Dan Belanger
So my guess is that right now there are a number of businesses that have heard of RFID tags and either don’t fully understand the possibilities or believe it is to expensive or complex to implement.
Well let’s bring clarity to the very foundation of the technology. Most automated data processing techniques; such as scanning UPC codes, or capturing QR codes require “line of sight.” This means that you must see the code and be close enough to capture the code in order to use the codes value. You initiate the conversation. Not true with RFID.
Radio Frequency Identification or RFID as it’s called does not require line of sight. Remember when you tried to get that $200 leather jacket out of the store and the buzzer went off? Think RFID. RFID tags can talk to you without you knowing a conversation needs to take place.
Now if you open your mind you should be able to see the possibilities. Product in Ocean containers, product hidden from view, product that is walking out the door or “on the move”, and the list goes on and on.
Case in point …
The Problem:
A company located in Louisiana, involved in servicing the Oil and Natural Gas industry. This company uses a product out in the field that could have a purchase price from $500 – $15,000 and has a lifecycle of over a year if maintained well. They have over 250 of these items. So they REALLY want and need to control/track these items.
The challenge being that due to weather and other environmental concerns, it is difficult at best to “tag” the items. In addition, multiple units are packed on a trailer to be transported back and forth from the work sites and if there were some identification present, a human would not see it.
The Solution:
The assets are constructed of a poly material. So we used a plastic seal gun to seal the RFID tags in the walls of the asset. The tags are hidden from view, and are not impacted by water, heat, humidity, or any other damaging environment. You can drive over the tags and they’ll keep on performing.
The Benefit:
Now they have full visibility as to the location of each asset. Entry errors into their software have been eliminated. Efficiencies and cost control have greatly improved. That huge investment in assets is protected. The net result? PROFIT!
As a possibility thinker, I can tell you the applications of RFID technologies are everywhere. Truth is that Little Bo Peep should have placed RFID tags in those sheep!
Dan Belanger
“Possibility and Yes you Can Thinker”
