Advantages of RFID to Bar Codes
There are five primary advantages of RFID compared to Bar Codes:
Speed An RFID reader can read RFID Tags faster than a bar code scanner can scan bar codes. Bar codes are designed to sequentially scan one at a time. Some RFID readers can perform up to 1,500 read operations per second.
Read Distance Depending on the equipment configuration, it is not uncommon to read RFID Tags at distances of 3 meters or more between the tag and the antenna. This area is commonly referred to as the "read field". The size and shape of the read field may be controlled by adjusting reader power settings, antenna selection, antenna placement, and other techniques. A read field is three dimensional in that its size may be measured using X, Y, and Z dimensions.
Simultaneous vs. sequential scanning RFID readers can identify multiple tags within the read field. The most common application of this capability is for the reader to report all tags within its read field.
Non-line of sight Depending on the frequency being used, radio waves can penetrate most materials. Bar codes are visual and therefore require a line of sight.
Durability RFID Tags can still operate even if they get dirty. RFID tags can be hardened by encasing them in plastic or other materials. Some companies have even embedded RFID tags directly into the products they manufacture.
