Let’s Simplify the RFID Conversation.
Most companies already have what they need to start using RFID.
I’m old enough to remember when getting cable TV meant scheduling an appointment, waiting for a technician to show up sometime between 8 a.m. and “maybe never,” and watching them drill holes in your wall while muttering things about coaxial splitters and signal strength. The whole process felt like wizardry. Way too technical for us laymen to understand, and definitely not something you could do yourself.
Fast forward to today. You can install your own Wi-Fi, configure a smart thermostat, set up a home security system, and stream content from five different platforms - all before lunch. Technology has become intuitive, accessible, and DIY-friendly. The mystery is gone. The tools are in our hands.
So why does RFID still feel like it’s stuck behind a curtain?
While some companies get it, far too many mainstream businesses do not. Here it is, simply put for tracking products, assets, or people. You read a tag, the tag ID and location go to a database in real-time, and from there you automate your notifications, compliances, and reporting functions.
Of course, RFID tracking does much more. But basically, you have visibility where you didn’t before.
RFID isn’t rocket science. It’s just smarter data collection: faster, cleaner, and more reliable.
After 20 years of deploying RFID systems in over 300 companies across four continents, I can say with confidence: the “technician required” era is over.
The myth that RFID demands enterprise software, a super-expensive team of RF engineers, or multi-year contracts is just that – a myth.
Today, most companies already have what they need: a WiFi network, a database (even a spreadsheet counts), and a few operational pain points that RFID can solve in weeks - not months or years.
If you’re wondering whether your ERP, WMS, or CMMS can handle RFID data ingestion, the short answer is, in all probability, yes.
SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, Epicor, and most others now support seamless integration. Even some homegrown systems allow it. There are existing data connectors for most modern platforms.
I’m pretty sure my industry colleagues may say, “Tim, often it’s not as easy as you make it sound”. And they’ll be right. RFID does take commitment, effort and even some finesse. Expert assistance is still important. But for those on the fence about upgrading to RFID tags, if you’ve got some funds for the automation effort and a few calories available for the task, it may be easier than you think.
Here’s a real-life example.
A Latin American company that imports flowers into the U.S. needed a solution for shipping and receiving compliances – and fast. It was just eight weeks before Mother’s Day. By adding RFID tags alongside their traditional barcodes and using a few handhelds to read large quantities of tags quickly, they established a handful of basic data collection points for the supply chain data required to solve their compliance reporting problems. All completed within that eight-week window.
Another example.
A manufacturer had no visibility into a critical component used in processing. Due to the lack of the component visibility, including where it came from and how long it had been in stock, there was no real quality control. By tagging the items and collecting time/date stamps with location, they created a real-time log of each item throughout production.
The simplicity and speed of deployment was found here - using only four data collection points: 1) when the goods were tendered (capturing origin and vendor), 2) the put-away (where and when), 3) the pick (when selected for use and where it was going), and 4) when and where it was placed into production. This data gave them close to 100% visibility leading up to and throughout processing to provide the proper quality control.
Further, that collected data now supports not only production and quality control but also provides downstream supply chain insights across the product’s lifecycle.
RFID doesn’t have to solve everything at once.
In fact, most successful RFID efforts begin by tackling a single, specific challenge, whether it is for shipping validation using ASNs, first-expire-first-out (FEFO), faster inventory turns, or simple proof of delivery. Track any significant event in your workflow or supply chain. From there, the solution often grows organically, unlocking more value over time.
I’ve seen manufacturers, regional hospitals, data centers, pharma and food processors, warehouses, and even local government agencies go from “we’re not sure” to “we can’t imagine working without it”, sometimes in just a few months.
And yes, we’ve heard this before: “We tried RFID - and it didn’t work.” That’s a fair concern.
I’m not trying to oversell the ease of implementation. But we do encourage those companies to take another look. Because today’s RFID isn’t what it used to be.
Fast-forward to now: no coding required. Just plug-and-play readers, smart tags, and a clear use case.
RFID is no longer a future technology. It’s a present-day advantage, and it deserves a fresh conversation.
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About Tim Buckley, the Author: I am an RFID enthusiast that helps companies decide if sensor-based technologies can help improve their operations. If you’re curious how RFID could fit into your workflow, let’s talk.