RFID Technology Hub
Welcome to the RFID Technology Hub.
Whether you're a beginner or an advanced practitioner, we’ve designed the RFID Tracking Hub to be the go-to resource for RFID concepts and applications. If you’re looking to take a deep-dive, we recommend reading our 184 page book, The Insider's Guide to Working with RFID, which you can download for free. If you prefer a physical copy, we’re selling paperbacks here.
What's In This Hub?
This RFID Technology Hub contains some of the best information available about how RFID and NFC technology are being used today, all in one convenient place. With 30+ pages dedicated to individual RFID applications, this hub is a great starting point (or refresher) for learning how RFID enables each, and the technology's value-add. With so many individual applications to cover, each one has been categorized into one of 5 main categories - Identify, Interact, Manage Items, Gather Data, and Access Control.
Each of these categories have been carefully selected and labeled to best represent the overall goal of the individual applications that make up this category. If your RFID application is not listed, checkout the main category page that best represents your application; there you can learn more about the broader elements of similar applications. To learn more about each top level category, and what each of these categories covers, scroll down to learn more.
Within each category, individual applications are highlighted to provide information, examples, and where to learn more. To jump right into an application, checkout the Navigation Menu below and click on the application you are interested in.
RFID Tracking Applications
RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, is a type of technology that uses radio frequency waves to transfer data. The most important feature of RFID technology is that it allows items to be uniquely identified from one another. While barcodes have this ability as well, reading each individual barcode is a time consuming manual process.
RFID tracking is a general term that most people use to talk about RFID technology, but RFID is not only used to track items. Most RFID applications can fit into one of these five categories:
- RFID to Identify
- RFID to Interact with Objects
- RFID to Gather Data
- RFID to Manage Inventory Items or Track Assets
- RFID to Restrict or Allow Access
If this is your first time learning about RFID, or if you need a refresher, checkout our Beginner’s Guide to RFID to learn more.
RFID Technology Hub: Navigation Menu
Checkout the individual applications within the tabs below and click to learn more about each.
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Identify
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Interact
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Manage Items
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Gather Data
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Access Control
Main Topic: Identify with RFID
• Authentication
• Kiosks
• Shipment/Order Verification
• Vehicle Identification
Main Topic: Interact with Objects
• Marketing
• Near-Field Communication (NFC)
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Interact with Vehicles
Main Topic: Manage Assets & Inventory with RFID
Sub Category: General Asset Tracking
• Hospital Asset Tracking
• Laundry & Textile Tracking
• Preventative Maintenance
• Transportation Asset Management
• Library Asset Management
Sub Category: General Inventory Management
• Herd Management
• Hospital Inventory Control
• Luxury Inventory Tracking
• Logistics & Supply Chain Management (SCM)
• Vehicle Inventory Management
Main Topic: Gather Data with RFID
Sub Category: Gathering Data: People
• Attendee Tracking
• Sports Metrics
• Tracking Attendance
Sub Category: Gathering Data: Objects
• Telemetry & Sensors
• Tolling
• Vehicle Data
Main Topic: RFID Access Control
• Access Control: Vehicles
• Access Control: Neighborhoods
• Event Management
Learn More About The Categories.
Identify Using RFID
Using RFID to simply identify one item from another. This is done at the core of each application, but for these applications, there is typically no second step.
Popular Applications:
DVD Kiosks
RFID tags are placed on individual DVD’s allowing the kiosk to identify one from another in order to dispense and return.
Shipment Verification
In shipment verification applications, the receiver of the shipment simply reads the RFID tag in order to discover the contents
Interact with Objects Using RFID
In these applications, RFID tags are placed inside or on objects in order to uniquely identify each object and allow interactions to occur.
Popular Applications:
NFC
Enable interactions between a user and a device, ad, or object. Read More
Car Wash Loyalty Programs
An RFID windshield tag identifies the car and loyalty software brings up wash preferences, wash history, and loyalty information.
Gather Data with RFID
UHF RFID is used to gather data about people and objects like location, time, payment methods, temperature, moisture levels, and historical data. In these applications, the system simply gathers data and relays it back.
Race Timing
When an RFID tagged runner crosses a checkpoint, the tag’s unique information is recorded, timestamped, and sent to a central database. Read More
Attendee Tracking
Used for conferences and trade shows as a way to gather data like booth popularity, traffic flow, and attendance information.
Tolling
Automatic tolling stations gather data about the vehicle and charges the correct accounts. Read More
Manage Assets and Inventory with RFID
The most well-known RFID application is Managing and Tracking Assets and Inventory. The ability to track assets and inventory items within a facility in order to prevent loss and product theft can save companies hundreds of thousands of dollars on a yearly basis.
Retail Inventory Management
Improve accuracy of inventory accounts in a fraction of the time. Read More
Restrict or Allow Access with RFID
RFID Access Control can be used for securing buildings, zones, floors, rooms, parking lots, communities, and even events. By tagging vehicles or giving employees or visitors access cards, permissions can be input about each unique RFID tag that will allow or restrict the vehicle or person’s access to RFID secured areas.
Popular Applications:
Building Access Control
Securing a building, floor, zone, or room digitally is the best way to ensure that only authorized personnel can access that area. Read More
Event Management
RFID tags can be used as badges on lanyards or on wristbands in order to create secure access to events like concerts, festivals, and conventions.
Popular RFID Use Cases
Want to Learn About Using RFID to Control Access to your Gated Neighborhood?
Checkout Access Control: Neighborhoods Coming Soon!
Parent Topic -
Want to Learn About Using RFID to Locate Files in a Law Firm?
Checkout RFID File Tracking
Parent Topic -
Want to Learn About Using RFID for your Car Wash Membership Program?
Checkout RFID Kiosks Coming Soon!
Parent Topic -
Want to Learn About Using NFC RFID for Direct Mail Marketing?
Checkout Marketing Coming Soon!
Parent Topic -
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Authentication
Kiosk
Shipment/Order Verification
Vehicle Identification
Hospital Asset Tracking
Laundry & Textile Tracking
Preventative Maintenance
RTI
Transportation Asset Management
Library Asset Management
Herd Management
Hospital Inventory Control
Luxury Inventory Tracking
Logistics & SCM
Vehicle Inventory Management
Attendee Tracking
Sports Metrics
Tracking Attendance
Telemetry & Sensor Monitoring
Vehicle Data