RFID: Beyond the Drive for Five

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags promise to revolutionize product tracking technology. However, the problem right now is that the id tags are still too expensive. This article cites that this will change once the tags reach five-cents. Currently, the tags are around twenty-cents apiece and they have amazing capabilities. For instance, some retailers are using dual-antenna tags which can enable garments buried in stacks to “talk” to RFID readers. RFID tags are currently being used on selective items such as luggage, DVD cases, cartons, and books. As the price of tags continues to fall, there will be applications for them in cosmetics, groceries, and other everyday items. There are even plans to embed the tags in currency to foil counterfeiting and other crimes. The largest benefit of the RFID tags is that, unlike a bar-code, the tag does not have to be individually scanned by a worker. Multiple tags can be automatically tracked by radio signals. Therefore, tracking products in and out of inventories is done easily and automatically just by moving the product through the doorway. There are other tremendous benefits to almost any type of manufacturer.