Real World Applications

Since RFID tags have enhance sensing capabilities and the ability to transmit information, there is potential for regulating product or stock. Boxes of fish, the physical product that moves its way through the supply chain, can be monitored for temperature or whether it has been properly stored. If any one of its configured parameters is violated, such as an increase in nominal temperatures, an alert can be sent via SMS or another form of communication.

The End of the Laser Barcode Scanner?

One aspect of improving supply chain management is increasing the efficiency of sending and receiving goods. For example, a number of large retailers now require suppliers to use RFID tags on goods, such as pallets, to allow stock management to take place much more efficiently at the retail site. Suppliers can tag their goods as they leave the warehouse with information such as identification, priority levels and stock handling information.

RFID tags are extremely powerful devices that certainly have their advantages. However, just like barcodes and laser barcode scanners, RFID tags need to be standardised to allow effective communication between devices.  Scott Normanton