How RFID Solutions are Advancing with Technology and Expanding Across Industries

RFID technology is mature technology which is being used in a variety of industries. With the evolution of technology, RFID solutions are able to meet the growing customer demands and company needs for efficient inventory management and operations. From retail to the automotive industry, RFID solutions are providing accuracy, speed, and ease in tracking products and parts.

RFID Solutions in the Automotive Industry

RFID technology is also improving operations in the automotive industry and meeting the growing customer demands for custom-built automobiles. An article on the evolution of RFID technology discusses how RFID tags can now be placed on cars during manufacturing, thanks to their ability to withstand the harsh environment.

The tag placement allows manufacturers to label personalized parts of cars during assembly. This keeps the specifications accurate to the customer’s order. RFID tags:

• Withstand high temperatures during manufacturing.
• Can be read quickly while the car or part is in motion (0.5 ms/byte).
• Are able to read from further distances (up to 500 mm).
• Are mounted directly on metal.

RFID solutions with sensors to keep track of such items as:

• Moisture,
• Pressure,
• Temperature, and
• Vibrations.

RFID Solutions in the Retail Industry

Customers want convenience when shopping. The less time they have to be in a store, the better. RFID solutions in the retail industry are reducing customer wait times and keeping accurate track of inventory.

According to an article from Consumerist, RFID technology is improving retail business by reducing inventory errors and tracking products efficiently. With RFID tags on clothing and other retail products, businesses can:

• Easily locate inventory. If a customer is looking for a specific size or type of product, stores can quickly look up the location of the product with the RFID-tracking system.
• Avoid errors in inventory. Retail businesses might lose customers who come in expecting a product to be available when it actually isn’t. RFID solutions can prevent errors in inventory. Customers won’t see products as “in stock” online, come into the store, and then become annoyed when the product isn’t there.
• Track product-customer behavior. Businesses can examine patterns in product-customer behavior by tracking a product’s location throughout the store. This could help determine why customers don’t end up purchasing the product.  This is true especially by causing businesses to take a closer, more critical look at the product in question.
• Prevent theft. RFID tags are used to set off alarms in stores when passing the tag detector. They also track the location of inventory. This reduces shrink as a result of being able to better locate the product.
• Reduce the need for staff. With the evolution of RFID technology, retailers can now have cashier-free stores, such as Amazon Go. The RFID tags on products are scanned as customers exit the store and are charged for their purchases electronically. This not only saves money on staff wages, but it also eliminates the wait time in stores. There is no need to wait in a long line anymore.

Wide Range of Applications

Companies are also now using cloud-based applications and services to efficiently manage and track inventory with RFID solutions. This can eliminate the extra costs associated with the necessary tech support of the pre-cloud era. Advancements in technology have also helped with printed electronics and improved antennae design, further improving RFID tag performance and readability.

RFID solutions are now meeting the many needs of customers and businesses in a variety of industries and more efficiently than ever before.

Learn more about item-level RFID tagging in retail: click here