Starting with what barcode and RFID labels are, their main differences, advantages and multiple uses.
Barcode and RFID labels.
Barcode labels are used to identify any product. All products need to have identification, either with barcodes or RFID technology. They are systems that allow information linked to the product to be stored, read and deciphered with the help of a device.Identifying products accurately is essential for many business management tasks: taking inventory, managing a collection, keeping track of traceability, locating a product in the warehouse or knowing the name of the manufacturer.
¿Which are the differences between barcode and RFID labels?
RFID systems, also known as radio frequency control, allow faster reading than barcodes. This is because in order to locate and identify the products, with the barcode reader it is necessary for the laser to point and read the code.On the other hand, with the RFID tag system it is not necessary to aim precisely to obtain the information we need about the product, since it works with radio waves. The reading range is longer and we can even read several labels at the same time.
Barcodes require a person to scan the data. On the other hand, the RFID system is easier to automate, with automatic reading of multiple tags simultaneously.
On the other hand, RFID tags can record many more characters than a barcode. While the barcode only records 20 digits, the capacity of RFID tags is much greater, up to 4 million characters. The storage capacity of RFID technology is much higher, functioning as a database.
At the security level, they are also more complex and cannot be easily copied.
They are also more versatile than barcodes, which are engraved on the product and we cannot alter their information. Instead, we can rewrite RFID tags to change their data if we need to.
¿When is it best to use barcode or RFID labels??
They are complementary technologies, so RFID technology will not completely replace barcodes. However, depending on the application it will be better to use one or the other:Inventory management:
In the case of inventory realizations, both technologies could be used. To verify items registered in the system, RFID technology can be used since with a single reading you will be able to know all the contents of the shelf, quickly verifying it in the system.
Although if you are going to verify a specific item or register an item, a barcode reader must be used.
Warehouse management:
In the case of warehouse management, RFID technology will be the best solution. This is because RFID makes it possible to automate each process that the different products go through in the company until they reach their final destination.
RFID technology is very useful for warehouse management, as a method of product identification. This type of technology helps in the process of preparing an order. For items of large mass and size, RFID tags make identification much easier so that they can be processed more agilely and quickly, avoiding errors.
However, the barcode will also be very useful, because you can know the exact location of a specific product.
Entry and exit registration:
In these cases, either of the two technologies can be used, depending on the particular characteristics of each logistics chain. On the one hand, we find the barcodes, which must be read manually, and an operator will have to enter each product individually.
However, with RFID technology, you can use reading arcs that allow for greater efficiency, because you will read the products more quickly. At this point, RFID technology has a clear advantage because the reading of warehouse entries and exits will be done automatically. But, the implementation of one or another technology will depend on the makeup of the company and the logistics chain.
One-to-one product identification:
In retail stores, for example, it will be easier to use barcode labels since barcode readers allow the reading of a single product. Being able to check the information of a specific product, increasing work efficiency.
Orders management:
During the order management or picking process, barcode labels will be used. Otherwise, with RFID it could cause problems due to the general reading of all the items on a shelf, not the items one by one.
For more information about barcode and RFID labels, do not hesitate to contact our sales representatives. At Barcode Site we make custom projects, according to the needs of each company. We work with brands such as Zebra, Honeywell, Datalogic, among many others.
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