How is RFID Used in the Real World

You understand the basics of RFID, but now what do you do with all that knowledge? Don’t sit on it! Here’s a list of how RFID is used in real world applications, so use these ideas to spark your creative juices so you can use RFID in your own solutions.

1. Logistics & Supply Chain Visibility

Winning in the supply chain means increasing efficiency, reducing errors, and improving quality. In chaotic manufacturing, shipping, and distribution environments, real-time data on the status of individual items provides insights that turn into actionable measures. With the visibility provided by RFID, you’ll be on your way to Six Sigma Master Black Belt status in no time.

Read More: From Clipboards, To Barcodes, To RFID – The History of Supply Chain Management

2. Item Level Inventory Tracking

Tracking assets on the item level is beneficial across a broad cross-section of industries, but the retail sector has one of the highest ceilings in terms of opportunity from the use of RFID. As mentioned above, tracking items through the supply chain is wonderful, but now think about tracking items through the supply chain all the way to the point of sale. With a well designed inventory system sharing data across all business units, you’ll have a treasure trove of actionable data. One last added benefit — store employees can count inventory in a matter of minutes with a handheld RFID reader.

Read More: RFID Inventory Tracking: Global Adoption within the Supply Chain

3. Race Timing

Timing marathons and races are one of the most popular uses of RFID, but often race participants never realize they’re being timed using RFID technology, and that’s a testament to RFID’s ability to provide a seamless consumer experience. If you want to learn more about RFID race timing, read our do-it-yourself guide and check out our recent interview with prominent timing company RaceWire.

Read More: A Guide to Building Your Own Timing System (eBook)

4. Attendee Tracking

If you’ve ever managed a large conference before, you’ll know that it’s key to keep the flow of traffic moving at a steady pace, especially in and out of seminars. With an RFID attendee solution, eliminate the need for registration lines at entrances. If you want four more reasons why you need an RFID attendee tracking system, read our recent article.

Read More: Harness the Full Potential of Your Trade Show with RFID

5. Materials Management

In construction and other related industries, materials are often the largest project expenditure. On large job sites, simply finding materials can be problematic. RFID solutions like Jovix take the guess work out of the equation.

Read More: RFID Asset Tracking & Maintenance in Dangerous Environments

6. Access Control

Certain areas require an expected level of security and access. From doors to parking lots, RFID access control tags restrict access to only those pre-approved.

Read More: 4 Companies that Adopted RFID Access Control

7. IT Asset Tracking

IT assets such as server blades, laptops, tablets, and other peripherals are costly investments for any company, not to mention that information stored on those items could prove detrimental in the wrong hands. IT asset tags give your IT team the ability to quickly do an inventory count and make sure everything is in place.

Read More: RFID IT Asset Management – The Goals of ITAM

8. Tool Tracking

For industries that rely on a large variety of tools, fasteners, and other items, managing the availability of those assets is a frustrating process. Depending on the level of complexity, RFID tool tracking systems track which tools have been grabbed, which employees have taken resources, and which resources haven’t been returned to the tool crib.

Read More: 5 Examples of RFID Tool Tracking

9. Kiosks

Many kiosks use RFID to either manage resources or interact with users. DVD rental kiosks use RFID DVD tags to make sure customers receive their selected movie rental. Other examples of RFID kiosks include interactive media displays where an embedded RFID reader interrogates badges or cards.

10. Library Systems

An RFID library solution improves the efficiency of circulation operations. While barcodes require line of sight, RFID tags can be read from multiple angles which means the checkout and check-in process is significantly faster. Also, as noted above in the retail section, taking inventory of books on the shelf is dramatically faster.

11. Laundry Management

Large companies like casinos often manage thousands of employee uniforms. With an RFID laundry management system, operations can track which uniforms were assigned to specific employees, the age of uniforms, the number of times washed, and identify missing uniforms. RFID laundry tags provide a new level of visibility for laundry management.

Read More: 3 Industries That are Tracking Their Laundry with RFID

12. Interactive Marketing

RFID in marketing brings a certain level of interaction to campaigns. Whereas traditional advertising campaigns push a message onto the consumer, interactive campaigns invite the consumer to engage with the brand. Here’s a list of RFID & NFC marketing examples.

Read More: Personalized Marketing with RFID

13. RTLS (Real Time Location System)

In some applications, you need to track the real-time location of assets, employees, or customers. Whether you’re measuring the efficiency of worker movements, the effectiveness of a store floor plan, or tracking the location of valuable resources, RFID systems provide visibility in any number of locations.

Comment below with examples of how you’ve used RFID.