RFID/Radio Frequency Identification

As technology continues to accelerate at the speed of light, new technologies continue to emerge and become part of our everyday life. RFID is one such technology where we are beginning to see the use in our every day life.

RFID is like the original liner barcode, which emerged on the market back in the 1970 and has become a standard fixture in our every day lives. RFID is the next generation of information being read from a tag. Instead of physically reading the barcode using a barcode scanner with lasers, RFID is using a radio wave signal to activate the tag and read the information on the tag.

There are many potential and current uses for RFID tags and labels. The most current and widely used are due to requirements by the retail supplier Wal-Mart, and the Department of Defense. Wal-Mart now requires that their top suppliers have RFID labels on all inbound cases to their distribution centers. In the future, Wal-Mart will require all of their suppliers to have RFID labels on all inbound shipments, or receive penalties and fines.

In the near future, RFID will become more main stream and the total cost of using RFID will decrease as the demand and supply increases. Until this happens, RFID will be used in limited applications where it makes sense such as a closed loop tracking system. Unlike linier barcodes where you have to be within a certain distance and have a visible barcode to read, an RFID tag can be placed on a product within a closed container and pass thru a portal where RFID readers send out signals and pickup the tag, or tags information and process them.

Integrated Barcoding Systems continues to be one of only a few companies that have become one of Intermec’s Authorized RFID partner and passed Generation 2 certification. Generation 2 has become the new Global standard for RFID and Intermec has been part of the committee to develop and install these standards to make RFID technology standardized around the world.

Integrated Barcoding Systems QuikTrac^® 5 software was developed to integrate with RFID seamlessly and allows you to read all of your linier, 2D, and RFID labels and tags without custom code being written. QuikTrac^® 5 allows you to choose what symbologies, and which technology will work best for you in your environment.

Below are a few white papers from Intermec that will help explain what RFID is and where you can expect the best results. Please feel free to take a copy of these for your review. If you have any questions regarding RFID and how it would benefit your company, please feel free to contact us for more information.

RFID White Papers

• Introduction to Radio Frequency Identification
• Practical Uses for RFID Technology in Manufacturing and Distribution Applications
• The Write Stuff: Understanding the Value of Read / Write RFID Functionality