RFID
process. There are often five to seven partners involved in the ecosystem of an RFID solution. They can help guide you through the many potential tripping points such as tag selection as it applies to the actual item, or getting the right data encoded into the tag and formatting it correctly, or antenna placement for the reading solution. “Advise customers to not let cost be the main justifier or decision-maker for the vendor/solution provider they work with because if they choose the lower cost option they may pay for it in the long-term.” Deyon says that customers are no longer just looking for hardware; they want complete, scalable RFID labelling solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing systems and deliver measurable efficiency gains. “Reduced errors, lower labour costs and improved visibility remain the key selling points,” he adds. Aileen notes that the first phase of the DPP initiative is expected to take effect as early as 2027, which resellers need to be alive to. “This means that industry must prioritise putting in place the infrastructure they need to comply with the regulation, including the requirement to provide accessible data on product origins and materials, driving greater transparency, re- use and recycling,” she says. “RAIN RFID labels can provide access to sustainability information throughout a product’s lifecycle. To make sure that customers choose the right form factor, resellers should be able to advise on the various of options available. While embedded or sewn-in labels are currently seeing very strong industry momentum, these options are not feasible or cost effective for all use cases. It is important to consider the material the label needs to be made of – paper and plastic are currently common – as well as if the label needs to detach or stay in place which will in turn influence the adhesive used. “Each tag is also encoded with an identifier that is guaranteed to be unique.
As the number of companies relying on wireless tags increase, so too does the risk that their identifiers conflict with tags from a supplier, a merger, or even their own second facility. A misread could lead to significant a false identification, resulting in operational chaos. RAIN RFID supports two fundamental numbering systems for encoding tags to ensure global uniqueness – one specified by GS1 and the other specified by ISO – to guarantee that no other tag, anywhere in the world, now or in the future, will have the same identifier.”
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As the number of companies relying on wireless tags increase, so too does the risk that their identifiers conflict with tags from a supplier, a merger, or even their own second facility. A misread could lead to significant a false identification, resulting in operational chaos.
Future Commentators agree that use of RFID labelling is set to increase in the coming years. Deyon says the acceleration will be driven by advances in range, security, AI and analytics. “As industries demand ever greater transparency and automation, RFID labelling will continue to be a vital enabler of smarter, more connected operations,” he says. Paul adds that use is likely to grow quickly as the technology becomes more affordable. “Businesses are also searching for ways to improve productivity and their operations and RFID supports here. A significant development is the newly available linerless option,” he adds. “Linerless RFID labels bring together two technologies into one solution. It removes the need for backing paper. This reduces waste, lowers disposal costs, and improves sustainable credentials. The RFID within the label enables real-time identification and tracking without the need for unobstructed scanning.” n
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