White Paper: Are You Tuned Into Radio Frequency Identification

By Dylan Persaud

Radio frequency identification (RFID) has been around for over 60 years, so why does it have such negative connotations? Many misconceptions and horror stories of organizations' failed implementations have been plastered all over the press, which has contributed to the negative perceptions of this re-emerging technology. Yet these failures are often due to a lack of the correct technology, deficient IT knowledge, budgetary constraints, unqualified business partners, and a general misunderstanding of the overall effectiveness of RFID technology and how it relates to an organization's business.

Navigating through a complicated new system that requires its own hardware, software, and infrastructure is a daunting mission. Given the complexities of evolving standards, converting today's bar codes into tomorrow's electronic product codes (EPCs), and the prospects of how all of this changes the way a company functions, it is understandable why organizations may take a long look before making the leap to RFID.

Before getting started, organizations should understand the components of an RFID system, the mechanics of the technology, and tag types and their characteristics to decide if RFID is a worthwhile investment for their business.