Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) is a process used by multiple industry segments for tagging and tracking assets in real-time. Assets could include both movable and immovable objects, or people. RFID asset tracking works with the help of hardware such as tags for storing information electronically, which can be then retrieved by users through readers.
What is RFID? – A Brief Introduction
RFID tags use electromagnetic fields from radio waves for automatic identification and data capture, and are of two basic types – active and passive. A variation of the passive type is known as battery-assisted passive. Every tag consists of an integrated circuit and an antenna which transmits data to the reader. Interrogator is another term for the RFID reader. While it is similar to a barcode, RFID, however, has several advantages over a barcode as it doubles up as an asset tracking software in real-time. One of the primary advantages RFID has is that it does not require line of sight reading like a barcode.Key Features of RFID Asset Tracking System
- An RFID tag can read and transmit data of multiple assets at the same time
- Data read by these tags can also be updated by the tag itself in real-time
- RFID tags and readers come in different shapes and sizes, making them available for use in varied industry verticals for varied assets
- Assets for tracking could include apparel in a manufacturing unit, books in a library, products in a warehouse, people in an organization, or vehicles crossing a toll plaza
- The cost of an RFID system varies with the quantity of assets to be tracked in relation to the space of the facility
- The data generated from the reader can be seen on an application as well, through a smart device interface
RFID Asset Tracking Solutions – Industry Applicability
As has been mentioned already, an RFID system can immensely alter asset tracking processes as it generates real-time data for strategic management and subsequent decision-making. A few of the major industries which use an RFID asset tracking system on a large scale include:- Warehouses
- Libraries
- Corporate Campuses
- Manufacturing Facilities
- Resorts & Amusement Parks
- Toll Management Firms/Organizations
- Shopping Malls & Retail Spaces
- Travel & Tourism
- Hotel & Hospitality
- Healthcare & Wellness