Many businesses are actively seeking inventory and process tracking technology that meets their requirements. When a company is looking for a tracking solution, barcodes and RFID technologies are frequently compared.
Although barcodes and RFID are quite similar, there are few major differences that you may be unaware of. Read on to discover the similarities and differences between RFID and barcodes, as well as the criteria for each technology.
What is RFID?
RFID, or radio frequency identification, is the process of reading and writing data using waves to a tiny chip with an antenna known as a tag. RFID tags typically hold 2,000 bytes or less of data, which is sufficient for most purposes.
RFID has been used by various businesses in the last ten years as the technology's costs have decreased. RFID is currently used in a variety of applications, including:
- Inventory management
- Event attendee tracking materials for race timing management
- Access management
- Employee monitoring
- IT asset management
- Marketing that is interactive
- RTLS (Real Time Location System)
How Does RFID Work?
RFID works by employing waves to send data over the air. Through its antenna, the waves power a small chip, which then stores the data on the built-in data chip. This data can then be read by simply scanning the tag using a reader and reading the information on the chip.
RFID tags are classified into two types: passive and active. Passive tags do not need to be powered directly. They are instead powered by the waves used to read or write to the chip. In contrast to passive chips, active tags require a direct power source, such as a battery, to continuously transfer data.
What is a Barcode?
A barcode is often a printed label made up of several black lines on a white label with varying widths. A barcode is commonly found in the following circumstances:
- Retail - barcodes are found on products and allow for inventory control as well as retrieval of pricing and description.
- Warehouses - many warehouses employ barcodes to track inventory and speed up the product identification and shipping processes.
- Factories - factories use barcodes to track inventories and as a unique identifier for systems that monitor manufacturing progress.
- IT Departments - IT departments utilise barcodes to track assets and quickly provide hardware and software to users.
How Does a Barcode Work?
A barcode is read by a scanner by reading a label with black bars that vary in width. To generate a character or number, each segment of the barcode has varying widths or black bars. When these two elements are joined, the reader can detect the pattern and read the value.
Laser barcode scanners are faster and more precise than CCD barcode scanners, which use an array of miniature light sensors to identify the difference between light and dark regions of the barcode. CCD barcode scanners are slower than laser scanners, and they are less likely to read the code if the label is broken or marked.
For more information visit our blog – Barcodes: How Do They Work?.
What Are the Differences Between RFD and Barcode?
Below are the key differences between RFID and barcodes.
Scanning Multiple Items
Because a barcode scanner can only scan one barcode at a time, it must manually scan each item. In contrast, an RFID reader can read many RFID tags at the same time.
Data Storage
Barcodes have limitations in terms of the type and volume of data that they can store, but RFID tags can store a greater number of more complicated data, such as maintenance records, warranty information, and product specifications.
Line of Sight
To read and decode the data from a barcode, the barcode scanner must be in direct sight of the barcode. In contrast, because an RFID scanner communicates with the RFID tag via radio waves, it does not require line of sight to read the tag.
Costs
When compared to a barcode solution, an RFID solution can be quite expensive. Cost is frequently an impediment to using RFID technologies in businesses.
RFID vs Barcode: Which is Better?
Both asset tracking technologies have advantages and disadvantages. So, it is up to you to determine which technology will be more beneficial to your product in your work setting.
For example, in a small store, a barcode is particularly useful for inventory tracking. However, if this little store uses RFID technology, it will be far more expensive for them.
Asset tracking technology, whether barcode or RFID, is critical for organisations. These asset tracking methods will provide vital data that will aid the team in maintenance management, work order management, and maintenance scheduling, asset history can provide analytics that will aid in making educated decisions.
Keep Track of Your Assets Efficiently with Label Source
Here at Label Source, we provide a comprehensive range of barcode labels for any and all purposes. Our printed barcodes are supplied in rolls or sheets, and they can have static or variable number sequences depending on your requirements.
