A new market report on companiesandmarkets.com titled “Apparel RFID 2011-2021” that provides a detailed analysis and 10 year forecasts of apparel RFID, reports that apparel RFID will grow at double the rate of the overall RFID market through the next ten years.  According to the report, the RFID tagging of apparel is now the largest and fastest growing application of RFID in retailing, the retail supply chain and associated industries. The report forecasts that the market for tagging retail apparel will grow to demand 20 billion RFID tags annually in 2021.

Apparel RFID improves the tracking of inventory, prevents out-of-stocks and increases efficiency. See for yourself, check out this video from Motorola Solutions that demonstrates just how powerful retail RFID solutions are.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about apparel RFID solutions.

In past posts I’ve provided information about a variety of different healthcare applications that can be improved with automation solutions.  Today I’m providing information about the advantages of utilizing RFID in the healthcare industry.  RFID can be used for a variety of applications that improve safety and accuracy, such as:

• RFID wristbands-improves safety and accuracy with immediate access to patient information such as medical history, medications and dosage scheduling.
• Monitoring and Tracking Medical Equipment-quickly ensure all materials and tools are accounted for before and after operations by eliminating inaccurate manual processes.
• Pharmacy and Lab Labeling-prevent the misidentification of specimens and easily track items such as test tubes, vials and more.
• Supply Chain-RFID tags ensure end-to-end traceability for medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and more.
• Access Control-RFID-enabled access cards monitor and control access to restricted areas.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about RFID solutions for the medical industry.

It’s time for part 2 of our closer look at RFID frequencies and technologies.  Today I’ll be providing additional information about High Frequency (HF) Passive RFID.  13.56 MHZ HF RFID (passive) has the following characteristics:

• Read range: from approximately 1 inch to 3.28 ft.
• Reads multiple tags simultaneously
• Moderate memory: 256 to 16KB
• Penetrates most materials well, including water and body tissue
• Easily embedded in non-metallic items
• Not as effective as LF RFID in the presence of metal
• Not typically affected by electrical noise in an industrial environment
• Orientation of tags influences communication range-optimum range requires reader and tag to be parallel

Typical HF RFID applications include:

• Access control-ID cards and employee badges
• Asset tracking
• Retail security and Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)
• Patient and specimen tracking in healthcare
• Maintenance and inspections

Check back next week for part 3 when I take a closer look at Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the appropriate RFID technology for your application.

As mentioned in our Aug. 22nd post about selecting the appropriate RFID frequency for your application, today I’m providing the first in a three part series that takes a closer look at a few of the different RFID frequencies. Today we’re taking a closer look at Low Frequency (LF) Passive RFID. 125-134 KHZ LF RFID (passive) has the following characteristics:

• Read range: from approximately 1 inch to 1.5 ft.
• Reads one tag at a time
• Limited memory: 96 to 2,000 bits
• Penetrates most materials well, including water and metal
• Easily embedded in non-metallic items
• May be affected by electrical noise in an industrial environment

Typical LF RFID applications:

• Access control-such as contactless tags that are read to enter/exit parking lots or buildings
• Customer IDs via key fobs
• Animal tracking
• Legacy asset tracking

Check back tomorrow for part 2 when I take a closer look at High Frequency (HF) RFID.

Let’s Get Mobile! Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the appropriate RFID technology for your application.

RFID solutions improve accuracy and overall operations across a wide range of industries by providing identification, location and tracking capabilities.  But RFID comes in many different frequencies, such as Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF).  All RFID technologies work in similar ways, but each has its own set of performance characteristics that determine the applications they’re best suited for.  Understanding these characteristics is important when selecting the technology for your RFID applications.  Motorola Solutions recommends asking yourself the following questions to help with the selection:

1. What is the minimum and maximum distance between tags and readers?
2. Do you need to read one tag at a time or many tags simultaneously?
3. Are you tracking items that are relatively inexpensive or high cost items?
4. How much information do you need to store on tags?
5. Do you need to conduct payments or other transactions with RFID-enabled devices?
6. Where do you need to read tags? For example, as assets move in and out of the loading dock for receiving and shipping? As assets pass through specific areas?
7. How sensitive is the data on the tag? What level of security will the data require?

Be sure to check back later this week as I take a closer look at each type of RFID technology and the typical applications they’re used for.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about end-to-end RFID solutions.

I’m sure most of you are aware that passports are now issued with RFID chips to improve security and reduce tampering or forgery.  RFID technology enhances security for a variety of industries.  RFID-based smart cards restrict and permit access on a card by card basis and are more secure than standard cards.  RFID access cards only need to be placed within a reasonable distance of a RFID reader rather than swiped and are more secure than magnetic stripes because they’re embedded with anti-cloning technology. 

RFID tags also enhance the security of assets being moved within a location.  Items that are restricted to certain areas and cannot be moved beyond preset boundaries such as rooms or doorways are tagged and security is notified immediately of any violations.  Additionally, any asset that was moved to an unauthorized area can be easily tracked and located.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about RFID solutions that enhance security.

Tracking products throughout the supply chain is important to ensure food safety and implementing bar code and RFID technology provides the extra layer of protection needed in the event that food contamination or a food borne illness occurs.  The Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) is already taking steps to develop a standardized approach to enhance the speed and efficiency of traceability systems.  Their vision is to create a course of action to achieve supply chain-wide adoption of electronic traceability of every case of produce by the year 2012.

PTI is leveraging GS1 bar code labeling to identify specific growers and the 14-digit Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) based upon the GS1 standard is used to identify each case of produce.  This traceability technology provides significant benefits to growers, distributors and retailers, such as:

• Full visibility into where a product came from to identify and isolate any problems
• Increased supply chain efficiency and improved operations
• Increased consumer trust

When companies receive or ship a case of produce and scan the bar code they will gain full visibility into the source, destination and all handlers of the goods.  Similarly, RFID tags can provide deep traceability without a line of sight requirement.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about bar code and RFID solutions that improve food safety.

DecisionPoint understands the importance of having up-to-date technology and reliable printing solutions for your applications.  That’s why we want to remind you to take advantage of the new and improved GO Zebra11 Trade-In Program.  With the new and improved GO Zebra11 Trade-In Program, you can receive up to $500 cash back on a select new Zebra printer.  Just trade-in an eligible, older model Zebra or competitive printer and purchase one of Zebra’s select new printers before December 31, 2011.  The refreshed program even includes additional eligible printers.

You can’t solve today’s challenges with yesterday’s technology.  This program is only available to customers who purchase printers through Zebra’s PartnersFirst® Members, so let DecisionPoint’s team of experts help you trade-up to the newest printing technology.  DecisionPoint also offers a full line of high quality labels, RFID tags, and ribbons for all of your printing consumables needs.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the GO Zebra11 Trade-In Program.

Organizers of large events such as music festivals and sporting events face many challenges.  One is the ability to provide speedy throughput at gates in order to better satisfy customers.  RFID-enabled wristbands speed up the entrance process and also provide additional benefits to both attendees and organizers.  RFID ticketing solutions enable organizers to:

• Reduce staffing costs
• Increase ticket fraud prevention
• Restrict access to certain areas of the event based on ticket type

Additionally, organizers can offer consumers a cashless payment solution by providing an option to preload their RFID wristband with credit prior to the event.  This speeds up transactions at bars and food outlets and reduces the costs and risks associated with handling cash.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about RFID solutions designed for event ticketing.

RFID solutions for retailers are a hot topic right now, but RFID also increases efficiency and visibility in a variety of other industries as well.  Utilities, energy and the oil and gas industries are utilizing RFID technology to perform inspections, routine maintenance and repairs to maximize efficiency and prevent component failures that can result in million dollar losses.  RFID tags can withstand the harsh operational and environmental conditions of these industries and provide item-level visibility without the line of sight requirements of bar code labels.  Some typical applications for RFID in these industries include:

• Inspection/Maintenance-handheld RFID readers can quickly scan RFID tags on the many parts that need to be inspected in the field and provide workers with access to data about past inspections, repair procedures and more.
• Asset Tracking-RFID can automate the tracking of every item that enters your facility, immediately add it to your system for inventory visibility and follow it until its end-of-life.
• Worker Safety-RFID identification badges ensure the safety of workers by providing supervisors with employee location information.  This is especially relevant in the hazardous environments of oil and gas facilities.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about RFID solutions that increase efficiency and asset visibility.