subject: Rfid Solutions - A Novel Approach To An Old Problem [print this page] RFID Solutions - Cost Control and Business Efficiency
RFID solutions can solve a wide variety of business issues in different industries. We all know how frustrating it is to look for a hammer that somehow never made it back to the toolbox, a set of keys that we can't remember where we put them or a particular gadget in the kitchen. In all these cases we waste time in the search, get frustrated and in many cases resort to delaying the activity until we can buy an alternative to replaced the errant device.
In a wide variety of business situations these problems are magnified many times over - missing assets can impact business continuity, theft is a constant problem and damage due to incorrect storage or misfortune is a frequent occurrence. All these situations present substantial Cost Control and Business Efficiency Challenges.
RFID Solutions - Technological Requirements
RFID technology allows business to attach low cost devices (tags) to different items that they want to manage and to locate them remotely and quickly. The keys to building effective RFID solutions are openness and customizability. Openness allows the integration of different tags, tag technologies, transmission capabilities from a wide set of manufacturers. Customizability allows the business to rapidly design and implement the required business logic - for example what is considered an error condition, what is an appropriate response at this time of day, where is the item that we need.
RFID Applications
RFID applications fall into many different areas. At the core of all RFID Applications are a highly customized solution and a set of infrastructure enablers that are combined to solve the specific business problem. It is possible to measure the condition of an asset or inventory item by monitoring critical environmental data - such as humidity, pressure, movement, tampering, verticality and temperature. Some RFID applications include -
RFID Asset Management - the tracking and management of key business assets in real time. RFID Asset Management is a key tool in reducing costs and ensuring better scheduling and shorter time to market.
RFID Inventory Management - Efficient storage management and quick shipping are essential for business efficiency. RFID Inventory Management solutions allow the simple and exact tracking of inventory over different carriers, warehouses and logistic hubs. RFID Inventory Management solutions provide richer information than traditional barcode based systems.
RFID Patient Tracking - Modern health care facilities cause the interaction between large numbers of patients and care-givers. Using RFID Patient Tracking it is possible to improve the control of medication, track dangerous patients, reduce the chance of baby swapping and improve the health of medical teams who are frequently exposed to potentially contagious infections. RFID Patient Tracking can significantly improve the treatment given to patients and improve the quality of life of patients, the public and the medical teams.
There are many other exciting RFID Applications combining the real time management of personnel, assets and inventory across a wide variety of industrial and commercial settings. By adapting elements of RFID Asset Management, RFID Inventory Management and RFID Patient Tracking it is possible to develop RFID solutions that improve business efficiency and the personal safety of both workers and the public.
