Over the years, many technological innovations have changed the way we do or see things. One of such is RFID technology. RFID, which stands for “Radio Frequency Identification,” has changed the way people interact with many everyday items. If you already understand the basics of RFID technology and RFID product labels, it is easy to wonder how the technology applies to you and others. Below are some of the important information you need to know about the technology.

What is RFID Technology?

Understanding RFID Technology can help you appreciate its use better across different areas, including RFID product labels. Most people have interacted with RFID technology, although they may be unaware of it. For instance, customers who have ever witnessed a departmental store clerk remove a plastic tag from products to be purchased. The plastic tags are RFID product labels and are devised to discourage shoplifting and theft in stores. If a customer should attempt stealing any one of those tagged products, an alarm will go off at the door indicating their intentions.

RFID technology wasn’t as advanced as it currently is from the start. In fact, the simple RFID technology required a small transmitter that would sound an alarm to the presence of an object. It was used primarily as a motion sensor. However, the advanced RFID technology built on this offers a higher security advantage, especially in the retail industry.


Adopted in 2003 by Walmart, the RFID product labels have since become a common part of most retail businesses that deal with lots of shoplifting and theft issues. The advanced RFID labels comprise of the following;

Encoded Information – The new and advanced RFID technology uses data that has been encoded into the RFID labels to determine a friend or foe situation.

RFID Readers – The RFID readers are designed to scan or read RFID chips or RFID product labels. The information contained on the chips or labels helps to trigger an alarm or unlocks the product tag.

Passive vs. Active versions – The new RFID technology is available in both the passive and active versions. The active RFID labels have their own power source or battery to keep them active for location scans. The passive RFID labels lack a power source and are only active when at a reasonable distance from the RFID reader.   

How RFID Is Used in the Real World?

RFID technology has become an active part of the real world. Below are some of the common areas that you can find RFID technology at work.

Logistics and Supply Chain Visibility

In the past, people in the logistics business have had a huge problem with items and inventory. This problem has significantly been solved through the use of RFID technology. With RFID labels, companies in the logistics business now enjoy increased efficiency, improved handling, quality, and reduced errors. With RFID technology, logistics and supply chain companies are better able to track and monitor the chaotic process involved in manufacturing, shipping, and distribution.

Item Level Inventory Tracking

The retail sector benefits the most from using RFID to track assets at the item level. While RFID technology has proven itself useful on a large scale with logistics companies, it is also a versatile tool to track individual items in an inventory. Leveraging a well-designed inventory system for data sharing, businesses in the retail industry can seamlessly track goods through the supply chain. While at the point of sales, clerks can count inventory seamlessly and without wasting time using handheld RFID readers and lots more.

Race Timing

Have you ever wondered how races are properly timed to the last microsecond? Think RFID technology. Race participants do not have to worry about extra weight for correct timing using the RFID technology. It provides an accurate measure of each individual’s race time as soon as they come across the finish line.

Materials Management

In project management, construction, and other related industries, material purchases often account for the largest expenses. Keeping materials intact may be a major issue on job sites. To ensure continued protection and security, RFID technology may be deployed. It takes away the guesswork on estimating remaining materials and also ensures material safety.

Other areas where RFID technology is used include;

  • IT Asset Tracking
  • Access Control
  • Kiosks
  • Tool Tracking
  • Libraries
  • Real-Time Location System (RTLS)
  • Interactive Marketing
  • Laundry Management, and lots more.

Attendee Tracking

Large conferences rely on RFID technology to keep traffic flowing. The effects of a traffic bottleneck can be dangerous to everyone’s productivity. Using RFID labels, the organizers can control the traffic while also eliminating the need for long registration wait time at the entrance.