The first step to adopting RFID for retail or any other use case is to choose the right devices for the business&#;s needs. This is because these devices, primarily RFID tags and readers, are the cornerstone that makes the desired RFID system work as intended. And while the RFID tags usually take precedence in this conversation, it is important to also pay attention to the readers that make it possible to capture the item data embedded in the tags.

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Below, we take a brief overview of the two main types of RFID readers, their benefits, and the best use cases for each.

Fixed vs Handheld RFID Readers

Fixed RFID readers are devices that get permanently installed in retail stores, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. These readers are designed to read the data on the tagged resources as they are placed within the reader&#;s extensive range or pass by it, like in a conveyor belt or a gate terminal. Due to their static nature, fixed readers are ideal for managing assets, monitoring production lines, and tracking inventory.

On the other hand, handheld readers are portable devices ideal for scanning RFID tags that are constantly on the move, such as in a shipping and logistics facility. However, this portability comes at the cost of a shorter read range, typically requiring operators to be closer to the item to be scanned. Nonetheless, its greater mobility and flexibility are more than enough to make up for this shortcoming.

Advantages of Fixed RFID readers

1. Long read range

The static nature of these RFID readers means their bigger profile allows for more powerful components capable of longer read ranges and monitoring a larger area at a time than their smaller, handheld counterparts.

2. Automated asset management and real-time monitoring

Fixed RFID readers help organisations achieve real-time visibility into their inventory levels, allowing for more accurate tracking of assets and better decision-making regarding inventory management. Moreover, with always-on monitoring capabilities, these readers can collect data on a continuous basis and facilitate the automation of many processes.

3. Better efficiency

Fixed readers are ideal for environments that require accurate, efficient, and high-speed data collection. Thus, they are a perfect addition to an automated system that collects data from RFID tags with little to no human intervention.

4. Scalability

Fixed readers allow for easy integration into a facility&#;s existing systems depending on its needs, making them a cost-effective and flexible solution for businesses of all sizes.

5. Lower labour costs

Apart from increased efficiency and accuracy, fixed readers can shave off unnecessary costs and boost operational efficiency by eliminating the error-prone and labour-intensive way of manual data entry and inventory management. This enables employees to focus on value-added tasks that ultimately benefit the organisation.

Best use cases for fixed RFID readers

As explained above, fixed RFID readers shine when RFID processes, both reading and writing, take place in the same area. Apart from that, it is also best to choose fixed readers for processes without space limitations, and a fixed reader is more likely to achieve more accurate reads than handhelds.

Overall, fixed RFID readers are the optimal choice for applications such as, but not limited to:

• Point-of-Sale / Point-of-Exit in retail settings

Improve billing accuracy and inventory management by eliminating the common occurrence of employees fumbling over barcodes and tags.

• Part of an RFID inventory management system

A fixed RFID reader can cover large expanses of the facility and provide accurate, consistent, and real-time inventory visibility.

Advantages of handheld RFID readers

1. Easy to use and flexible

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Handheld readers are intuitive and easy to use, making data collection and transfer easier without any RFID middleware often required by fixed readers. Also, handhelds offer more flexibility since they can be used in many different settings, from retail stores and warehouses to hospitals and more.

2. Portable

Using a portable handheld RFID reader is ideal when working in limited spaces or users need to read tags in the field and on the go.

3. Cost-effectiveness

Investing in fixed readers may be too expensive for certain applications while only offering minimal ROI. Handheld RFID readers are thus a more cost-effective choice for such cases.

4. Quick deployment

Unlike their fixed counterparts which often require mounting and cabling, handheld RFID readers have little to no installation requirements besides simply turning on the device to begin reading RFID tags.

Best use cases for handheld RFID readers

Handheld RFID readers are best suited for applications where employees need to move around the facility or shop floor, and/or the tagged items could be anywhere in a given area. Some examples include:

• Asset tracking

Handheld readers can detect tags up to 50 feet (15 metres) without needing a direct line of sight, allowing users to easily find the exact item they need.

• Inventory and cycle count

Handheld RFID readers can quickly scan and track inventory in various environments so that users can read tagged items and update inventory levels in real-time.

• Item auditing

In the healthcare industry, handheld RFID readers allow hospices to quickly audit the medical items used by staff on the go to better track the business&#;s resource consumption.

Conclusion

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of RFID

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This question is often posed by our customers when they are evaluating RFID as a technology. If they are currently using barcode to track their assets, the question of what the advantages and disadvantages of RFID are and how RFID is different from barcode arises.

RFID, as an auto-ID technology, has been around for more than 40 years, in various flavors. Today, the most prevalent RFID technology is RAIN RFID, which functions in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band.

An RFID system broadly consists of:

• RFID Tags
• RFID Scanners (Handheld and/or Fixed)
• RFID Software to process the tag reads by the scanner
• Other accessories including buzzers, stack lights, etc.

These components have all improved through several revisions over the past 15 years or so and therefore, the advantages of RFID tracking are more significant today, than at its early stages.

Advantages of RFID Tracking

Listed here are some of the key advantages of RFID Tracking and it will certainly answer the question, why RFID is important.

• No line of sight needed&#; Very useful when you want to read RFID-tagged assets inside non-metal containers and pallets, without requiring the container to be opened. Tagged assets on carts, being moved through RFID-instrumented doors can be read even if the RFID tags are not in the line of sight of the reader or its antenna. One can see how useful RFID tracking would be, in tracking apparel, uniforms, hotel linen, etc. &#; these tagged items can all be read in a pile without needing to scan each item individually.
  
• Scan multiple RFID tags at one time &#; This allows for inventory scans to be sped up by more than 90% as compared to barcode. The RFID technology allows multiple asset tags to be read at the same time &#; dozens of RFID Tags. Therefore, when working with handheld RFID readers, one just has to wave the RFID reader in the general direction of the RFID tags for them to be picked up. One can easily see how quickly servers in datacenter racks can be scanned with RFID vs needing to scan barcodes on each rack server.
  
• Scan from a distance, enabling real-time monitoring &#; This is a big win and one of the greatest advantages of RFID. This characteristic of RFID technology allows tagged assets to be picked up while they move through portals &#; doorways, egress/ingress points, dock doors and gates. This greatly helps in automating supply chain tracking. Inventory in rooms and buildings can be automatically updated when tagged items are detected going in or out.
  
• Can handle challenging environments &#; RFID tags can be made from ruggedized materials that can withstand outdoor elements including temperature extremes, sun exposure, moisture and dirt. This makes RFID a much more viable technology for the outdoors. Barcodes, even when etched on ruggedized material like metal, can still be rendered unreadable if they have scratches or dirt smears on them. RFID asset tags are available for medical and lab equipment that undergo sterilization and autoclaving. Dredging pipe sitting in water can have ruggedized-RFID tags applied on the pipes, so that the tags are read even when they are covered with moss and algae.
  
• Doesn&#;t require change of human behavior &#; Barcode scanning requires a human to scan a barcode, one at a time. With RFID, because of the above characteristics of being able to read from a distance and being able to read multiple asset tags at one time, automated tracking is possible. Lab managers know exactly when a piece of lab equipment was removed from a lab or when it was brought into a lab, just by monitoring the lab doorways using RFID tracker. No change in human behavior is required in this case.
  
• Physically search or locate RFID tagged assets &#; One of the advantages of RFID is its ability to read multiple tags without line of sight. This allows tagged assets to be searched for and located even amongst many other tagged items. This is a big plus when one is searching for one specific vehicle in a parking lot or specific book in a library.

Disadvantages of RFID

• Price &#; The most significant one is price. The price of RFID tags is significantly higher than that of barcodes. However, given that the price of barcodes are sub-$0.05, a significantly more expensive RFID tag would still be under $2.00. This difference is easily paid for within the first few inventory scans using RFID.
• Hardware &#; Hardware for RFID can be more complex. RFID handheld scanners are quite similar to barcode scanners. However, the fixed RFID readers used on doorways can be more complex, since they include RFID readers, antenna, antenna cables, etc.

An RFID system deployment involves thorough planning and a clear understanding of the technology&#;s capabilities and limitations. AssetPulse offers free consultation to customers, who think they need RFID solutions, to understand their requirements and provide the best possible solution that suits their business.

AssetPulse offers more than 18 years of expertise, offering the best RFID Tracking solutions to businesses in the public and private sectors, including many tech behemoths, manufacturers, and biotech enterprises in the US and internationally.

The company is the world’s best Fixed RFID Readers supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

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