Advantages of Radio-Frequency Identification
The advantages of radio-frequency identification are numerous. Designed as small transponder tags, this technology can be used for a number of purposes, allowing for the better tracking and identification processes of objects and people. Operating on distinct radio frequencies, these tags have been implemented by a variety of organizations to manage inventory in a cost-effective manner and for increased security measures.
Function
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) has many advantages over more traditional information-gathering options. RFID chips are small radio transponder tags that can be placed into objects for better identification uses. These chips are placed inside certain objects or identification cards. A transceiver decodes the information on the tag, and a person determines the identification of the object. In the case of an ID card, the transceiver can decode the identity of an individual and other information that may be stored on central database. The overall benefit of this process is that RFID tags can be read from as close as 10 feet to as far away as 300.
Benefits
Many companies place RFID chips into objects for inventory use. These chips are generally very small and can be attached to almost any type of product. A company with a large warehouse, for example, can scan the contents of the building with a transceiver and, in a short period of time, determine every item that has been tagged and is on premises. This means increased accuracy in inventory practices and precision to determine what is on site and what is not. Loss prevention and proper inventory management procedures can be greatly increased in both efficiency and frequency.
Significance
The less time spent on inventory management, the more productive a company can be. For example, if a shipment of items such as razor blades arrives at a loading dock, the employee receiving the shipment can merely use a transceiver to identify how many razor blades there are and their location within a box or pallet. This saves both time and energy, since the employee can simply log the incoming shipment and transfer it to the appropriate location. The next step in the inventory process can be streamlined as well, giving a company the ability to use less time to do the same job.
Considerations
The push for new identification techniques by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. National Intelligence Agency called for legislation to use RFID chips in forms of ID. The first process was to place the chips into all U.S. passports. Used in conjunction with biometrics, these passports were first issued in 2006. The State Department believes that the increased security measures allowed by these additions will add to the safety in airports and transportation hubs throughout the country. Security personnel can scan the passport and receive information on the holder such as name, nationality, sex, place of birth and a digital picture. This information can be cross-referenced with the passport itself to make sure that people are who they say they are.
Potential
Since the 1980s, there has been an increased push to move to a paperless society in the United States and around the world. The use of RFID chips in inventory and identification means that there are fewer reasons for written forms in the modern era. In essence, a person delivering a shipment can hold the information of the contents on a computerized transceiver. When arriving at his stop, he can scan again to confirm the contents. The person receiving the order can scan the contents and make a log file on their transceiver. This process can continue until the product has been placed on shelves or leaves the location. RFID chips have the potential of replacing much of the mundane paperwork that affects the productivity in a modern workforce.
Tags: RFID chips, chips into, increased security, increased security measures, into objects, inventory management