The on-going feud between RFID and barcodes seems endless. Opinions made by various individuals mock each other. Where is this going? Will this ever end? Maybe there is no guaranteed answer to that as to everything depends on how everyone will view it. Not all will share the same perspective and that is a fact we must all face.
a A better way to neutralize this issue is to look at it with an open mind. Sure we all have our own biases; still it is fair to respect the other side as well. In order to gain a better knowledge on this subject, let us individually tackle both sides. And perhaps after this, you’ll be able to choose where you will stand on this matter.
Barcodes
I bet everyone is familiar with these black and white printed lines we can see every day on the products we consume. A notable aspect of bar codes is that they’re simply everywhere! Because of this, it is really possible that bar codes are more prevalent than RFID’s.
First of all, bar codes are distinguished to be less costly than RFID. They can be basically just printed in paper, plastic, sticker, or any type of packaging. Special or complex technologies are not required to create these simple set of lines and number. The accuracy of bar codes can be reliable enough to aid businesses in managing products information and data. This then makes inventory check-up easier than ever. The size and weight of bar codes are no problem since they are naturally small and light-weight. But there is consequence to it being like that. Barcode tags can easily be tampered and damaged. Anyone can rip of bar code stickers. In addition to that, once bar codes are damaged; scanning will be difficult since the reader relies on the lines to decode product information. And when this happens, there is no other way to scan the merchandise but to reproduce a new bar code. Reading or scanning bar codes are supposedly done on a close perimeter, meaning bar codes can only be scanned when placed directly on scanners. This can be a hassle to operators, especially when they need to adjust to the type of barcode scanner they are using.
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)
People refer to them as a high-end type of technology since they are known to be used by top leading companies and brands as their means of product management and security. RFID tags are mainly composed of a microchip which serves like an antenna that receives and transmits information through radio frequencies. They are popular for the unique security features it offers because of its wireless capabilities. Credibly, this is the chief reason to why RFID tags became a hit.
The prevailing quality of RFID tags like stated above is its wireless capabilities due to the use of radio frequencies to send and receive data. This allows RFID tags to be scanned and read from an amazing distance. Conveniently, there is no need to place items directly on readers’ and scanners like bar codes. They are also read faster than bar codes because one by one scanning is no longer required. Multiple scanning is possible, thus speeding up processes. Moreover, RFID tags can store more data than any typical bar code. Most importantly, these tags are more durable and can’t easily be worn off or tampered. However, all these amazing features come with an expensive cost. This is where RFID tags fail. They are not very affordable, making it a less practical choice.