Perhaps you have been wondering if RFID could be the right fit for your business. Would the slightly pricier tags provide enough of an edge vs barcodes? In a previous article, we wrote about the advantages of RFID. In this one, we are going to go through how companies have taken advantage of the long-range, the multi-scanning and the increased security. Here are 5 RFID use cases to help you see how it could be applicable to your industry.
Gas cylinder logistics
In Havanna, Cuba most of the cooking is done using propane-powered stoves. The propane is transported in gas cylinders and the volatile content needs to be handled carefully. It’s important to keep track of the wear and tear on the cylinders and how long they have been in the field. Once the cylinders come in and are unloaded they are automatically scanned by a stationary RFID reader. This also frees up the worker’s hands to make the heavy lifting easier and at the same time keep track of the expiry date of the cylinder. Read more here.
Keeping personal data safe
In this RFID use case, RFID tags and readers are used as lock and key. By now we all know how important it is to keep personal data safe and comply with GDPR. That includes making sure documents containing sensitive data are transported in a secure way. SECOLO has developed a secure system for locking transportation boxes. The boxes are fitted with an electronic smart lock that uses RFID to give exclusive access to the receiver. No more keeping multiple keys in several locations that can be easily lost and complete GDPR compliance. Read more here.
Tracking forest inventory
Modern forestry work involves a lot more than just cutting down trees. The workers perform surveying tasks, collect data and track the forest inventory. Forest inventory involves the systematic accounting of trees and other related information in a specific area. In order to find the correct site, the locations are RFID-tagged. In combination with GIS apps, it allows the workers to easily navigate to the right site in the forest. Read more here.
Identifying pigs in the pork industry
To work effectively at a modern-day pork farm you have to collect and keep track of quite a bit of data. The data also needs to be connected to each individual pig and at Newtown Pork they have 600 sows. The pigs are also kept in a group housing making it even harder to tell them apart. This is where the RFID use case is, RFID tags were introduced to replace the old ear tags. The tags are read using an RFID wand which then instantly pulls up the correct data set in their rugged PDAs. Read more here.
Shipping yard efficiency
Big shipping yards handle thousands of containers daily and it’s key to keep everything organized. The workers have to keep track of arrivals and departures, move them to the correct spot and know where to find them. With manual tracking, it’s easy to miss a container or make an error. That is not the case with the correct RFID system in place. PINC has developed a system that uses long-range RFID tags in combination with drone technology to perform automatic checks of the entire yard. Data is transmitted to the backend system in real-time and everything remains organized. Read more here.
