New in our offer: RFID solutions

The “Internet of things” is no longer merely a concept for the future, it is now a reality. The push toward automation in supply chains around the world is focusing on two areas – speed and accuracy. For large warehouses and distribution centers, an RFID inventory control system is the number one option for complete inventory accuracy.

Differences between barcoding and RFID
They both serve the same purpose, which is to store information and data. However, there are a few key differences:

1. RFID tags do not need to be in “line of sight” to be scanned. Barcodes can only work when the scanner is facing the label itself.

2. Barcodes can only be scanned one at a time. Multiple RFID tags can be scanned at the same time.

3. RFID tags are more durable. Paper or adhesive based barcodes are more vulnerable to adverse conditions such as wet weather or humid warehouses. In terms of product tracking, RFID chips are more reliable and accurate throughout the supply chain.

4. RFID tags can contain more information: the extra space provides flexibility for businesses and gives workers easy access to more information than barcodes.

5. Barcode technology is cheaper. For cost-conscious businesses, the appeal of barcodes lies in the price tag, costing just a few cents each, compared to RFID.

While more expensive in terms of unit price, it is essential to look at the benefits of RFID technology and why to choose RFID solutions.

• Line of sight not required: a familiar challenge for warehouse workers is the locating and picking of items. Using mobile devices, employees will have the ability to simply turn on the tracker and locate the intended item within the vicinity. This leads to significant savings in terms of time and resources. For example, if a line of sight scans were required, staff would still need to find the item, which can take time in real-world situations.

• Durability: durability is an important element of RFID tags, which can withstand conditions as products move through the supply chain. Weather: varying weather conditions such as rain, extreme heat, and cold, or wind can affect less durable tags, including barcodes. Handling: as packages and products move through the supply chain, they may be subject to poor handling, which can damage tags. Transportation: the various methods of transport, whether it is land, sea, or air, all pose risks to tags. For instance, non-refrigerated containers can get humid and cause adhesive-based labels to fall off.

• Data storage:the level of information that RFID tags can contain and handle is a key strength. Not only can it help businesses track and locate inventory, but it can also allow workers easy access to all critical details, including delivery information, orders, and stock levels – all with their remote devices.

• Ability to scan multiple products: RFID technology provide the ability to scan multiple products at the same time, which can significantly speed up the process and free up time for companies to increase capacity. This can lead directly to double-digit growth in revenue and profits.

RFID technology is increasingly present on the market. That is no surprise given what it all makes possible.

6 trends affecting the growth of the RFID market:

1. UHF tags are growing fastest
   UHF (ultra high frequency) tags are projected to be the fastest-growing segment of the RFID market. This growth is due to the increased functionality offered. Of all available RFID tag frequencies, UHF tags have the fastest reading speed and the longest read range – up to 150 meters under the right conditions.

2. RFID for employee credentials
   Several key trends involve specific uses for RFID technology. For example, RFID is increasingly being used to create customized employee credentials. Many organizations are shifting away from the use of passwords and PINs to password-less authentication using identity access management (IAM) solutions. Such systems are typically in the form of secure smart cards that utilize RFID technology.

3. RFID for vaccine safety
   RFID technology has proven extremely useful in handling various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Manufacturers, hospitals, and clinics use RFID tags to trace vaccine doses and guard against expired or counterfeit vaccines. With hundreds of millions of doses administered within a very short span of time, the technology has proven essential.

4. RFID for touchless interactions
   The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the need for and acceptance of touchless interactions in a wide variety of situations, most notably the retail and food industries. In addition to the increasing use of contactless payment methods, many retailers are utilizing RFID to track items at the point of sale. This reduces the need for human contact and improves overall inventory management.

5. RFID for logistics and supply chain management
   Logistics and supply chain management are slated to be the fastest-growing applications for RFID throughout the next years. Logistic companies are using RFID to track cargo as well as to monitor environmental conditions during shipment. RFID is used throughout the entire supply chain, including warehousing and delivery. The technology helps companies not only to track individual items, but also to optimize inventory and reduce costs.

6. RFID for smart shelving and store checkout
   An increasing number of retailers are embracing smart shelving for improved inventory management, and smart shelving is driven by RFID technology. RFID can help retailers optimize their store layouts and speed up checkout. Some stores have eliminated manual checkout completely, instead relying on RFID and other technologies to let customers check out simply by walking out the door.

Today, companies are increasingly using RFID technology in the supply chain, to track individual production items or tools, to regulate access, for accurate timekeeping in competitions, for payment systems, in innovative sales techniques. The possibilities of using RFID technology have become truly limitless, and its implementation is possible in all industries.

The RFID solutions we offer at Nexum are as follows:

1. Self-service retail solutions:

• Nordic ID S/MART: a staff free, extremely cost-effective vendor solution that automates the shopping experience. For remotely selling or renting goods in a totally secure, cost-efficient, and scalable way.

• Nordic ID Infokiosk: interactive Infokiosk touch table extends your opportunities to engage with and serve your customers.

• Nordic ID self-checkout: a rapid self-service checkout service in your store. No more bagging or queuing needed, simply scan the whole shopping bag in an instant at the checkout.

Benefits:

• more satisfied customers,

• enhanced customer experience,

• less of extensive stock buffer,

• one inventory for multiple channels,

• less staff,

• maintaining perfect stock balance.

2. Asset tracking:

• Nordic ID RADEA: the cloud asset tracking platform.

Benefits:

• real-time information on your assets,

• new business opportunities,

• total asset control,

• item status at a glance,

• support for business decisions.

3. Inventory tracking:

• Nordic ID RADEA: RADEA platform enables the IoT by providing item-level tracking, workflow processing, event management, alerting and powerful analytics to deliver solutions to a vast number of industries.

Benefits:

• Easy identification what items you have, their exact amount and location,

• high accuracy,

• omnichannel – one inventory for all your shops,

• knowing of exact stock balance.

For more information on our RFID solutions, please contact our product specialist who will help you find the best solution for your application. You can also visit our website to discover the other industrial identification solutions we offer.