PULSE.RFID

What is RFID?

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is the latest emerging technology to compliment the Automatic Identification and Data Capture industry. RFID technology sees data sent via radio wave from a transmitting device (RFID tag) which is then read by a device (transponder), which interprets the data and converts it into useable digital information. Whilst some analysts have touted RFID is the death of the barcode, we see the two technologies coexisting for quite some time into the future. Each has specific strengths and suits certain environments and applications.  

The RFID revolution. Some of the major players in the US retail market (Walmart, Gillette and others) kicked off the RFID frenzy in the early 2000's mandating their top 100 suppliers apply RFID tags to identify all pallets entering the Walmart supply chain. The good news for industries outside of retail is that the girth of the Walmart project has provided the critical mass for the RFID hardware vendors to hone their skills and get their product offerings right. This also applies to the vendors providing RFID tag technology, which is now at a price point where a Return on Investment equation is starting to make good business sense for specific industries and applications. This fact has been well reported in the business section of leading papers. So it is only a matter of time before your senior management team asks you about RFID and why you are not using it.

Partner with the best

PULSE's approach to RFID, is no different to the way we approach any new technology or solution we provide. That is, understand it, test it and make damn sure a business case stacks up before recommending and implementing. We have chosen to partner with only the most experienced RFID practitioners such Symbol Technologies, as well as being an alliance partner with the industry RFID standards body GS1 EPCglobal.

What are the benefits of RFID?

RFID can provide all of the typical benefits of other AIDC solutions and technologies such as barcodes which includes, improved data accuracy, increased efficiency/productivity, and reduced data entry costs, amongst others. However RFID has the following advantages: -

• ‘non-line of site' data capture
  
• Ability to maintain larger data stores and strings of information e.g. manufacturer's codes, calibration dates, use by dates, batch and lot numbers, last test date....
  
• Traceability and visibility of product
  
• Satisfy of health and safety standards requirements (HACCAP, OH&S)
  
• Counterfeiting
  
• More robust than a barcode

What's hot? Some of the major players in the US retail market (Walmart, Gillette and others) kicked off the RFID frenzy in the early 2000's mandating their top 100 suppliers apply RFID tags to identify all pallets entering the Walmart supply chain. The good news for industries outside of retail is that the girth of the Walmart project has provided the critical mass for the RFID hardware vendors to hone their skills and get their product offerings right. This also applies to the vendors providing RFID tag technology, which is now at a price point where a Return on Investment equation is starting to make good business sense for specific industries and applications. This fact has been well reported in the business section of leading papers. So it is only a matter of time before your senior management team asks you about RFID and why you are not using it.

Whist global industry groups continue to work to reduce the costs of RFID and ratify the standards to suit the Supply Chain, the hottest target application for RFID solutions is currently Asset Management (both fixed and mobile). There are also implemented and working solutions in industries such as meat and livestock, automotive (manufacturing), container management, book/library systems and many others. But Asset Management is hot...and providing some very sound returns on investment.

EPCglobal is leading the development of industry-driven standards for the Electronic Product Code^TM (EPC) to support the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in today's fast-moving, information rich, trading networks.

Talk to us about your requirements and we can discuss the merits of RFID versus other alternatives.