Identification using smart tags that utilize radio waves to transmit data enables remote reading of the information stored within them, as well as data writing, without the need for optical contact between the reading device and the identifier.
The use of a given technology in business is always determined by factors that lead to an increase in competitive advantage. In the case of RFID systems, the arguments in their favor include – first and foremost – the high speed of processing the smart “tag” and a relatively long range. Another argument is the ability to store a much larger amount of information in the tag’s memory than in the case of barcodes, which can only contain basic product information. The same tags can be used in a unified supply chain thanks to the EPCglobal communication standard. RFID systems are characterized by high security, as smart tags are not as easy to counterfeit as, for example, traditional barcodes. Increased security is also present when reading information from tags by readers connected directly to the manufacturer’s or warehouse’s databases. Access to such databases can be restricted individually for specific suppliers, and the transmitted information can be encrypted.
Print smart labels yourself
Solutions available on the Polish market allow for fast and effective identification of objects: products, components, activities, or even people. Labeling an object with an RFID tag allows for the immediate and accurate determination of its location while it is in transit. By applying a smart tag to a product, goods can be tracked throughout the entire supply chain – from the manufacturer to the consumer. The use of smart tag printers allows for designing the tag yourself, making changes at any time, and printing them in the quantity needed at that moment. There is no need to order ready-made RFID tags, and by printing them yourself, you can further reduce their purchase costs.
How RFID printers communicate
Most of the products presented in the table have several communication interfaces. Universal Serial Bus (USB) as well as parallel and serial ports are standard in RFID printers. Other communication options include Twinax/coax cards and wireless 802.11b/wired Ethernet networks. Wireless interface cards have the advantage of allowing the printer to be used in a wireless network with the ability to switch to a wired connection by connecting to an Ethernet port while maintaining the IP address and the current print session.
The article comes from the magazine “e-Fakty” 6/2006.