RFID vs. Barcode

We've been deploying RFID solutions for over a decade.  We still get questions, though, as to why RFID is better than barcode.   (Note:  many of our customers use both together, to get the best of both worlds).

Here's a handy comparison:

RFID in Manufacturing: New Trends, New Rules

This week, we participated in an RFID in Manufacturing Event with RFID Journal, to discuss 5 new trends driving the adoption of RFID in manufacturing operations:  

1. Multi-Facility Assembly
2. Design to Delivery
3. Product Innovation
4. Customer-facing Operations
5. Enterprise Asset Management

Manufacturing operations are getting more and more complex, and RFID is helping to automate critical processes -- so that manufacturers can continue to innovate, design and deliver.

The deployment guide accompanying the event outlines key process areas where RFID can make a difference in manufacturing efficiency, along with specific use cases, process flows and integration options. 

How RFID and RTLS Can Save Lives

HIMSS '13 showcased RFID and RTLS technologies in multiple ways:  the Intelligent Hospital Pavillion and speaker sessions from primary care providers, including the US Veterans Health Administration.

The key message?  By automating administrative and operational tasks, RFID and RTLS technology enable healthcare professionals to focus on patient care.  In short, these "invisible" technologies can save lives.  The following article in Healthcare IT News sums it up.

http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/rfid-rtls-can-save-lives

Defining Asset Tracking

There may be as many definitions for "RFID Asset Tracking" as there are RFID Asset Tracking deployments.  Assets vary by industry and business function and can range from medical devices in healthcare to composite materials in manufacturing, to transport vehicles in logistics to plant & equipment in industrial manufacturing.  Some of the most common examples are listed here:

Asset Tracking Examples by Industry and Function

RFID or RTLS?

Deploying RFID or RTLS shouldn't be hard.  We've done it hundreds of times, and have fine-tuned best practices along the way.

One of the questions we hear most often is:  "Should I use RTLS or Passive RFID?"  Our answer?  "Why Not Both"?  Some of our most successful implementations use a mix of RFID, RTLS, UWB, Wi-Fi and barcode, depending on use case, asset type, facility size and business process.