What Is An RFID Tag?
A RFID Tag is a device that uses radio waves to identify and transmit data to an RFID reader. It is commonly used to track items in a warehouse or inventory.
Unlike barcodes, RFID Tags provide more accurate and detailed information. They also offer greater flexibility in reading data, which increases productivity and efficiency.
Identifying and Tracking Assets
RFID tag systems allow users to monitor the location of equipment, and other assets valuable to businesses. Using radio waves, these tags communicate with RFID readers (which are often based at stationary locations) to upload data into a company’s database system. This allows companies to quickly find misplaced items, prevent them from going missing or being stolen, and even reduce duplicate purchasing by enabling managers to know how much of each item they have on hand.
RFID readers can pick up signals from either passive or semi-passive tags, as well as active tags. The difference is that active tags have their own battery and onboard transmitter to broadcast their signal, whereas semi-passive tags use an onboard chip to reflect back a signal from a reader. Depending on the application, it’s important to choose the correct RFID tag for your business needs. Considerations such as memory and microchip specifications, adhesives, mounting methods and environmental considerations should be considered before making a purchase.
For example, a facility manager can track the whereabouts of testing kits that technicians use for work orders with battery-free Temperature-Sensing RFID Labels. These help ensure that the right kit gets sent to each technician and that equipment is not lost or stolen in transit. Likewise, rail freight companies can increase locomotive and wagon uptime with RFID labels that communicate to readers what type of train they’re carrying.
Identifying and Tracking Personnel
When using RFID in a retail setting, it can be used to reduce the number of people who have to check out products, which can speed up checkout times. RFID can also be used to stop employees from taking equipment out of the store that they don’t have clearance for, preventing theft and improving security.
RFID is made up of two components: tags and readers. Tags have a microchip RFID Tag with a small amount of memory that can be either read-only or writeable. The tag transmits its data to the reader by a process called backscattering, sending radio waves to the antenna that are then reflected back to the chip with the identifier information. The reader then processes the identifier information and sends it to an external system like a database or ERP.
Most RFID equipment and tags are governed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), which assigns frequencies for different types of radio communication. When purchasing an RFID tag or system, make sure the product has a certificate of compliance (CoC) from ETSI or GS1 to ensure it is compliant with regulations.
RFID tags can be affixed to almost anything — from boxes and pallets to individual items of inventory or high-value equipment. When paired with a reader, they can instantly check in entire shipments instead of relying on individual package scanning and blind receipts. This improves stock accuracy in stores, cuts cycle count time and allows retailers to set reorder points for low-stock items that will automatically trigger when the quantity is nearing zero.
Identifying and Tracking Items
For companies to manage supply chains effectively, they need a clear view of their inventory and how it is moving in and out of the warehouse. This is what RFID systems enable, by automatically identifying and tracking items through the process of radio-frequency identification (RFID).
An RFID tag is a microchip with an antenna that communicates with the reader via radio waves. Tags can be either passive (without battery) or active (with a battery). Passive tags are typically used in retail settings because they have a lower cost than the more expensive active versions, which have a longer reading range of up to several meters.
These microchips can store a wide range of data that is then read and transmitted to the reader, enabling a variety of applications such as inventory management, asset tracking, and monitoring environmental conditions and logistics quality assurance. For example, an employee can inventory an entire room full of equipment in a matter of minutes with RFID, whereas the same task might take much longer using barcode scanning and manual entry.
Additionally, an RFID tag’s ability to provide a unique ID for each item and its history—which is not possible with current mifare desfire ev1 barcodes—is particularly beneficial when it comes to tracking individual products. This tracing capability can help combat product theft, as well as aid in reducing inventory and production losses.
Identifying and Tracking Equipment
RFID tags have microchips that transmit data from a tag to an RFID reader through radio waves. This information is then stored and used to track equipment and inventory in facilities. This technology enables companies to have up-to-the-moment data about what equipment is available, who is using it, and when it needs to be serviced.
RFID can also provide a level of accuracy, efficiency, and security in many industries and applications. For example, a retailer can use it to improve the customer experience and product selection by eliminating stocking issues and providing real-time inventory updates. In addition, a manufacturer can use RFID to ensure that all of its parts are tagged and accounted for throughout the manufacturing process.
While barcodes are cheap to produce and require a line-of-sight read, RFID is more accurate, provides better traceability, and can store more information than a standard barcode. Additionally, RFID can be used to identify items and locate assets in hard-to-reach areas, such as inside of vehicles or containers.
When choosing an RFID system, it’s important to consider the fixed costs associated with purchasing and setting up hardware. This can include things like readers, antennas, and software. To reduce these upfront expenses, people may choose to purchase a development kit that combines the reader with the manufacturer’s recommended antenna and some sample RFID tags to test out the technology.