The myths and realities of RFID systems are diverse, so we consulted two experts in the field to talk about the advantages and weaknesses of a system still new for Latin America. By: Duván Chaverra A.
"For 15 years there has been talk of RFID, but nothing is clear about the labeling of products and it is because the barcode is not yet operationally surpassed by the aforementioned system. In my opinion and from my experience, it will not be possible for these equipment to position themselves in the market yet, since it is very difficult to put companies to label at source, this due to the different interests of the manufacturer. "
Perhaps many will wonder why I started this text with a quote. Well, the words you read above came from the keyboard of Luis Acosta Vega, representative of the Chilean company Zatos y Cia Ltda, who gave his opinion on our website (www.ventasdeseguridad.com) after reading a news item entitled "Rfid Supply Control", which mentions the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) devices acquired by the US Air Force to track the entire fleet of aircraft carrying supplies for the Department. of Defense.
In the previous quote, Luis Acosta considers that these systems will not yet be positioned in Latin America, despite the fact that he has been talking about the subject for a long time. Therefore, we invite the reader to express in a deeper and more substantiated way his point of view in this regard. We will also have the participation of César Augusto Zapata, project director of Línea Informática S.A de Colombia, who will speak to us from his experience in the management of this type of equipment.
In the first instance, it is worth remembering that RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems are used to track products, store them and identify them; its operation is based on the transmission of the identity of an object by means of radio waves. This technology was born in order to improve that transmission and management, which is currently controlled by barcodes.
But will RFID soon be able to replace barcodes? Are RFID the best option today for object identification? Are companies in Latin America willing to modify their equipment and invest in a new but at the same time expensive technology? These are some doubts that we will break down with the help of our experts.
The main drawbacks
It is worth starting to identify the setbacks that RFID systems present today, and that you will have to overcome if you want to achieve a prominent position within the industry in the region.
In this regard, Luis Acosta said that currently in Latin America the willingness that exists in companies to use these systems is not significant: "The main reason is that in our country (Chile) as in Latin America there is no interest in implementing RFID yet, due to the investment that means using this system for both supermarkets and stores, the high value of these systems does not allow to modify the already established barcode technology".
Cost is a determining factor and that has limited the use of this equipment: "By the information I have found on the Internet, or by programs that talk about the subject, there are still testing stages in some countries, but only in a few supermarkets and with certain products that used RFID tags. The most tech-poor countries are not interested in changing the barcode because of the high cost of switching systems, as prices are affected on products (higher sales value). This does not reach anything clear because there is no commercial policy to unify this system and it is not yet a legal and commercial obligation to install it," said the representative of Zatos y Cia Ltda.
On this same point, César Zapata agreed that the high prices of this equipment are a determining factor for its use to become massive in a short period of time: "The main difficulty is in the high costs of the technology. Implementing an RFID solution involves the acquisition of reading equipment, software, tags, changes in processes and in the culture of the business. Carrying out these actions hinders the incorporation of technology and for this reason is that in Colombia most initiatives on this subject have remained in pilots (to learn and know the technology)".
In addition to the costs, according to Zapata, these systems must be improved in the technological aspect, which is why they will not yet be able to snatch the ground that the barcodes have gained: "RFID is a technology that still has a long way to go. The 'state of the art' is not yet defined. There are many factors that have subtracted dynamics from the incursion of RFID, aspects such as economics make a system of this class discarded or designed only for solutions that are economically worth it. Another important aspect to take into account is the technical one, given that the technology does not yet offer 100% reliability in environments or materials that have an impact on radio signals (such as metals, liquids, gel, cream, etc.)".
The hegemony of the barcode
For now in the region the battle between barcodes and RFID is won by the former. This is assured by the sources consulted, because they consider that the codes are a technology that has been positioned in a great way for several years ago. "Barcodes have been working successfully and developing in various commercial fields for many years, if not all (products, transport, bookstore, etc.), and the evolution of computer scanners is even greater and a good business in which the largest companies have invested and earn a lot of money," explained Luis Alzate.
For his part, the project manager of Línea Informática again mentioned the issue of high cost, indicating that this could also be the main reason why radio frequency identification systems are not positioned and do not leave barcodes on the road: "Both technologies are at a point where they coexist with each other. Proof of this is that in most RFID applications (especially in the field of Logistics) this label printed with a barcode is used. However, at the moment in which the costs of the technology allow it, and the inconveniences that arise with some materials can be solved with economic solutions, RFID technology will make its expected leap to massification."
Proceeds
After reviewing the drawbacks, it is valid to note that a technology such as radio frequency asset control aims to change the way people and objects are identified, asset tracking and monitoring, food tracking and logistics tracking, among other applications in which it can be used.
César Zapata listed the main benefits of this system:
· Agility in controls and monitoring.
· Speed in reading, since it is a "contactless" solution.
· Real-time and online information.
· Safety.
· Reliability.
However, Luis Acosta assures that these benefits, although they are real, do not present many advances: "The evolution of these equipment is slow, it has no presence in the market, it is not seen as a good solution to the problem of sales and security. In theory the system has many advantages, in practice it has been shown to have deficiencies."
The controversy
An issue that has generated some controversy has to do with the violation of privacy, because the use of these labels in commercial products would allow the user to be tracked, since they would continue to work after the customer has purchased a certain product, which could be used for purposes other than those of a simple inventory function.
In the United States, for example, passports with these labels have been implemented, which has generated more dubious comments about it, because although at first the chips could only be read at a distance of 10 centimeters, experts say that the reading distance of these systems can reach 10 meters.
Another myth has to do with this technology reaching beyond the identification and tracking of the product: "The main myth is that the radio tag contains the life, work and miracles of a product and the truth is that it is not so. An RFID tag only stores a serial code, which is only read, as it will not provide information further away from the digits it brings. To be able to do a real job with this technology, it is necessary to have an RFID platform integrated with the information systems of the companies and thus achieve a complete use," said Carlos Zapata.
Finally, our guest reader and expert concluded his participation in this article as follows: "From my point of view many years have been spent talking about RFID systems and there is currently no real knowledge of what it means and the benefits it offers. For example, it can be used in commerce to prevent theft or increase sales, but it is the task of all companies that manufacture RFID equipment to clarify all doubts and give us real information in the way in which the change from barcodes, already tested with great success, to RFID systems can benefit commercially. "
