A man with a mobile tablet, standing in front of a shelf of labeled boxes.

Tracking your assets is a crucial part of any industry. Misplacing or miscounting inventory or corporate assets can cost you time, money and peace of mind. Barcode tracking systems have made taking inventory much easier in recent years, but it’s possible to take it one step further. To that end, many businesses are implementing RFID tracking systems.

A pallet of boxes in front of a fixed RFID reader gate

What is RFID Tracking?

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking is an identification system based on radio waves. Data is stored in a microchip, which is connected to a signal-boosting antenna and stored in a tag. The data is then sent out as a radio wave, which is read by an RFID reader and converted back into data.

RFID tracking was first used in WWII to distinguish between friendly and enemy airplanes, but modern businesses use it to keep track of their assets in real time.

Types of RFID Technology

While all RFID technology uses the same basic principle, there are several different types of RFID tags, named for the frequency at which they operate.

Low Frequency

Low frequency tags, as the name implies, operate at a lower frequency, anywhere between 30 - 300 kHz. They’re commonly used in animal tracking and access control.

Low frequency tags work well near liquids and metals, which normally hamper RFID tracking. As a result, they are also often used in applications with high volumes of these materials. However, they also have a very short read range, limited memory and low data transmission, as well as a high production cost.

High Frequency

High frequency tags operate at a frequency of around 13.56 MHz. They’re commonly used on library books, personal ID cards, poker chips and at DVD kiosks.

High frequency tags have higher memory options than low frequency tags, as well as a longer read range. They still have a low data transmission rate, however, and their overall read range is still somewhat poor when compared to higher-frequency tags.

Ultra-High Frequency

Ultra-high frequency tags operate at the highest frequencies for RFID tags. They can be separated into two groups: active and passive.

Active

Active tags operate at a frequency of about 433 MHz, although those under the extremely high frequency range can use 2.45 GHz. They’re most commonly used in vehicle tracking, mining, construction, and auto manufacturing.

Active tags have very long read range, a large memory capacity and a high data transmission rate. However, they also have a high cost per tag, are subject to shipping restrictions due to their batteries, often require complex software and suffer high interference from metals and liquids.

Passive

Passive tags operate at a frequency between 860 - 960 MHz. They’re most commonly used for supply chain tracking, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and inventory and asset tracking.

Passive tags have a long read range, a high data transmission rate, come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and feature a low cost per tag. However, they feature high equipment costs and a reduced memory capacity compared to active tags, and also suffer high interference from metals and liquids.

Benefits of RFID

A woman in a warehouse, standing in front of a printer. She's holding the tag that is halfway emerged from the printer.

There are several benefits to implementing an RFID tracking system instead of a traditional barcode system:

Quick: While barcodes rely on an image that must be manually scanned, RFID tracking uses radio waves that are scanned automatically, even at a distance or through walls. There’s also no risk of scanning being delayed due to a smudged or warped tag, as there would be with a barcode.
Versatile: RFID tagging allows you to track a wide variety of assets, including raw materials, finished products, corporate assets such as computers and even employees.
Up-to-date information: With RFID tracking, you can track the location of your assets in real time, instead of having to manually check them when you want to know their status. This means you’ll always know where they are or if they’ve been moved somewhere they shouldn’t be.

Creating your RFID System

Creating an RFID tracking system isn’t as simple as putting RFID tags on your assets. It order for it to be fully functional, it must be carefully planned, thoughtfully integrated and continuously maintained.

Planning

The first step in creating your RFID system is planning your layout. No two systems are exactly the same; factors such as building layout, the assets being marked and the scope of your business will affect how your system operates. Planning in advance will ensure you don’t have to correct any flaws in your system later. Here are some tips on proper planning procedure:

Learn about RFID systems: Although they’ve been compared to them, RFID systems are not barcode systems. They function differently and cannot be set up in the same way. Knowing RFID terminology and how the system functions will help you plan properly.
Find an RFID integrator: If you don’t have experience setting up RFID systems, consider speaking to a professional. They’ll be able to answer your questions and point out any would-be flaws in your system.
Know what you want: As you plan your RFID system, think of what specific issues you want to address with it. Do you want better visibility for your inventory? Are you misplacing corporate assets often? You’ll be able to plan your system in order to fully minimize these issues.
Conduct an on-site survey: The layout of a building will affect where you place the components of your system. Misplaced components can hinder your system’s functionality, so an on-site survey is a crucial part of your planning phase.

Choosing System Components

A table of RFID supples: eight rolls of RFID tags, a handheld scanner, an antenna, a mobile printer, and a standard printer.

Once you know what you need for your RFID tracking system, you can start browsing for components. There are several components in a functional RFID system:

Tag: Every RFID system starts with the tag. Each RFID tag contains a microchip and an antenna. The microchip contains the information, while the antenna boosts the radio signal.
Antenna: Even with the antenna connected to the tag, RFID systems need several external antennas to function. These antennas serve as communication points that direct the signals from the tags to the nearest RFID reader.
Reader: The RFID reader converts the radio signal from the tag back into readable data. There are two main reader types: fixed and mobile. A fixed reader is wired directly to an antenna and can read signals automatically, while mobile readers are usually handheld mobile computers with RFID-reading software.
Printer: In order to replenish your stock of RFID tags, you’ll need a printer. Make sure that your printer has RFID encoding capabilities and isn’t a standard thermal printer before purchasing.
Software: Similar to how barcode scanners need software to process the information they scan, an RFID system needs software to process the information it receives. The type of software you need depends on what you wanted out of your system, so be sure to browse carefully.

Post-installation

Once you’ve planned your system and selected your components, you can install your RFID system. From this point, you can begin tracking your assets. Here are several tips to maintaining your system after installation:

Conduct a follow-up survey: Even if you conducted an on-site survey beforehand, things can change between the time of your survey and the time of installation. Check your system layout after installation to make sure everything works properly.
Perform maintenance and updates: As with any system, RFID tracking requires regular maintenance in order to function at peak efficiency. It must also be fully updated in order to keep the data stored within it safe.
Remember signal blockers: While RFID signals can be read from a distance or through walls, they cannot pass through metal or water. If the layout of your building changes, make sure not to accidentally cut off part of your system by placing it behind something that blocks the radio signals.
Be prepared to grow: If your business grows, your RFID system will have to grow with it. Be aware of how thinly your system is stretched at any given time so that you’re able to increase the scope of it accordingly.

A warehouse overlaid with a blue filter and a web infographic. The center bubble has a wifi signal, while the rest have symbols indicating different stages of the supply chain phase

Zebra RFID at Barcode Factory

RFID tracking is quickly becoming the modern standard for asset tracking. Many major retailers now require suppliers to provide RFID tags with their products, upon penalty of fines and returned inventory.

For those looking to implement an RFID tracking system, choose Zebra Technologies. Zebra offers everything you need for a functional RFID system: printers, tags, readers, antenna and software. Barcode Factory is a proud member of Zebra’s PartnerConnect program and offers quality Zebra products at affordable prices. Browse our selection of Zebra-brand RFID system solutions here or contact us today for a quote, to schedule an on-site survey or to have one of our certified experts answer your questions.

A Guide to RFID Deployment