RFID technology has been gracing the covers of newspapers and magazines throughout the world recently and all of the attention is creating a buzz about the latest technology.  Standardization and adoption of RFID by large retailers like Wal-Mart and Target has also helped generate interest and has many businesses wondering if they should adopt RFID technology as well.  Although the interest in RFID is new, the technology has in fact been around longer than barcodes.  It’s most likely a part of your life already and you’ve never really noticed.  The EZ-pass that pays your tolls or clothing tags that catch shoplifters are just two examples you’ve probably seen.  But do you really know what it is, how it works and what it’s capable of?   

Radio Frequency Identification, commonly known as RFID is a data collection method that utilizes low power radio waves to send and receive data between tags and readers.  RFID eliminates the need for a direct line of sight to the tag in order to read it, which offers numerous benefits that a barcode is incapable of providing.  RFID tags can be active or passive, active tags require an internal power source and passive tags rely on a reader to supply power.  RFID tags also come in read-only or read/write varieties, I’ll explain the different types of tags in more detail later this week. RFID tags have far more capability than barcodes and an average RFID tag has a capacity of 2KB of data.  RFID readers can simultaneously read and communicate to hundreds of tags within their field and all of this is possible in seconds.

But RFID won’t be the end for barcodes; in fact the two technologies can work together to improve business.  Companies who already operate with barcodes or other types of auto-ID can use RFID to enhance operations.  RFID still has a wealth of untapped potential that integration with other technologies and software can draw upon.  Currently RFID technology is capable of

• Increasing efficiency
• Providing a high level of data integrity
• Lowering costs
• Delivering goods faster
• Increasing accuracy
• Providing inventory visibility

All of these benefits support supply chain efficiency, something companies strive for and one of the determining factors of success in today’s competitive business environment.  Even with all of these benefits, adoption of RFID is moving slowly, but remember the business world went through a similar process during the adoption of the barcode.  I’ll be focusing on a variety of RFID topics this week, so you can see if adoption of RFID is right for you and your business, but for now, if you want additional information about anything I’ve mentioned please contact me at ehodges@barcode.com.

I’ve decided to add a Question of the Week category to barcode.com, I’ll be picking a question from the Ask a Question page and making it into a post for everyone to see what the answer is.  So don’t forget, if you have any questions you can post them to the Ask a Question page or contact me directly at ehodges@barcode.com.  Maybe your question will become a Question of the Week.  Also, if you have any particular topics you think I should address I would love to hear your suggestions,  it’s not guaranteed that I’ll cover the topic, but I’d love to hear what you’re interested in.  And now, here’s the first Question of the Week.

Question of the Week:

Our law firm is experiencing a lot of delay on setting hearings due to missing files. We have about 5k file folders and over 40 employees who touch all the files during a certain period of time. We need to barcode those files together with each office to enable to locate those files.  What do you recommend?

Answer:

There are several different options to help solve your problem of locating files.  One is a Check In/Check Out system where users will log-in and then scan out any files they are taking. This will let you know what files are with what lawyer. Another, more comprehensive system would involve RFID Technology that would allow you to see the location of files throughout your office that are in the filing system, this would help to find misplaced files as long as they are in the filing cabinet/shelf.  For more information on either of these systems, please contact me at ehodges@barcode.com.

Much like field service applications, mobile sales applications help to provide better customer service in any location.  Equipping your mobile sales force with handheld devices means that they have all of the information they need to close a sale in the palm of their hand.  According to the Intermec white paper Top 3 Questions for Mobile Computer Purchases, organizations using mobile field service solutions are reporting meeting 22 percent more sales targets, resolving problems 21 percent faster and increasing service revenues by 18 percent.  That must be why the number of organizations utilizing mobile solutions has been increasing each year.  Currently, when your sales force enters the field they may not have all of the resources they need to satisfy the customer, but with a mobile computer and access to a wealth of information, they’re sure to impress and satisfy customers throughout the day.  Your mobile sales force can instantly access inventory records to assure a sale and can even provide photos of merchandise to unsure customers.  With a variety of handheld devices to choose from there is something perfect for every type of organization.  You can combine the power of a cell phone, computer, PDA, and barcode scanner or imager, or whatever combination is best suited for your workforce.  But you may want to read the entire Intermec white paper at the above link for a few pointers about purchasing mobile computers.  If you have any additional questions about mobile sales software or hardware please feel free to contact me at ehodges@barcode.com.

Supplying mobile computers equipped with service tools to your field technicians is one of the best ways to provide faster response times, increased productivity and more time with customers.  Mobile computers and field service software provide your field technicians with real-time access to resources and information, allowing them to be more responsive to your customers.  No matter what the location, if your technicians have a mobile computer and software connecting them to the main office they can:

• Order replacement parts
• Record services performed
• View and update customer information
• Capture signatures to verify service was completed
• Process payments and issue receipts

You can also stay connected to your field service workers by choosing a mobile computer that integrates wireless communication, this can lower cell phone costs and enables workers to receive emergency calls at any location.  If this sounds like an application you could use, a software package perfect for your field service needs is CaptureSoft’s Service Call; it can provide all of the above benefits and combines three separate elements to users.  Field workers are provided one program for their mobile devices and two other programs are provided for use back at the office, making Service Call an all-in-one solution.  Click here for more information about Service Call and the three components it offers, as well as demos, videos and options to purchase.

This application might not be yours or my favorite, but the simple truth is that parking enforcement can be greatly improved through the use of an automated process.  Most parking enforcement officers write out tickets in a book by hand and then have them transferred to the main system by data entry clerks back at the station.  This system is time consuming and allows for human error that could allow parking citations to be lost or thrown out of court (which may not seem bad if you get a ticket, but it is).  By automating the citation process, officers instead enter all information on a handheld computer by either scanning barcodes, drop-down menu functions, or by hand-keying.  Officers can enter the following information:

• Violation type
• Vehicle information
• Location of violation

Then a citation can be printed on the spot from a portable printer and left on the windshield.  Once at the station it is simple for officers to download their information into the main system, instead of hand-keying all of the information, they simply drop the device into a cradle that transmits the information to the system in a matter of minutes.  Parking enforcement applications like this increase the accuracy of citations entered into the main system and save time, in fact, what would usually take days to manually enter into the system only takes about 10 minutes.  For more information on handheld devices or portable printers that are suitable for this application please contact me at ehodges@barcode.com.