7 Myths about RFID

7 MYTHS ABOUT RFID What common How misconceptions are there about much do we really know? RFID? Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that uses Radio Frequency waves to read 'tags' which are associated with objects. Known commonly to track items such as merchandise, vehicles and animals, RFID has also been used in more obscure applications such as getting into nightclubs and stopping toilets overflowing! So how much do we really know (and not know) about RFID? In a world where RFID is becoming the norm, lets enlighten ourselves about this amazing technology and bust some existing myths while we're at it. "RFID IS JUST LIKE BARCODES BUT WITHOUT Myth 1 LASER POINTERS' To people who witness RFID tags for the first time, they might seem very similar to barcodes on products you see at the departmental store. But there's a huge difference - while a barcode can hold a maximum of 10-12 digits, RFID can hold up to 2KB worth of data (2KB is about one typewritten page). Also, unlike barcodes, RFID tags are dynamic in the sense that they can be reprogrammed to suit any changing need. Myth "RFID IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO IMPLEMENT' Not really. It's not the cheapest of measures, but considering the level of security it provides, RFID tags are quite economic. Say you're using this technology for a project in Australia. Then as a contractor each tag would cost you less than a dollar and the reader can be rented for about $500 per month. Not a bad price to pay for a multi million dollar project. Myth 'RFID IS THE END OF PRIVACY' 3 If you're paranoid about using RFID tags to make commercial purchases because you believe someone hanging around your front lawn with an RFID reader can look up the details of your shopping habits, then you clearly need to reconsider a lot of things in life. That's just paranoia and there's no logical reasoning behind it. There's a reason RFID reading hardware is designed in a particular way. If any random person with an RFID reader could just read your embedded data, there would be a lot of unauthorized entries in secured zones all around the world. "REID IS PRIMARILY USED IN Myth 4 SUPPLY CHAIN OPERATIONS' Yes, but that was years ago. Now, manufacturing industries, payment gateways, security, event management, toll booths - all use RFID across Australia and worldwide. New uses for RFID are being thought up every day and the technology is evolving rapidly in terms of application, accuracy and affordability. Myth 'RFID IS FREE FROM HUMAN ERROR' As much as we would like to believe it, RFID is not entirely free of human error. This is because the data entered into the chips memory is not independent of human action. If there is any error in data entry, it will reflect on the RFID tag and subsequently, on the reader. Myth 'INSTALLING AN RFID SETUP IS EASY' Unfortunately No. This is not a mere Wi-Fi router you're installing at home. To deploy an RFID based secure setup, the entire surrounding environment needs to be surveyed. The type of metal shelving, lighting, etc. often create interference with the signal which is why each setup needs to be calibrated differently. Even the best of professionals survey the site of instalment before deploying the RFID setup. Myth "RFID HAS NO CORRELATION TO PRODUCTIVITY 7 Using RFID in your operations has the potential to offer significant returns on investment. RFID can increase productivity by improving processes and reducing cost and errors. For example, retailers who adopted RFID technology reported a decrease in the occurrence of out-of-stock merchandise by 9% to 14%, and a cut in logistical delays by up to 5% (Krivda, 2004) One of the great features of RFID is that it is easy to use and companies that adopt it reduce their need for human intervention across all aspects of operations including product tampering, loss and theft. Improved efficiency, greater safety and security, better accuracy and information availability...the list goes on. So, there you are, hopefully slightly more enlightened on RFID than earlier. Is it an ideal option for all tracking needs? Maybe, Maybe not. Is it worth considering for improving business efficiency? Absolutely! If you would like to find out more about how RFID can help your business, contact Trackem on 1300 897 610 or email [email protected] Track'em Get Absolute Control... www.TRACKEM.COM.AU