RFID
is an acronym for “radio-frequency identification” and refers to
a technology whereby digital data encoded in RFID tags or smart
labels are captured by a reader by means of radio waves. RFID is
comparable to barcoding in that information from a tag or name are
captured by a device that stores the information in a database. RFID,
however, has a few advantages over systems that utilize barcode
asset tracking software. The most striking is that RFID tag data
can be read outside the line-of-sight, while barcodes must be
adjusted with an optical scanner.
Following
are the industries that uses the RFID at it best :-
1.Events
Management
Sports,
entertainment and event planning companies invest incredible efforts
and huge amounts of money into organizing events that are aimed to
bring awareness, sell products, teach the audience or just entertain
the crowd. However, utilizing current strategies such as scanning a
barcode on a wristband, or a ticket at the entryway, takes off a huge
opportunity undiscovered.
Once
the guest, visitor, or fan clears out the door and is accounted for,
he (or she) is “lost” to the organizer. There's no way to find
out where this visitor went, what he did, what he was curious about,
what he purchased and no option to see, summarize and act on this
data. And that is why event management uses RFID .
RFID
system provides following application in event management industry :
Access
control
Scans
in and out
Reads
hundreds of RFID wristbands, tickets and Ids simultaneously
Layered
access for Patron Doors, Media Center, Club-level Seating,
Employees-Only areas, Common Parking, VIP Parking, etc.
Communications
Advanced
registration
Email
and mobile number capture
Populate
social media (Entry data and overhauls on less congested courses,
etc.)
Database
development
Visitors
Analytics
Length
of stay, peak time, activity flow, capacity, population
segmentation, real-time checks, hotspots, etc.
2.
LOGISTICS
RFID
tags contain unique identifiers that correspond to inventory database
records. Switching to RFID in your logistics chain offers a few
noteworthy advantages over traditional inventory control methods.
Benefits
of using RFID in logistics industry are following:
Unique
Tracking
RFID
tags contain a microchip or other storage device that can contain a
huge amount of data. This allows you to place person identifiers on
products, instead of using a single barcode for a whole class of
items, and to follow individual items through your logistics chain,
rather than needing to extrapolate that information from inventory
numbers. This too allows you to track a defective thing back to its
source in a much simpler way than with other tracking methods.
Wireless
Scanning
One
of the major advantages of RFID in logistics is how rapidly RFID tags
can provide data compared to barcoding or other systems. With a
barcode, you have got to pass each code over a scanner to register
the item. RFID works wirelessly, so you can point a scanner at a box
of items and enroll each one without having to take them out first. A
powerful enough RFID scanner may scan whole inventory room at once,
making inventory tracking a much quicker process.
Real-Time
Updates
Because
filtering and inventory control is much quicker with RFID than with
other forms of management, the system lends itself to integration
with remote communication systems and real-time inventory management
systems. This permits you to query the database at any time and find
out exactly how much of a given product you have got on hand, rather
than getting numbers that will be days or weeks old. RFID scanners
built into the entrances of warehouses can even filter cartons as
they enter and take off, providing instant updates of inventory sums
that can propagate to other clients across the company network.
Integration
With Other Systems
The same
RFID tags that give inventory data can too give other services as
well. Security scanners at building exits can let your system know
instantly when any product leaves the premises, permitting you to
spot robbery or misdirected shipments rapidly and correct the issue.
Moreover, checking RFID tags at entry and exit points allows
confirmation of shipping and conveyance of products, allowing you to
trace a shipment because it moves through your logistics chain, and
give accurate estimates of entry to clients or other business units.
3.
HEALTHCARE & MEDICAL
RFID
systems can offer assistance to the medical profession. It can
connect with patients and the general public, making it simpler, with
their consent, to gather data on health habits or to make sure
patients are treated with the proper drugs. It can be utilized to
support public health activities, observing the take up of freely
issued medications or prophylactics.
Below
are some common RFID applications being used in hospitals all over
the globe.
Inventory
Tracking
Tracking
inventory with RFID can be accomplished with nearly any sorts of
item, but, RFID systems can be especially challenging to implement
when tracking liquid-filled resources. RFID tags with the ability to
track these resources are becoming more readily accessible, generally
due to the request from the pharmaceutical industry.
People/Attendee
Tracking
Right
now, clinics are using passive RFID technology as well as instances
of active RFID to track patients and staff all through hospitals.
Patients
and staffed are fitted with RFID tags primarily To
verify patient information, to locate patients and Reduce wait times
and bottlenecks.
Surgical
instruments like surgical blades, scissors, clamps, and retractors
are required for surgeries every day; so, this equipment should
always be on hand, clean, sanitized, and ready to
utilize.Unfortunately, not having the correct surgical equipment on
hand is the least dangerous circumstance caused by not tracking these
devices.
tracking
these items with RFID tags guarantee that each device was cleaned and
disinfected prior to use.
Access
Control
this
is another aspect of people tracking that hospitals use to restrain
access to certain rooms or areas in order to prevent individuals from
wandering around the office. With this sort of system, the staff
members must wave or tap their RFID-enabled badges before door
readers in order to gain access. Not only does this prevent
unauthorized access to confined areas, but it gives patients,
medicine, and medical equipment with a level of security that
prevents robbery or damage.
4.
RAILWAYS
By
including visibility, operational efficiencies, and extreme precision
– RFID brings down labor costs and improves client and worker
satisfaction. All these increments lower the cost and reduce the
hazard of transportation via railways. The cost to tag each wagon or
rail car is tag dependent on several factors, but generally ranges
below $20, and, even with the one-time equipment infrastructure cost
of reading stations throughout the track, the cost to implement an
RFID arrangement is commonly less than the value of assets on one
rail car.
Some
of Service provided by RFID systems in Railway industries are Rail
car or wagon tracking,Preventative
Maintenance with UHF RFID, Asset management, vehicle availability
planning, ticketing etc.
some
common benefits from using RFID on railways:
Increased
Visibility
Increased
Customer Satisfaction
Decreased
Operating Costs Decreased Human Error Decreased Amount of
Lost/Stolen Items
Decreased
Fraud
Decreased
Logistical Delays
5.
RETAIL INDUSTRIES
RFID
(Radio Frequency Identification) already plays a significant role in
retail, we’ve all seen a store associate remove an RFID security
tag from an item of clothing at the point of sale, but there's
potential for a lot more than just loss avoidance using this
technology. Also the price of RFID tags has dropped significantly in
recent years, opening the entryways for big retail brands to try
integrating its use with their supply chains.
The
timing and magnitude of the RFID adoption and related process update
have ended up more basic than before as businesses strive to use RFID
technology at an exceptional rates because there are many benefits
of using RFID in retail business.
Benefits
of using RFID in retail business :
Way
better purchasing experience;
Increased
product safety, less fake items, and quicker product reviews;
Less
empty space on racks, less lost products, and less employee robbery,
which all result in greater product choice and availability;
Lower
prices primarily due to decreased supply chain costs;
More
helpful and quicker checkout;
More
opportunity for shopper behaviour research and more precise
targeting
Real-time
and more updated data about product;
Reduced
labour requirements for backroom functions and hence more staff
available for consumers;
“Seamless”
shopping experience.
