Comments on: RFID vs. Barcode Scanning

By: Ces

Ces — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:50:23 +0000

A few points not yet covered in this discussion.
1. RFID (active) tags that allow you to scan all the assets in a room are not blocked by pesky things such as walls. In other words the assets scanned in a particular area may actually belong to someone in the department next door. If you have short range RFID tags then you may as well have barcodes, they are much cheaper.
2. You really always want the staff member to sight the asset. This is why good asset software can distinguish between a scanned item and one picked from a list. Often an asset audit involves checking for the condition of the asset and whether it is still in service etc. Having to sight an asset takes away the time benefit of the RFID. It could be argued that sighting the asset is just plain good practise as you could be auditing just a room full of RFID tags left behind after someone has removed all the assets.
3. RFID tags sometimes stop working. It is a fact of life that RFID tags are electronic devices. Long range tags have batteries in them and sometime things just fail. Barcodes are not electronic and therefore don’t fail. If an rfid tag fails to scan then the staff will have to search for the asset anyway.

There is room for both. RFID can potentially provide good data that has been written to the tag but often this is not required as it is kept in a database. my opinion, barcodes are still dominant for Assets and will continue to be for some time yet.

By: serenac

serenac — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:43:51 +0000

Real Asset Management International (RAMI) considers prospects

By: John

John — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:09:19 +0000

What is Real Asset Management’s choice between the two?

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:12:48 +0000

My company recently ditched RFID as an asset tracking option due to the cost of the tags alone, they

By: Brendan Connelly

Brendan Connelly — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:04:16 +0000

Barcoding is here to stay. The simplicity of use and low cost of utilization make barcoding appealing to companies watching the bottom line. RFID won’t replace barcoding anytime soon.

By: Steve F.

Steve F. — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:31:20 +0000

I am responsible for implementing a system for better inventory control at my company. A vendor who came in to meet with me, referred to companies that barcode as dinosaurs. Any thoughts on barcoding becoming extinct?