
RFID Applications: What Are the Possibilities?

From monitoring inventory to tracking distribution: to oversee processes, you need to know what is located where. Without insight, there is no oversight.

What is RFID?
From monitoring inventory to tracking distribution: to oversee processes, you need to know what is located where. Without insight, there is no oversight. RFID is an ideal tool for this. With RFID technology, it is possible to identify objects remotely using radio waves.
How did RFID originate?
RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification. It is a radio wave-based technology with origins dating back to World War II when radio beacons were installed in aircraft to distinguish friend from foe.
Building on this, an efficient system for preventing shoplifting was developed: the well-known detection gates, first introduced by the retail chain C&A in the 1960s. The core of this system involved placing RF tags on products, which had to be deactivated electromagnetically at checkout. If not deactivated, the detection gates would trigger an alarm upon exiting the store.
RF tags, however, do not provide information about individual objects. With the introduction of the Electronic Product Code, the technology evolved into RFID, enabling the easy identification of individual objects. This innovation marked the beginning of diverse RFID applications, with no end in sight.
How does RFID technology work?
At its core, RFID is about wirelessly identifying and tracking objects remotely. Each object is equipped with an RFID label containing an RFID chip with product information. These RFID chips electronically store data, which can be read using an RFID reader or scanner.
NFC vs RFID
The terms "RFID" and "NFC" are often used interchangeably. This is understandable since NFC (Near Field Communication) is an application of RFID technology. The key difference lies in the range: an RFID chip scanner can work up to 8 meters away, whereas an NFC chip can only be read from a distance of up to 40 millimeters. A well-known example of NFC technology is the public transportation chip card.
Advantages of RFID technology
Working with RFID offers several benefits:
Efficient: RFID labels can be read at high speeds and remotely.
Secure: RFID labels cannot be tampered with (unlike barcodes).
Reliable: RFID ensures up-to-date data, helping to prevent errors.
Durable: RFID chips have a long lifespan and can be reused.
Versatile: RFID chips can be subtly integrated into products in numerous ways.
How Do RFID Applications Add Value?
Transport companies use RFID to equip goods with Track & Trace functionality. In retail, RFID technology is a reliable partner against shoplifting. In agriculture, RFID is used to monitor processes, while the industry heavily relies on its capabilities for inventory management.
In short, RFID applications are used wherever products are handled. RFID helps optimize business processes based on data, increasing efficiency across purchasing, production, and logistics.
Interested in RFID technology?
As a specialist in printed electronics, Metafas has extensive expertise in printing RFID antennas on flexible substrates such as foil, plastic, cardboard, or paper. RFID antennas are suitable for communication via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC.
Metafas also produces RFID antennas for long-range location technologies, including Ultra Wideband. Curious about the possibilities? Let Big Data work for you with RFID technology! Discover our expertise in RFID antennas, or contact us directly for tailored advice.