| A technological innovation from the 1970s, barcodes | | | | have a longer range, currently around 1 metre whereas |
| were developed to allow product information tracking | | | | low frequency tags have a range less than 25cm. |
| that enhanced inventory visibility and improve supply | | | | Finally, active tags are powered with an internal |
| chain management. The humble laser barcode scanner | | | | battery but in order to maintain cost effectiveness and |
| would track items and log their position in the supply | | | | small form, passive RFID tags are powered by the |
| chain from warehouses to retail points. | | | | reader. |
| However, for the modern day business this solution | | | | Real World Applications |
| may appear somewhat limited. The process behind | | | | Since RFID tags have enhance sensing capabilities and |
| using a laser barcode scanner is a slow one since | | | | the ability to transmit information, there is potential for |
| barcodes are a linear, line of sight technology which | | | | regulating product or stock. Boxes of fish, the physical |
| required human interaction most of the time. In addition, | | | | product that moves its way through the supply chain, |
| laser barcodes are restricted in how much information | | | | can be monitored for temperature or whether it has |
| they can store. A new system needed to be | | | | been properly stored. If any one of its configured |
| developed. | | | | parameters is violated, such as an increase in nominal |
| RFID is a wireless data collection technology that can | | | | temperatures, an alert can be sent via SMS or another |
| take the shape of a small chip and can be attached to | | | | form of communication. |
| a product. The use of radio waves means that RFID | | | | The End of the Laser Barcode Scanner? |
| chips do not need to be in direct contact with a | | | | One aspect of improving supply chain management is |
| receiver and can be tracked by location through | | | | increasing the efficiency of sending and receiving |
| wireless or cellular points or GPS. In addition, where | | | | goods. For example, a number of large retailers now |
| traditional barcodes can be tampered with, information | | | | require suppliers to use RFID tags on goods, such as |
| is hard-wired within the chip itself. Furthermore, multiple | | | | pallets, to allow stock management to take place |
| tags can be read at once. | | | | much more efficiently at the retail site. Suppliers can |
| Characteristics | | | | tag their goods as they leave the warehouse with |
| As a relatively new technology, it is important to | | | | information such as identification, priority levels and |
| understand the characteristics of RFID tags that differ | | | | stock handling information. |
| from traditional laser barcode scanner barcodes. First | | | | RFID tags are extremely powerful devices that |
| of all, memory is defined as the ability to read and | | | | certainly have their advantages. However, just like |
| write to the tag. A read only tag often includes just a | | | | barcodes and laser barcode scanners, RFID tags need |
| unique identifier, such as product code. The distance | | | | to be standardized to allow effective communication |
| that RFID tags can be read from is always increasing | | | | between devices. |
| and it is important to note that high frequency tags | | | | |