Buying RFID Tags and Equipment? Here is an All-Inclusive ...

Did you know that investing in RFID tags and equipment can double your profitability? Well, this technology helps you to manage various business activities like a pro.

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Even better, the RFID tags come in various forms, thus enabling you to choose that which will serve your needs the best. 

Some of the activities you can manage with the RFID tags and equipment include identification, inventory management, and asset tracking.

 It doesn&#;t matter the industry you&#;re in; there will be a tag that will suit your needs. This article will guide you through every step of buying RFID tags and equipment. Read on. 

When starting a business, everyone hopes that it will generate profits. However, a majority of startups fail within the first year of operation. 

One of the reasons that lead to this failure is poor administrative decisions. If you want to avoid falling into this trap, then you should automate your systems. 

Automation reduces the cost of administration and boosts productivity. This way, you&#;ll be sure that your business will break even and start making profits. 

Are you wondering how you can automate systems?

Well, one of the most reliable automation techniques is Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID). This technology allows you to manage your inventory and track your assets with ease. 

You can use the RFID tags and equipment in any industry. Some of the application areas include agriculture, retail, manufacturing, education, healthcare, and transportation. 

Buying RFID equipment will only be useful if you choose the right one for your organization. The tags and equipment come in different sizes, shapes, and functionalities.

As such, you should answer these questions conclusively before you start shopping for RFID tags and equipment:

The belief that every business needs RFID tags is wrong! You should only use this technology when you have enough assets to track and data to process. 

As a small startup, your primary goal should be to reduce administrative costs. At this point, you do not have much data requiring RFID automation. You can instead install a cheaper software to manage your bookkeeping operations. 

However, you should upgrade your systems as your assets increase. This way, you will save on time and resources, thus boosting your productivity. 

If you&#;ve observed the following in your business, then it means that time is ripe for you to invest in an RFID system:

• Asset Losses. Loss of your valuables can paralyze your business operations. If you realize that you&#;re having many defective assets and losing some, you need to get an RFID tag to track them. 
• Check-Out Delays. If you are overwhelmed by the number of customers checking out, you need an RFID tag system. The technology will automate your payment systems, which will enhance efficacy.
• Too Much Paperwork/ Administrative Work. When the paper starts taking a lot of your time, you can be sure that it will adversely affect your productivity. As such, you should reduce the time you take on manual operations by buying RFID tags and equipment. 
• Difficulties in Managing Your Inventory. Are you getting complaints about incorrect entries in your bookkeeping? Well, this means that you&#;re likely overwhelmed by the volumes of the data you&#;re handling. If you want to maintain your profitability, then you must invest in an RFID system. 

These are a few of the pointers that should necessitate the purchase of RFID tags and equipment. The primary goal should always be to boost productivity and enhance customer satisfaction. 

2.     What is the Nature and Size of My Business?

The size and nature of your business will determine the type of RFID tags and equipment you need. 

We invite you to look at these examples and understand why this factor is crucial: 

• An RFID tag that works best for a horticultural farm may not be the best for a retail outlet. The one for the farm should be tailor-made for use in an aqueous environment.
• A business that deals with mobile assets will need an RFID tag with a wide read range.  A small business with an enclosed investment needs a passive tag with a limited read range. 
• A sole proprietor business will not need an RFID tag for access control. A large manufacturing firm will need RFID tags and equipment for personnel identification.

These three examples show that what is best for one business is not necessarily the best for you. As such, you should first answer the question of needs before purchasing an RFID system. 

3.     What Are My Goals?

This question determines the type of RFID tag and equipment you need for your business. To get to this stage, you must have answered the first two questions in the affirmative.

As such, you&#;re convinced that buying an RFID tag and equipment will improve your business operations. 

Always remember that your objectives will determine the choice of your RFID device. As such, you should craft your goals with unmatched precision.

We advise that your IT team engages with the RFID tags/equipment provider to assess your needs. This way, you can be sure that the provider will recommend a tag that will help you meet your goals. 

Here are some of the desires that you could be having about your business:

• I spend too much time on administrative tasks/ redundant activities
• I want to reduce my recurrent expenditure
• I need to improve my customer experience
• I want to track my assets
• I want to manage my personnel more effectively 
• I want a contactless payment system

When you share all these goals with your RFID provider, they will recommend the best RFID product. Ensure that you explain all your needs with unmatched clarity.

RFID Equipment Buying Guide &#; 4 Critical Equipment to Consider

RFID is a system that may require more than just a tag. This section analyzes some of the vital RFID equipment to consider for your business. 

1.    RFID Tag 

The type of RFID tag you buy will determine the efficacy of your business operations. Like we&#;ve detailed above, you should set out your goals to determine the best one for you. Here are the most common RFID tags you&#;ll encounter as you shop:

• Passive vs. Active RFID Tags 

Unlike passive tags, the active ones come with a battery and have a wide read range. As such, you should buy active tags if you want to track assets within a range of up to 100 meters. 

If your business is immobile, and you only want an RFID tag for in-house activities, then the passive one is ideal. 

You should note that active tags are more expensive than passive ones. They also may not last as long as the passive ones. 

• RFID Inlays/ Labels vs. RFID Hard Tags 

RFID Inlays are unobtrusive peel and stick tags that allow printing of barcode/human-readable information using an RFID printer. 

The tags come in different read ranges, sizes, adhesiveness, and printability. They are low cost and easy to use, which explains their popularity. However, the RFID inlays tags are not weather resistant and do not work well when mounted on metal surfaces. 

On the other hand, the RFID Hard tags are made out of heavy materials such as polymers, plastics, and ceramic.

They offer increased read range, ability to embed materials, ruggedness, and resistance to harsh weather conditions. Also, they are more expensive than RFID Inlays/Labels. 

2.    RFID Readers 

An RFID reader acts as the engine of your entire RFID system. If it&#;s defective, then the whole system will not work. 

As such, you must ensure that you choose an RFID reader that will serve your needs the best and is easy to maintain. 

Here are the three main RFID reader types to choose from:

Fixed Readers

These are high-performance RFID readers that are immobile and can read and write tags in all types of applications. There are two types of fixed readers, including:

• Non-Integrated. These are readers that are joined to the antennae through a coaxial cable
• Integrated. These RFID readers come together with an antenna (in one device)

Fixed readers are easy to use. They can support between 1 and 64 antennas, thus guaranteeing a comprehensive coverage of your business.  

When you get out to shop for the stationary device, you should ensure that you have this crucial information:

• Regulations on UHF bands. Most of the stationary readers will operate on UHF. As such, it would help if you research the UHF regulations in your country. Some countries have regulations that may affect the applicability of the technology in your business.
• Mounting Location. If you want to get the best out of your fixed RFID reader, we recommend that you install it in a central location. Accessibility of the reader by your employees will improve inventory management. Also, ensure that the place is free of moisture, shocks, or extreme heat/cold. 
• How Many Tags Do You Need to Read Simultaneously? RFID scanners vary in the speed of capturing data. If you need to read many tags simultaneously, then you should consider the reading speed. You may also consider an RFID reader that can capture the data of many tags simultaneously. 

Handheld Readers 

Handheld readers are your ideal choice if you want a mobile device that would help you locate tagged items in a store. 

These devices are great for inventory management since they have integrated antennas and computing devices. You may also connect it to your laptop/smartphone for easy data analysis and quick decision making. 

 Before selecting the ideal mobile RFID reader, you should inquire about whether it supports your favorite operating system (Windows, IOS, or Android). 

Reader Modules

When selecting your ideal RFID reader, you should understand its computing system. While most readers integrate the analytic data system, others may require the use of external software to analyze the data. 

If you want a highly specific data analysis format, you may choose the one that supports modules&#; customization. This way, your engineers will tailor-make it to give personalized analytic results. 

3.    RFID Antennas and Cables 

Antennas and cables play a crucial role in determining the efficacy of an RFID system. If you buy an integrated fixed reader or a handheld one, you shouldn&#;t worry.

However, a non-integrated fixed reader requires that you purchase cables and antennas. 

It would help if you considered size, polarity, connector types, insulating rating, and length of the cables/ antennas before buying. Answer the questions below before selecting one:

• What&#;s Your Ideal Read Range? Different antennas have different read ranges. As such, choosing a reader that will help you cover your entire premises/ assets is paramount. 
• How Far Will the Antennae be From the Reader? This consideration will help you when choosing the length of the cable. 
• Where Will You Mount the Reader? The location helps you to understand the polarity needs and the types of connectors you need. 

Overall, you should always ensure that your antennas are strong enough to cover all your assets. Your cables should also be extended and insulated. 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website RoyalRay.

4.     RFID Printers 

These devices are essential if you intend to buy RFID labels/inlay tags. The printers are designed to print and encode these labels, thus saving you the hassle of manual encoding. 

When shopping for an RFID printer, you should consider the kinds of text/graphics you need to print. This consideration will affect the type of ribbons you need for the printing exercise. 

For example, tags with paper face need a different ribbon from those with plastic/polymer face. 

Additionally, your ideal RFID printer should haveintegrated software with standard features for label printing. This makes it easy-to-use and saves you time. 

Now that we&#;ve examined all the RFID tags and equipment. This section gives you a summary of factors to consider before choosing your ideal RFID system. 

• Budget

What is your projected budget for the complete RFID system? Always remember that purchasing RFID is an investment. As such, you should assess its ROI to ensure that the money you spend on the project will not be a waste.

If you&#;re still a startup, there is no need to invest in an RFID system with features that you do not need. This consideration is especially crucial when shopping for active tags with a lifespan of approximately five years.

Only buy that which you can afford. This way, you&#;ll not struggle to recoup your resources and gain from the investment. 

• Always Ask Questions 

If you do not have an IT team in your organization, you should research and gather information about RFID. While this article offers precious tips on the topic, we recommend that you engage your RFID merchant for advice. 

You should ensure that you let the merchant know all your expectations. This way, you&#;ll be guaranteed that the RFID equipment you choose will help you meet your goals. 

• Environmental Conditions 

Failure to provide the right environment for your RFID system will compromise its efficacy. Even worse, extreme temperatures, cold, and moisture may destroy the equipment. 

Besides affecting its efficacy, its destruction will result in unplanned repair and maintenance expenditure. 

• Understand the Working Rationale of RFID 

Before you step out to shop for RFID tags and equipment, you should understand how the system works. This will ensure that you enjoy the benefits of your investment.

Additionally, you&#;ll quickly pick the best device for your business since you can point out the benefits and disadvantages of each. This way, the selection will be based on the expected performance. 

• Ease of Upgrading 

The RFID tag and equipment you choose should be compatible with your current operating system. This way, you will have an easy time upgrading your system to accommodate the new equipment.

If the RFID system is complex and challenging to install, then it will increase your budget. In such a case, you will need experts to install the system. Even worse, you may require a considerable repair and maintenance budget occasioned by preventable errors. 

The Bottom Line

RFID tags and equipment will revolutionize your business. However, not every organization needs this technology. 

As such, you should always analyze your needs before deciding on whether to integrate an RFID system into your business. When you&#;re sure that it will enhance your efficacy and improve your organization, you shouldn&#;t hesitate to buy it.

Now, this is where it becomes tricky!

Buying RFID tags and equipment is not an easy assignment. These devices come in different sizes, shapes, and read ranges. As such, you must be careful to choose a device that will solve your problems.

If you want the best RFID system for your business, you should understand your needs and goals. This article analyzes all the details you need before choosing the ideal RFID system for your organization.  We implore you to implement the tips we&#;ve offered herein. This way, you&#;ll enjoy optimum benefits from your investment. 

RFID has been a big buzzword lately for anyone who is interested in any type of item identification. Up until now, the trusty barcode has been the identification tactic of choice and has served many businesses for decades. However, RFID continues to grow as a possible alternative. While RFID may not be a suitable replacement for barcodes in all situations, it does offer some advantages that you may want to take advantage of for your business. Implementing RFID in your business is more complex than using simple barcoding, but we&#;ll help you learn what you need to know to get started.

Since RFID is quite different from barcoding, it can be a challenge to know if it will be a good fit for your business. The first step in deciding to use RFID is to identify your specific need(s):

• Do you need non-line-of-site reading?
• What are the required read ranges?
• Will you need to just read and process RFID tags or create them as well?
• Do you need serialization for each item?
• Will the item be traveling or fixed when read? How fast will it be moving?
• Does the item contain metal in its construction, outer surface, or packaging?
• What environmental factors will the RFID tag encounter? Water/rain/snow/fog?
• Will your application use fixed or mobile readers?

In the following, we&#;ll review the basics of RFID and all the components that make up an RFID system. Going through these points and the questions above will help you determine if RFID is a suitable and feasible solution for your Auto-ID tracking needs.

Before getting into all the parts of an RFID system it is best if we look at some of the basic principles behind the technology itself.

RFID Types

RFID is essentially available in 3 different types, each with their own benefits and limitations. In the Auto-ID industry UHF is the most common but it is useful to know how to distinguish each one.

LF (Low Frequency)

Low Frequency RFID operates at the 135kHz range and has a very short read range (an inch or 2 normally). This type of RFID essentially requires contact to a reader to capture the data. While this type is not useful for product tracking, you will find it embedded in IDs and other key Fob applications for access/parking control, authentication, event attendance management, ticketing, and card payment.

HF (High Frequency)

High Frequency RFID operates at the 13.56MHz range and has a short read range of about 5 inches normally but with specialized readers and larger tags you can reach almost 3ft. HF RFID tags have fewer interference issues than UHF so while their range is limited they are a good solution for small object tagging on automated lines. High speed reading is also possible which has made HF a good option in healthcare environments where small vials and samples need to be read.

UHF (Ultra High Frequency)

Ultra High Frequency RFID operates between 902-928 MHz in North America and has read ranges up to approximately 10ft. UHF has become the most used option in Auto-ID applications due to its long read range and dropping costs. UHF does have more issues with interference but a well-designed system can overcome these issues. UHF RFID is also well suited to mounting on label stock making it the perfect item/container level tag option.

Passive vs. Active RFID

Regardless of the frequency range, RFID systems can either be passive or active. This difference is referring to whether the RFID tags themselves have their own power source (a battery). Active tags are quite a bit more expensive and will normally be physically larger. If you have an electronic toll-pass you are using active RFID. Since they have their own power source, active tags have much further read ranges and can be read at high speeds. For Auto-ID purposes, passive tags are the most common since you can create tags that are thin enough to be labels and cost only around $.10 to $.20 instead of $25 to over $100. With a passive tag, the reader actually powers the tag which then sends back its data to the reader. Everything we cover in the following will focus on passive UHF technology since it is the best fit and most widely used to track products.

How RFID Works

With a passive UHF system, you have 4 main components: the tag, antenna, reader, and host PC. The reader is scanning each antenna attached to it so that once a tag enters the field of one of the antenna it is first powered up. Once fully powered, the tag &#;backscatters&#; its information which the antenna can then pick up. This is the most delicate part of any system since this is where interference comes into play. Liquids absorb the projected signal while metals will reflect it. Depending on what you are labeling, where the tag is placed, and how many items you are trying to read at once, the performance of any system will greatly vary.

In the cases where the tag is powered and read properly, the data on the tag is processed by the reader and sent onto your host PC. On your host, you would be running some type of software to then put the read tag information to use. This could be an asset tracking software, an inventory management system, or even an event tracking application. Like barcodes, RFID tags are a simple identifier but the tags can be read faster and automatically without line-of-site or orientation concerns. Since each tag will have a unique number on it, the ways you track items will only be limited by your needs and software capabilities.

RFID Limitations

While it may seem like the perfect technology at first, RFID does have its limitations. We&#;ve already covered several of its issues with interference, especially when dealing with liquids and metals. The truth is though that almost any type of material could limit the accuracy and range of an RFID system. A palate full of non-metal/liquid products could still have issues since with a dense collection of items, those in the middle of the palate may never receive enough antenna signal to ever power up.

While it would be great to just push a button and read every RFID tag in your building, the technology is still not quite there yet. Reading individual or smaller collections of tags is your best bet to ensure 100% read accuracy. Many distribution facilities that use RFID will first just read a signal tag for the entire palate when it arrives and the break out the palate to capture the individual items.

The main point to take from this is that RFID technology is much more susceptible to the environment it is being used in than a barcode system. A proper site survey and extensive testing are always a must when implementing any RFID solution. Knowing where to place tags, how they will be scanned, and what the products are will all have to be taken into account when designing any system. Getting many of the advantages of an RFID system will depend on organizing your system in the right way.

Parts of an RFID System

Now that we have covered some of the basics of RFID we can start looking in detail at the specific components every system will have. As mentioned before, choosing the right components will depend heavily on how you&#;ll be using RFID and the type of items you are trying to read.

Tags

Every system has to start by selecting an RFID tag that will perform well given your reading requirements, size constraints, and application type. A tag consists of two parts: the chipset and antenna. The chipset stores the unique data for the tag determines the amount of information it can store, and the available security features. The antenna allows the chip to receive power and transmit information. Normally, the larger the antenna the better range you will get. There are a variety of chipsets and antenna designs which are designed to perform in all types of applications.

While there is no single cure-all tag, the Alien Squiggle UHF tag works well in many environments due to its large antenna. This does mean that the tags are always around 4&#; wide though.

While these tags are all paper-based labels there are also hard tags that are in a plastic enclosure for more rugged environments. To find the right tag for your application you will ultimately want to test several designs and placements to determine the best performing chipset and antenna.

RFID Printer

Once you&#;ve found a suitable tag to use in your application you&#;ll want to get a printer to encode them. A dedicated RFID printer makes encoding tags easy and allows you to also print barcodes on the label as well. You may ask why you would want to use barcodes along with RFID. The printed information can be additional information not available in the RFID part of the tag but also provide a redundant failsafe in case the tag gets damaged. Using barcodes and RFID together ensure that no matter where the tag is being used, the data is always accessible.

Choosing a specific printer will ultimately come down to the volume of tags you will be making. There are small volume printers like the Intermec PC43t to rugged, high-speed models like the Zebra R110Xi4. The added benefit to a dedicated RFID printer is that it is also a general label printer as well. You are really getting 2 devices in one.

Readers

RFID readers are available in 3 different styles depending on how you will be collecting data.

Fixed RFID Readers
Fixed readers are used to create portals for automated reading. With a fixed reader, you will normally have 2 to 4 antennas attached to it to read tags as they pass by. This type of reader is most commonly used to read tags as they enter a room, pass through warehouse dock doors, or travel on a conveyor line. The reader itself will be connected to a host PC or your network to transmit all of the tag data. Since these readers are normally used in automated applications they normally have additional connections to support external presentation sensors or light stacks to notify users of completed reads. The Impinj Speedway Revolution is an example of a fixed reader that supports 4 antennas designed for industrial applications.

Mobile RFID Readers
Mobile RFID readers are the same as a standard mobile computer but with the addition of an RFID antenna and reader. These types of readers are made for manually reading tags on the move and will also have barcode scanning capabilities. Being a mobile computer, models like the Motorola MC-Zare the perfect tool to conduct RFID based asset tracking or inventory counts. All of the scanned RFID data can be used in software running locally on the device or sent on to a larger system through a wireless network. Many RFID installations will use both fixed and mobile readers.

Desktop RFID Readers
For applications that need a reader right next to a PC for easy input, there are some devices that act similarly to a basic barcode scanner in that they will output simple keyboard data. Fixed and mobile readers will not be so plug-and-play. Desktop readers are always connected to a PC and with their included software you can input RFID tag data into almost any application. Since these devices are made for desktop usage, they have very short read ranges of maybe 12 inches at max. For quick and easy reads, desktop readers like the Motorola DS-R are your simplest solution.

Middleware

Middleware is the software that will put all of your RFID tag information to some specific purpose. As stated before, this may be an inventory tracking software, asset management system, or any other type of application. The key point to remember is that an RFID tag has quite a bit more information than a barcode and RFID readers (except desktop models) do not output basic keyboard text data like barcode scanners. Whatever application you end up using, it will specifically have to support RFID readers.

Fixed and Mobile readers have a language that they use called Low Level Reader Protocol (LLRP). LLRP is a standardized protocol that any application can use to support RFID readers. In the case of some mobile readers, the manufacturer may have a built-in conversion application that uses LLRP to then output keyboard text like a scanner. This is not often the case so you should always ensure that your middleware application will support LLRP and RFID readers.

The Right RFID Solution for your Business

Through this overview, you&#;ve learned some RFID basics and the core components of any system. RFID technology can be a very powerful tool in a wide range of applications for all types of businesses but you&#;ve also seen that it is not an out-of-the-box solution either. Every RFID installation is unique and requires plenty of planning and testing before any final decisions are made. In many cases, businesses will start with a limited install of an RFID. They start with a single portal or only a few mobile readers. As the testing process and pilots develop, it&#;s then possible to deploy a system at larger scales.

Finding the right RFID solution is always a challenge and having the right resources and help are critical. If RFID sounds like a suitable solution for your business or you have additional questions, feel free to call our experts &#; we&#;re always happy to help you find the right solution for your needs.

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