Understanding RFID requires knowledge of your business problem/need. If you understand what you are trying to solve, the rest of the RFID rollout is really quite simple. There are physics associated with each frequency due to the tag size and frequency, antenna size and reader power. These factors come into play when deploying RFID, but when you work with an experienced integrator such as Northern Apex, you will not have to worry about all of the 'ins' and 'outs' of RFID. Our 10 plus years of RFID deployment experience has exposed us to thousands of RFID applications; that along with our continuing education in the RFID field gives us the knowledge, the tools and the experience to make your RFID deployment successful!

For those of you who have researched RFID, you are well aware of the definition and components of RFID, along with the components of the RFID tag and passive versus active RFID technologies. If you need more information on the various aspects and technology behind RFID, we would recommend you read, "RFID+ The Complete Review of Radio Frequency Identification" by Elaine Cooney. However, understanding the benefits of RFID from a business/consumer perspective is much different than understanding the components of RFID and how they work.

Technology is typically never adopted in any business setting where value is not the objective unless forced by law or mandate. Any solid business transaction will always be based on the value of the presented item gaining some reward for the specific business, hopefully short term and absolutely for the long term. Value is simply defined as saving money on each transaction, avoiding lost money in waste, retaining money from litigation or gaining money through more possible transactions. But in all cases, it comes down to the money and can the business save more money than it will spend implementing RFID.

Bottom line, business will only implement a technology when the purchase is offset by some reasonable level of return of that expense and an ongoing overall savings as the technology matures in its environment. The term ROI was invented long before RFID. Once ROI is understood and evident, RFID implementation is inevitable.

If you are considering RFID for your business, Northern Apex is here to help you analyze your needs and help show you the ROI RFID can provide. Please contact us.

125/148 KHz - Low frequency - Passive technology - 0" to 12" read distance - Works on thin metal & near/in water and people

13.56 MHz - High frequency - Passive technology - 0" to 30" read distance - Works on metal if spaced off of it

900 MHz - High frequency - Passive technology - 1" - 30' Read distance -Works on metal if spaced off of it

303/433 MHz - High frequency active technology - 1" - 1000' Read distance- Active beacon