RFID

RFID is an acronym for “radio-frequency identification” and refers to a technology whereby digital data encoded in RFID tags or smart labels are captured by a reader via radio waves. You can think of a RFID as a barcoding wherein the data from a tag or label is captured by a device and stored in a database. RFID offers many advantages over the barcode, it can hold much more data about an item, the RFID tags are not susceptible to the damages like ripping and smearing and RFID tag data can be read outside the line-of-sight i.e it isn’t dependent on an optical scanner

RFID belongs to a group of technologies referred to as Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) which uses radio-waves to automatically identify objects, collect data about them, and enter those data directly into computer systems. RFID tags contain an integrated circuit and an antenna, which are used to transmit data to the RFID reader which then converts the radio waves to a more usable form of data.

RFID technology is employed in many industries to perform such tasks as:

– Inventory management – Asset tracking – Personnel tracking – Controlling access to restricted areas – ID Badging – Supply chain management – Counterfeit prevention (e.g. in the pharmaceutical industry)

These are latest headlines that I could find highlighting the use of RFID’s :

Apr 11, 2021 : In a single year, Brazil's Centauro increased inventory accuracy, reduced stock levels and better served its omnichannel customers by launching a UHFRFID system that ensures shoppers are served online even during pandemic closures.

Jan 17, 2021 : California nut product manufacturer American Nuts has deployed an RFID system to boost its inventory visibility and tracking capability, as well as its production and shipping of finished goods at its two manufacturing sites. With the technology, supplied by RFID solutions provider Senitron, the nut company not only has improved its on-hand inventory visibility but also can better manage is production, procurement, quality assurance and recalls

Reading these and many other articles I wondered how RFID’s could be effectively used during this pandemic. The ways that I thought of are actually quite plausible and easy to implement. These are some of the possible uses :

1. RFID could be used by hospitals and pharmacies to increase asset utilization by real-time tracking of their stocks and ensure availability of certain medicines or resources for help who are desperately in need by using track-and-match applications which would ensure that the demand and supply chain is in order.

2. The government or private agencies that produce O2 cylinders and vaccines can attach RFID tags to the cylinders in order to ensure that the cylinders are distributed based on a need basis. This would be an effective way to combat the problem of hospitals hoarding resources and making sure that these resources are available for everyone.

3. RFID could also be used to track supplies used on ambulances—stretchers, oxygen tanks, defibrillators, medical kits etc. Which could then direct the ambulances to the appropriate location based on the requirements of the patient or the severity of the condition.

The use of RFID is growing and expanding as more industries and companies invest in this technology. As a result, RFID is becoming more cost-effective for solving real-world business challenges. The RFID industry is about to enter an exciting period for technology providers to invest in new, exciting innovations. Advancements in materials, organic polymers, nano technology, and other areas will change the way RFID is incorporated into products for example, an RFID transponder could be printed directly into cloth or packaging using biodegradable conductive inks.

The future of RFID is here, and we must be prepared to embrace this amazing new technology.