RFID News

Automatic identification systems basically use various technologies that increase your productivity by facilitating your data flow. Two important options you will come across when choosing between identification systems: Barcode and RFID ( Radio Frequency Identification ) identification systems.

When choosing which system to use, you must first clearly define your criteria and performance goals, and make your evaluation according to the characteristics of your own project.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of RFID and Barcode labels?

Usage Surfaces

Due to its technology, the performance of RFID tags varies according to the characteristics of the surface they are attached to. Barcode labels do not have such a dependency.
For example, you may need to develop special solutions because RFID tags on liquid-containing packaging or metal surfaces will not be easy to read. Since the performance of barcode labels is independent of the surface to which they are attached, such a situation does not occur. Barcode bars work correctly as long as they can be physically read, even if they are applied to a metal floor or liquid-containing material. It is an easier and trouble-free technology in terms of barcode applicability.

Reading Speed

In this regard, we can say that RFID is superior, enabling many labels to be read at the same time in milliseconds. If we consider the reading speed of the barcodes on the products passing through the checkout while shopping at a grocery store, RFID provides tens of times faster reading. According to the speed needs of your application; The fact that tens or even hundreds of RFID tags can be read simultaneously instead of one or a few barcodes is a strong reason to choose RFID.

Field of view

It is mandatory for the barcode scanner to read the barcode bars, whereas in RFID it is not necessary to have a clear view between the tag and the antenna. RFID tags can be read quickly and smoothly, even if there is paper, wood, plastic or many other types of material between the antenna and the tag. E.g; While more than one product in a parcel can be read in a few seconds with RFID, it is impossible to achieve this with barcodes. This distinguishing feature can be decisive in your RFID choice according to the needs of your project.

Reading Distance

RFID has a significant advantage in that it can provide reading at much longer distances than barcodes. Although it varies according to its type and features, passive RFID tags can be read from ten and sometimes twenty meters. In barcode systems, it is almost impossible to read from such a distance.

Deciding whether to choose barcode or RFID as an identification system in your project will be advantageous in many ways, especially in terms of cost, if you are guided by an experienced team.

Contact us to choose the most suitable solution by using your time and resources efficiently . Let’s evaluate together which technology you can use and how you can use it under the consultancy of our expert engineers who have successfully completed dozens of projects.