A communication system for use with a control system of a process plant, the communications system comprising: at least one process plant asset, wherein the process plant asset is a valve body an asset data module operatively coupled to the asset, the asset data module comprising an integral processor, an integral memory operatively coupled to the integral processor, and at least one input (220, 225) and at least one output (215, 230) operatively coupled to the integral memory; the integral memory arranged to store original asset data, the integral memory further arranged to receive operational data associated with the asset via the input (220, 225) while the asset is in service within the process plant; wherein the asset data module further includes: a control module and configuration data stored in the integral memory and executable by the integral processor, the control module arranged to provide a control instruction to the asset and to monitor the operational data based on the configuration data, wherein the configuration data is automatically communicated with an associated asset data module to simplify installation and reduce errors that may occur due to inaccurate configuration, and wherein the associated asset module comprises an RFID reader and is operatively coupled to a valve controller; and a near field communications interface configured to retrieve the original asset data and the operational data from the integral memory, the near field communications interface further configured to access the original asset data and the operational data whether the asset is in service or out of service; wherein the near field communications interface is configured to communicate with a near field communication reader to communicate the original asset data and the operational data to the near field communication reader to permit communication of the original asset data and operational data to the control system of the process plant. at least one process plant asset, wherein the process plant asset is a valve body an asset data module operatively coupled to the asset, the asset data module comprising an integral processor, an integral memory operatively coupled to the integral processor, and at least one input (220, 225) and at least one output (215, 230) operatively coupled to the integral memory; the integral memory arranged to store original asset data, the integral memory further arranged to receive operational data associated with the asset via the input (220, 225) while the asset is in service within the process plant; wherein the asset data module further includes: a control module and configuration data stored in the integral memory and executable by the integral processor, the control module arranged to provide a control instruction to the asset and to monitor the operational data based on the configuration data, wherein the configuration data is automatically communicated with an associated asset data module to simplify installation and reduce errors that may occur due to inaccurate configuration, and wherein the associated asset module comprises an RFID reader and is operatively coupled to a valve controller; and a near field communications interface configured to retrieve the original asset data and the operational data from the integral memory, the near field communications interface further configured to access the original asset data and the operational data whether the asset is in service or out of service; wherein the near field communications interface is configured to communicate with a near field communication reader to communicate the original asset data and the operational data to the near field communication reader to permit communication of the original asset data and operational data to the control system of the process plant. a control module and configuration data stored in the integral memory and executable by the integral processor, the control module arranged to provide a control instruction to the asset and to monitor the operational data based on the configuration data, wherein the configuration data is automatically communicated with an associated asset data module to simplify installation and reduce errors that may occur due to inaccurate configuration, and wherein the associated asset module comprises an RFID reader and is operatively coupled to a valve controller; and a near field communications interface configured to retrieve the original asset data and the operational data from the integral memory, the near field communications interface further configured to access the original asset data and the operational data whether the asset is in service or out of service; wherein the near field communications interface is configured to communicate with a near field communication reader to communicate the original asset data and the operational data to the near field communication reader to permit communication of the original asset data and operational data to the control system of the process plant.