits, triggering material movement workflows, identifying stalled WIP, and creating traceability records for audits or continuous improvement.