What is RFID?

Basic and necessary introduction to the most widely used internal traceability technology.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is the technology that allows us to identify almost any object wirelessly using data transmitted through radio waves.

In many ways, we can say that RFID technology is very similar to its older and much more popular cousin: the barcode. Both have as their main function the identification of items quickly at any point in the logistics chain and thus be able to take inventory or consult their associated features digitally. But RFID is designed to go one step further, bringing features and benefits that barcode can never offer.

Advantages of RFID over barcodes

Durability superior to that of the barcode since it does not depend on the print quality of this or if the code is scratched, but that the information is contained digitally in a chip.
The information available in a label is much higher than the information available in a barcode.
Ability to read hundreds of labels in a matter of seconds of a pass.
It is not necessary to have a direct line of sight with the label to be able to read its information.
The reading range can exceed 100 meters in some cases.
The information contained in the label can be encrypted or blocked for security.
The information contained in the memory can be rewritten and reused.

But it's not all about item identification.

All right, RFID is certainly at a level well above barcode when it comes to identifying items in a logistics chain. But… Why stop there? That’s what the group of RFID innovators must have thought when they saw its potential. As an example of this is the multitude of uses that this technology currently has, so much so that on more than one occasion you will have used an RFID system without knowing that you were in front of one.

Here are some examples of RFID systems used all over the world every day:

The anti-theft system of clothing in stores.
The key card of hotels or companies.
The contactless payment of your credit card.
The electronic toll systems.
The remote control of your garage
Bracelets for concerts, large events or hospitals with your personal information or entry.
The bibs of marathon runners.
Intelligent library systems.
Traceability systems in manufacturing chains
MANY MORE…

Frequently asked questions

Undoubtedly RFID technology has brought endless possibilities to many sectors, but its novelty and ignorance have generated some myths and doubts in consumers, here we answer some of the questions we usually answer in NextPoints.

How much information can I store in my RFID tags?

RFID tags do not store huge amounts of data – most are designed to contain a unique identification number that can be modified with the right tools as long as it is not encoded or protected. For more information about RFID tags you can read: RFID Tags

Can I use the NFC of my Smartphone to read a tag and have the information contained in it take me to a web page?

Although some tags may store more data in the user’s memory section, access to those additional data slows down the reading time but allows you to host, for example, a URL, allowing you to redirect to a website.

What is the maximum reading distance of my RFID tags?

An RFID tag cannot be read from any distance. Depending on the frequency used in your system and the size of the tags, distances can range from 100 meters for high-cost active tags to a near-touch distance such as passive HF tags.

What are the cheapest labels I can get for a reading of about 5 meters or less?

For less than 5 meters, passive UHF tags would theoretically be more than enough. But you always have to take into account different factors that can limit this distance considerably, such as:

The working environment
The sensitivity of your system
The materials close to your labels
The position of the label at the time of reading
How much can a complete RFID system cost me?

An RFID system is not cheap. Most systems have an average cost of a few hundred euros for a small reader/writer and a few tags. When looking for superior quality or talking about industrial systems, the figure can easily be shot to more than several thousand euros for a single reading area with a reader, a few antennas and tags. For more information I recommend you take a look at our article on: RFID costs

If I lose a tagged item and I want to find it, can I use the tag in GPS mode?

No, the tag can only be read within the reading range. As we have said before, the passive tags of greater range oscillate between the 5 meters as maximum, reason why that tag will have to pass through an RFID system to 5 meters or less to be detected and the system has to be programmed to understand the information of this tag.

If I want to have an entire plant controlled by RFID so that any asset that enters or leaves is monitored by my system, how many items will I need and where?

First of all, we must mention that each system and each project is different, we can not generalize and give these statements as absolute truths. Having said this, as a general rule, you want to have an RFID antenna at each «transit point» so that there is no exit without covering. Any exit point that is not being monitored by an antenna will be a weak point in your system.

RFID technology has been with us for many years in many areas of our lives and it is only a matter of time before it brings us the way to efficiently connect our everyday objects to the network.

WHAT ARE RFID SYSTEMS

Radio frequency identification is a technology that allows us to identify almost any object wirelessly using data transmitted through radio waves. It knows the components that make up an RFID system.