RFID readers are a vital component of an efficient inventory management system. They help businesses save time and reduce labour costs by automatically capturing data and ensuring accuracy.
RFID tags and readers need to communicate with each other to work correctly. It is done through a specific communication protocol that enables the reader and tag to share information.
Asset Tracking
The ability to track assets is a crucial challenge for many businesses. It’s a challenge that can add up over time but can also be an essential part of maintaining compliance and ensuring the efficiency of your operations.
RFID tags are an effective and reliable way to track your valuable assets. They have the added benefit of being more efficient than barcodes or other tracking methods, resulting in reduced manual labour and overall cost savings.
When an asset is tagged with an RFID tag, it’s automatically tracked, and its location can be displayed in your company’s tracking software system. It also provides a great audit trail of where the asset has been and who it’s been scanned by.
Fixed RFID readers can be installed strategically throughout your facility, allowing you to track your assets and employees in real-time. In addition, these devices are often linked to antennas, removing the need for handheld readers and providing a fully automated solution.
The newest generation of RFID readers can scan and evaluate a range of sensor data from tags. It includes moisture, temperature and tamper alerts.
By implementing the latest technology, RFID systems can offer your business increased efficiency and accuracy in tracking and locating assets. Whether your company has a small or oversized inventory, RFID can help you save money by reducing costs associated with loss, theft and downtime.
A large airline carrier can use RFID to save millions of dollars annually by reducing cart theft and ensuring each catering station has suitable carts. By tagging food carts, Air Canada can quickly check their inventory at every airport and ensure that each cart is in good condition before it leaves the premises.
Companies such as lululemon, Johnson Controls and Club Car are among the many that use RFID to track their assets. They’ve found that RFID improves inventory accuracy from 98 to 99 per cent, which helps them save money and ensures that each product is manufactured correctly and on time.
Inventory Management
RFID systems for inventory management are a great way to keep track of your stock. They are much faster and more efficient than manual systems, and they can help reduce costs in several ways.
They can also provide accurate information on your inventory levels, which is vital for making smart decisions about production, purchasing, and pricing. It can increase efficiency and better customer service, resulting in more sales and higher profits.
Another benefit of using RFID tags in inventory management is that they are easier to read than barcodes and can be scanned even if hidden under other items. It means you can quickly find out where an item is and whether it needs to be picked up or shipped out.
You can use handheld scanners or fixed readers to scan these items. You can upload the information to your warehouse, ERP, or financial management system.
Many companies are turning to RFID to track their assets in and out of their warehouses. It can reduce costs by reducing losses or theft and labour expenses caused by missing assets.
A typical application for RFID in inventory management is with mobile assets, such as returnable containers and pallets. When these items are lost or misplaced, they can cost a company thousands of dollars in capital investment and lost person-hours looking for them.
RFID can also be used to track fixed assets, including machinery and other equipment that is not easily moved around the facility. It can help companies keep track of equipment critical to operations, allowing them to locate it when it needs to be repaired or replaced quickly.
Access Control
RFID access control is ideal for building security and preventing unauthorised use of the premises. It can be used to restrict access to specific areas of a building or for certain staff members. It can also be integrated with video surveillance to minimise tailgating and theft.
Residents can easily manage their access via an IP intercom. These intercoms are available as a standalone solution or integrated with other access control hardware like keypads to create a unified access control experience for your tenants.
Another benefit of RFID is that it is straightforward to replace lost cards and fobs. It saves time and money by reducing the need to replace a resident’s access ID each time they lose it.
There are two main types of RFID tags: active and passive. Passive RFID tags are less expensive and more compact than active ones but tend to have shorter ranges.
Active RFID tags have their power source and require the reader to activate them. They have a more extended range than passive tags and can be scanned up to a few feet away, making them suitable for high-traffic environments with many cardholders.
Security
RFID tags and readers can be hacked and used to access sensitive information. Therefore, choosing a security solution that protects your company and its data is crucial.
When choosing an RFID reader, it is vital to understand the built-in security features and how they work together. These features include kill switches and encryption that help prevent hackers from compromising your system.
When selecting an RFID reader, the first thing to consider is whether it supports security modules such as Secure Access Modules (SAMs). SAMs are smart cards that follow contact-based communication standards to interact with a card reader and enable cryptographic operations.
If a reader is compatible with an RFID readers tag, the identifier on the tag will send a signal to the reader that says, “Hey, I have a tag.” The reader then scans the tag and reads what it contains.