The Surrounding Myths Behind Radio Frequency Identification and Products Identification

Radio frequency identification is an essential part in many field ID processes and deployments. The system is a great tool when you need to identify assets or products that needs to go through safety inspections. However, there are many skeptics, questions and myths that surrounds RFID. RFID is currently being hailed as the next major revolution in automated identification is very important for you to know the real score and clearly understand the role of RFID in logistics and product visibility and tracking. Let’€™s get started.

1. RFID will eventually replace barcode. RFID will not replace the barcode. In reality, these two are complementary technologies. While RFID has the ability to store more data than the a regular barcode, a barcode is much cheaper. Most consumers are familiar with 1D barcodes. Many industrial applications use a denser 2D bar code which can contain a significant amount of information. Bar code is still considered reliable and more cost effective and will continue to provide a better return on investment compared to RFID in many new deployment tracking solutions. RFID will come to its own where bar code applications are not feasible or applicable.
2. RFID tags can be traced from outer space via satellite. Many people are made to believe that RFD are used for the government to keep track of its citizens. There is no truth to this because the maximum read range of a UHF RFID tag is approximately 5 meters ad HF tags are just 1 meter. Now, a product can trace using a satellite if GPRS is installed. RFID and GPRS are two different technologies.
3. RFID is so brand new it has not been tried and tested. RFID is not a brand new technology. Actually the technology was already introduced during WW2 to identify friendly planes from Nazi aircraft. The current RFID has been used in business since the 1980s.
4. The simple RFID application. RFID works in the RF environment which affected by moisture, weather, radiation, invisible RF interference and even the material of a building in which it is used. It will also depend on the material to which the RFID tag will be affixed. The read and write range are not adjustable but will depend on the environmental conditions.
5. RFID can only be used exclusively in the supply chain. The supply chain and the retail sectors are taking the full advantage of RFIDs but the technology can also be used in a wide range of applications.
6. RFID cannot be used with water or metal based products. Storing products in metal containers are not much of an issue as some people think. There is truth that metal reflects and water absorbs high frequency radio waves. Modern RFID tags can be configured to transmit at lower frequencies where water and metal will not be able to interfere with the signal.
7. The cost of RFID is way too high. Many people think that because it is more high tech and not yet as widely used as the barcode. It will be very expensive to produce and use. The truth is that the tag is the smallest part of the overall cost.

Indeed, radio frequency identification is providing true value to safety compliance, enterprise asset arrangement, automated maintenance management systems, radio frequency identification technology. This technology will continue to evolve will be one essential tool for all business.