I am a barcode user, Are there any advantages of Using RFID?

To understand RFID benefits, it is useful to compare its capabilities to an existing industry standard in object tracking and identifying-which is the Barcode. Technology experts for RFID have proclaimed that RFID will eventually replace the barcode. Though it may be possible to combine barcode and rfid technologies to achieve certain business needs, barcode is not replacable today due to certain RFID tag costs. Though it would be simple to think, a RFID solution is not a mere replacement of barcode. It is a much more evolved and has certain distinct advantages over the barcode.

RFID Size:

Rfid : Available in sizes ranging from postage stamps to burly sizes.

Barcodes [BC]: are larger than the smallest tag. Typical barcode should follow a minimum size for scan-ability.

Visibility:

RFID: Rfid tags need not be visible to a reader. Mere presence in the readzone is sufficient for a successful scan.

Barcode BC: Barcodes need to be presented to a scanner at a precise angle. This causes delays in scannings.

Lifespan:

RFID: Tags have no moving parts and can be in protective material for an in-destructible case with a multi year lifespan.

Barcode BC: Barcodes can also be considered to have an unlimited lifespan. However the BC labels are subject to degradation with handling. In some cases, oils from human hands can start to degrade the barcode. Thermally printed barcodes degrade in high temperature environments. To place a barcode in an industrial case, would add more cost, which makes the RFID tag even more attractive.

Performance in Harsh Environment:

RFID: Tags can be placed in extreme environments and perform to specifications, thereby allowing organisations to handle a variety of industrial, material handling and asset management applications.

Barcodes usually do not sustain their specifications in extreme harsh environments. They are sensitive to the environments and degrade once they have been used, stored or handled in a non-office environment. Barcodes become illegible in frosty, low temperature environments and adhesives can fail in extreme temperatures.

Product codes:

RFID: Data is stored on the tag's internal memory and its database provides significant capability to encode valuable information such as
1. Tag originator,
2. User data as required by the industry/application
3. Serial number as required by the industry/application. This is future proofing and is built into the RFID architecture. Even future changes in any of the above information can be re-written onto the tag. This reduces human intervention and associated costs.

In case of barcodes, additional info beyond the basic parameters is not feasible because the size of the bar-code will not be able to keep up with the demand for new numbers as the SKU [stock keeping units] population increases. Furthermore, packaging sizes and industry standards tend to limit barcode capacities.

Counterfieting:

RFID: Tags are produced with a UIC [unique identity code] or a serial number from the manufacturer. This is embedded digitally and cannot be changed on field, thereby rendering the rfid tags extremely resistant to counterfeiting. Latest EPC-global and ISO tags house 32bit password security to make it more difficult to tamper with the data stored on the tag.

Barcode BC: Barcodes are easily duplicated and attached to products. This leads to a lot of losses in various industries and applications. An alternate to such pilferage and losses is to find an anti-counterfeiting technique.

Real-time updates:

RFID: Tags can be written on and offer on-board memory to retain information. this feature can be used to retain calibration history, preventive maintenance records, patient medical updates within a hospital, etc... Updates can be done automatically requiring no human intervention.

Barcode BC: Barcodes lack this feature. Once a bar-code is printed, the data is not changeable. Attaching barcodes again for changed data is quite laborious and is thus un-competitive compared to tags for any use which would require such updates.

Trace-ability:

RFID: The combination of UIC, userdata and various other information onboard the embedded memory makes it possible to track, recall or document the life-stage of a single item or object, in real-time, thus saving time which would otherwise be spent in doing the same.

Barcode BC: Barcodes are limited to providing data information and do not help in tracking, recalls or documentation of items, as these functions require scanning each item for verifying, which is a very time consuming activity.

Scanning:

RFID offers a range from a few inches to hundreds of feet and do not require line of sight. Meaning the objects to be scanned do not require to be visible to the interrogator. This means that individual tags placed within a carton or packed in a box, need not be taken out for presenting to the scanning device. RFID uses radio waves for scanning and this technology allows for use within many such mediums. The medium needs to be RF friendly, which is very commonly the case in recent packing materials. RF waves find difficulty when used around liquids and metal objects. However there are means to overcome such un-friendly nature of certain materials, which needs to be addressed case to case.

Barcode BC:Barcodes offers a range of a few inches and require line-of-sight to read the code. The bar code needs to be presented to the scanner in an orientation and at a distance that is very limited. Individual reading requires that each box on a pallet be opened and the item pulled out in front of the scanner for presentation and identification.

Simultaneous Reads:

RFID standards have algorithms to support simultaneous reading of tags at one time, by more than one device. In the case of a retail outlet, the items in a shopping cart can be identified without pulling them out to present to a barcode like scanner. The RFID interrogator can identify up to 200 unique Ids per second, enough for any application as of today. Once the items are identified, an appropriate bill can be printed within moments. One can even put two readers in a single read zone to reconcile read information for any audit requirements.

Barcodes are limited to reading only one code at a time and is unable to support simultaneous reads. Wrong readings might never get diagnosed until damage is done. It does not offer any online audit benefits.

Costs:

RFID: High volume tags are currently costing US$ 0.15 to 0.15 each. With the potential to continue dropping as per volumes. However if the total cost of ownership is looked at, the tags gain phenomenally in advantages. tags have other advantages that ease the adoption by high value items or objects such as Jewelery, High Fashion Apparel, High value footwear etc. At the Logistics level, Pallet level usage is a wide application base. In certain cases, even Carton level tagging is advantageous. Its only a matter of time until RFID tagging can be rolled out to a consumer level item tagging application base.

Barcode BC: High volume barcode labels are less than US$ 0.01 today. This, if looked from only the cost point of view, is a clear advantage to barcode adoption and continuity. However, the lack of various benefits that RFID can offer, would make Barcode usage a point to be reviewed very soon.

Inventory automation, Item stock reconciliation and Item level tracing:

RFID offers a unique advantage over barcode as far as stock taking procedures are considered. A warehouse with over 20,000 sq. feet and over a million SKUs' can be counted and physical stock can be reconciled with book stock within a matter of minutes with 100% accuracy and zero loss of productive time. No stopping of dispatches or production beyond the time taken to count stock, leads to a considerable saving in indirect costs.

Barcode BC: Conventional barcode based inventory management requires each item to be scanned. This itself leads to a slowing down of the stock taking operation. A similar sized warehouse having equal number of SKUs' would take anywhere between 20 to 25 mandays. This adds up direct manpower costs. The indirect losses such as holding up of production lines, despatches and in turn account recievables amounts to an additional cost of business. An individual item being overlooked is also not ruled out, as the scanning relies on human intervention and skill level.

Object Tracing:

RFID: Searching for a particular SKU in a RFID environment involves using a handheld and moving around in the warehouse/shelves etc. The SKU to be found is to be entered onto a software on the Handheld. The Handheld interrogates the area in front of it for the exact item as desired. Only the exact tag will reply to the reader, and once found, the handheld gives either a visual or audible alarm for the user that the match is found. This method saves a considerable time and applications are plenty for this. It is guaranteed to be more than 50 times faster than a conventional barcode SKU search.

Barcode: A barcode environment also offers the use of a handheld. However, scanning each item for an exact match involves scanning each item and going on to the next untill a match is found. This is a very time consuming process. In fact, barcodes speeds are not more than 2 items per second.

Re-usability:

RFID tags are available in various packaging. They are available as a reusable tag too. This re usability allows for some elimination of the manual task of replacing a barcode, thereby allowing for a faster, consistent and automatic data entry of information onto a new product. Re usability permits more efficient methods of processing items, events or transactions. Most of these advantages can be utilized in the warehouse and distribution environments too.

Barcodes are just not reusable. If at all, any re usability is desired, an appropriate packaging would add cost, and in this case, the RFID would definitely look attractive.

Faster Return of investment.

Rfid technique if used intelligibly and wisely offers a much better ROI and it is also a sound investment. Considering the other advantages RFID offers, an RFID implementation makes much more business sense.

Barcode is a fixed low ongoing cost.

As is evident from the points above, BarCode has the disadvantages as compared to RFID as demonstrated above. These disadvantages does not make barcode a favorable candidate for a new implementation. Replacing an existing barcode environment with a RFID environment is also advisable if even one of the disadvantages of barcode is visible in any organisation.