RFID labels
Labels with a built-in chip and antenna that can be read wirelessly and without line of sight.
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An RFID label (also called a smart label) is an ordinary label containing a thin chip and antenna. Where a barcode must be scanned one by one with line of sight, an RFID reader reads dozens to hundreds of tags at once, even through boxes.
Logistics and retail almost always use UHF RFID (RAIN RFID), with read ranges of several meters. The chip usually carries an EPC code: a unique serial number per item, linked to the GTIN. That tells you not just which product is somewhere, but exactly which unit.
RFID labels are printed and encoded in one pass on an RFID-capable label printer. That puts extra demands on the labeling process: the chip data must match the printed data, and failed tags must be voided automatically. Major retailers are mandating RFID in more and more categories, so for many suppliers the question is not if but when.
Source: GS1
Frequently asked questions — RFID labels
What is the difference between an RFID label and a barcode?
An RFID reader reads dozens to hundreds of tags at once, without line of sight and even through boxes; a barcode is scanned one at a time with line of sight.
Which RFID is used in logistics and retail?
Almost always UHF RFID (RAIN RFID), with read ranges of several metres.
What is stored on an RFID chip?
Usually an EPC code: a unique serial number per item, linked to the GTIN.
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