Debunking The 5 Common Myths Surrounding RFID Technology
Whenever new technology is introduced, individuals and businesses often become wary. Will this new technology be beneficial? Will it be too costly to implement? Will technicians find it difficult to learn how to use it? These are the questions that people usually have when a new technology is introduced into the market. The same was true when RFID companies started marketing RFID technology to specific industries.
RFID is currently one of the most popular technologies being used in various industries and sectors. This technology is the most accurate and efficient way for individuals and organisations to track, monitor, and manage assets. However, due to fear and hesitation in implementing this breakthrough technology, many companies still doubt incorporating RFID into their operations. This can be largely attributed to the myths surrounding the use of RFID.
Read on to discover the most common misconceptions about RFID technology and the truth behind them.
Myth #1: The purpose of RFID is only for inventory
RFID is known as a useful tool for boosting inventory management, and some people erroneously believe that the purpose of this technology is solely for managing inventory. However, although it is truly advantageous to use RFID tags for inventory management, this technology has proven itself to be extremely useful in a variety of other applications, such as in tracking assets and equipment, checking items in and out, maintaining safety records, monitoring chain of custody, and a lot more.
RFID is a great tool for accurately identifying, tracking and locating items, especially business-critical or higher-value assets. One can use RFID to track items and quantities and associate them with almost every type of information maintained in a database. Advanced active RFID tags can even record conditions like humidity and temperature to be utilised for monitoring transit conditions in cold chain applications.
Myth #2: The use of RFID is an issue for privacy
Some individuals worry that RFID tags can be used to create profiles or track their movements. This is one of the most common reasons why some people hesitate to embrace RFID technology. However, privacy should not be a concern when using RFID. While it is true that companies can use RFID to track employees on their premises and restrict access to certain areas, employees should be aware that a tag can only be read if it is within the range of their company’s RFID system.
In other words, an RFID tag cannot be read if an employee is outside the company’s RFID infrastructure or is off work. Moreover, the only way for an individual to read RFID tags is if they have both an appropriate RFID device and access to the related database of RFID tag data to comprehend the meaning of the number they read. To put it simply, neither the RFID hardware nor access to the database is readily available.
Myth #3: RFID tags are fragile
Due to their size and shape, RFID tags can be placed anywhere. Some are sewn into seams of clothes for the purpose of inventory tracking within a department store, while others are thin and small enough to be placed completely within cracks on items. However, just because RFID tags are small and compact does not mean that they are fragile. In fact, many RFID tags are made with special high-stress or high-temperature coatings that allow them to be used for particularly rigorous conditions.
Myth #4: RFID technology is too complex
Although the use of RFID requires one to purchase some hardware, such as tags and tracking devices, most RFID systems can operate directly with a company’s inventory management and ERP software. Contrary to common misconception, the use of RFID is not too complicated. The process usually starts by simply configuring the RFID tags and attaching them to inventory, and they begin reporting almost instantly.
Myth #5: Transitioning to an RFID system is a huge challenge
Many businesses assume that transitioning to an RFID system is a huge, challenging undertaking. Although some implementations can be challenging, specifically if the business requires a highly comprehensive and complex solution on a large scale, RFID is easy to manage and implement in most cases. The key here is for the business to work with an RFID expert to help them identify their objectives, explore how RFID will fit into and enhance their workflows, and determine what kind of RFID solution is needed.
Once an RFID system is in place, a company should find that the technology minimises or eliminates the more cumbersome, labour-intensive, and error-prone manual processes related to tracking, monitoring, and inventorying assets. Depending on the implementation of RFID technology, these processes may become fully or mostly automated, making them far quicker and more accurate than before the adoption of RFID.
Conclusion
Many businesses are now considering the idea of investing in RFID technology to help automate their inventory and tracking processes. However, despite the proven value that RFID adds to companies, there are still plenty of questions and doubts around the full capabilities of this technology. Most of these are anchored on the misconceptions surrounding RFID. By debunking these myths, more and more businesses will be convinced to adopt RFID, and they will surely be surprised at how efficient and extensive this technology can be!
