I’m confused about the distinction between RFID and QR code asset tags. The two are interchangeable and serve similar functions.
In contrast to the QR code, which requires repeated scanning and direct line of sight, a “active” RFID tag will continuously transmit information if a scanner is nearby (more on the different RFID tag types below).
This may suggest that there is a clear victor, but this is not necessarily the case.
QR tags are often much more useful than RFID tags, despite the latter’s superior functionality and connectivity. Because they are simpler to print, they are also more affordable.
You should give careful thought to all of your options before settling on one. In the same way that you wouldn’t want to waste money on QR tags or cheaper RFID tags, you also wouldn’t want to waste money on RFID scanners and tags.
In the past, the barcode was virtually the only option for online storefronts to use when it came to product identification.
Accordingly, the goals of the QR Code and the RFID are distinct but complementary. The Quick Response (QR) Code is an easily readable, compact black-and-white logo that can be reproduced and distributed by anyone.
In order to read an RFID label, a special reader must be used in conjunction with a sticker that contains an RFID chip.
Since 2005, the RFID market has grown by 40 percent, with the technology being used to track and trace a wide variety of items, including people (via passports) and animals (in countries where identification is mandated).
These two technologies are distinct from one another in many ways. It can be difficult to decide between the two for an online retailer.
The answer to this question will vary depending on the size and maturity level of your business. There are benefits and drawbacks, but they depend on the specifics of your case.
What Is RFID?
Since RFID uses radio waves to transmit information, it was first developed in the 1980s.
RFID’s origins are quite interesting. Before the Cold War, its predecessor was used as a listening device in the Soviet Union.
In 1973, the device was refined into a passive radio transponder with memory for use as a toll device, and since then it has seen widespread adoption.
Modern RFID was implemented in this context because a more robust technology was required to keep track of individual products in response to rising demand for comprehensive product inventories.
The information contained within a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tag can be read using radio waves.
Even though radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been around since 1948, it has undergone more than a hundred iterations of refinement before reaching its current state of perfection.
first patented his lucrative RFID discoveries in the 1970s and offers superior long-term solutions. RFID was once commonly used to monitor the transfer of items and gain access to buildings; these functions remain in use today.
How Do RFID Tags Work?
To identify and keep tabs on tagged objects, RFID makes use of electromagnetic fields (radio waves).
An electronic chip is embedded in the tag, and the tag then communicates its inventory number via antenna to a reader equipped with radio frequency identification technology.
Both active and passive RFID tags exist. Both passive and active RFID tags can be read from several hundred metres away by using radio waves as their power source.
In either case, the information stored on the RFID tag must be transmitted to the computer database via a special RFID reader. Their storage capacity can be adjusted on the fly.
Advantages Of RFID
Because of their widespread use over the past half century, techies have weighed the benefits and drawbacks of RFID systems.
Offers Secure Data Transmission
One of RFID’s greatest strengths is the security it offers for data transmission. Keycards allow tech enthusiasts to quickly spread information by encrypting and decrypting data, but doing so requires specialised equipment.
Easily Operated
RFIDs are simple to implement, just like barcodes. People have no trouble learning to use them because it only takes a few seconds to do things like unlock doors, transfer money, and more.
Simple to carry
Most RFID-enabled technologies are keycards, making them convenient to carry around and not easily misplaced.
It Has Various Uses.
Spindle lengths in RFID moulds allow for their implementation in a wide range of products, from furniture and electronics to POS terminals and product labels. That’s why it makes sense to implement this technology in both domestic and commercial settings.
One RFID, many applications
Tech enthusiasts are constantly tweaking RFIDs so that a single RFID key card can serve multiple purposes.
That allows them to realise their goal of providing people with RFID technology that can be used for a variety of purposes.
Users of RFID technology can now programme a variety of command prompts onto a single keycard, each with its own unique set of access policies.
The Drawbacks Of RFID
Although RFID has many useful applications, it is also plagued by a number of practical and financial challenges.
It is not cost-effective.
When compared to other forms of wireless technology, RFID can be more expensive to implement. More money is needed to keep them running because they need a server to store the information.
In addition, RFID scanning equipment can be more expensive than a standard wireless barcode scanner.
It is reliant on power.
Due to their reliance on external power sources, most RFID systems pose a threat to their users. Therefore, RFID cardholders should only use their cards during times when the building’s electricity is reliable.
Hacking prone
RFID systems typically use a server to synchronise and encrypt their data. RFIDs, however, are vulnerable to data alteration and hacking because server security can be compromised by technically savvy people.
Expires After a Specific Time.
Most RFID keycards require battery replacements at regular intervals because they are powered by small batteries. Therefore, the cost of RFID usage quickly adds up.
Difficult to Recover When Lost
If you give away your RFID keycard, nobody will be able to use your RFID-enabled sofa or coffee table again if you lose it.
Users are forced to revert to conventional methods of locking and unlocking doors because RFID replacements can take weeks to arrive.
What Is An RFID Tag Used For?
RFID tags’ uses extend far beyond mere inventory management and tracking. They are commonly placed in company vehicles, on computer equipment, and even on animals being transported. With an active RFID tag, its applications can be broadened to encompass toll collection, machine-readable documents, tracking for the timing of sporting events, and billing procedures, among other things.
RFID Benefits
Quickly gaining access to the benefits of RFID tagging. The first thing you’ll notice is how cool and futuristic it is to walk into a room, press a button, and have all of the valuables in that room instantly appear on your scanner.
RFID tagging has the potential to give life to inanimate objects in a more satisfying way than QR tagging does.
Even if the RFID tag is passive, the scanning range will be significantly different when using QR tagging. Furthermore, each QR code must be scanned individually and requires direct visual contact.
On the other hand, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags allow for monitoring through solid objects and simultaneous monitoring of multiple assets.
While QR codes are always “read-only,” RFID tags can be “read-write” depending on the radio frequency being used.
This allows for the modification, updating, and communication of assets even while they are in use or in transit.
Therefore, RFID tags are not only more futuristic but also have a plethora of uses, far surpassing those of QR codes.
An RFID tag has an extremely superior read range. Multiple assets can be scanned at once, making it much simpler to meet multiple deadlines than it would be to monitor each asset individually.
RFID tags have a wide variety of applications, some of which have only just been begun to be researched. For instance, Amazon implemented RFID tags in shopping carts and on store assets to demonstrate the feasibility of using weighted shelves and RFID tags to streamline the shopping experience.
The experiment proved that with the help of RFID tags, it is currently possible to remove items from a display in a store, place them in a shopping cart, and then walk out of the store without having to pay for them. Done with the lines!
How Do QR Codes Work?
In 1994, a new kind of two-dimensional barcode called Quick Response codes was introduced.
Since QR codes are two-dimensional in nature, they can be scanned much more quickly than traditional barcodes.
QR codes are now commonplace in all facets of modern life, from shops and cafes to hospitals and schools.
There are advertisements on billboards, brochures, flyers, magazines, window sills, newspapers, product labels, business cards, and social media posts.
QR Codes do not rely on radio-based technology, despite the fact that they were developed to improve product inventory management.
In practise, however, they function more like Barcodes, which also use rectangles but are scanned horizontally.
QR Codes are square, which means they can be read in both the horizontal and vertical directions, allowing the underlying Barcode technology to be used in more situations.
As a result of these enhancements, they are increasingly popular among users. They take less time to load, can hold more data, and generate fewer errors.
How Do Qr Codes Work?
QR Codes have a square shape because they contain seven different components.
The readability, storage capacity, error correction, and “quiet zone” of a QR Code are all determined by these seven factors. Any QR Code reader app can be used on any smartphone to access the information it contains.
Benefits of QR Codes
Cost-efficient
The creation of QR codes is cheap. QR codes are cost-effective for new and small businesses because they do not necessitate additional funding or staff.
Simple to create
QR codes are much simpler to create and implement than RFID systems. Learning how to make and use QR codes is simplified by the availability of online tools like generators.
Can hold different types of multimedia
Modern QR code technology can store a variety of multimedia formats to better meet people’s needs. Since data can be represented in a variety of formats, QR codes are fantastic.
Possess Greater Damage Tolerance
QR codes, in contrast to RFID, can survive physical damage thanks to their robust error correction feature.
Even if the QR code is damaged by accident or on purpose, this method will allow it to be scanned.
Using a Mobile Device to Scan
The convenience of QR codes lies in the fact that they can be scanned with smartphones in order to gain access to digital content. This was because the information they needed was encoded in a QR code that was within the range of your phone’s camera.
The drawbacks of QR codes
Lacking Familiarity
QR codes are widely accepted in Asia, but they are largely ignored in the West. Some people are wary of using them because of this issue.
Advertisers Tend to Abuse Them.
People form unfavourable opinions of QR codes due to the incompetence they portray in the hands of advertisers who misuse them. Because of this, many people are avoiding using QR codes, and some may never try one again.
Reasons Why Qr Codes Are Better Than RFID Tags
When comparing RFID tags and QR Codes, the latter are far superior in nearly all circumstances. They can be scanned from any distance, can be personalised for a specific brand, and require no special equipment to read. Here are some scenarios in which QR codes would be preferable to RFID tags.
Simplified Scanning And Data Readability
In contrast to RFID tags, which require a specialised scanner to read and transmit data to a computer, QR Codes can be read by virtually any smartphone. A third-party app can always be used to scan a QR code, and the camera on some more recent smartphones can even do this automatically (iOS and Android). Furthermore, the information or content contained within a QR Code can be read in its entirety when scanned with a mobile device.
No Limit To Scan Distance
QR Codes can be monitored from extremely far distances, even without a battery, while active RFID tags can only be scanned from a few metres away.
Creating a functional QR Code requires only the image’s creation and subsequent printing. Make the image bigger if you need it scanned from a distance. With a high enough resolution and a constant square shape, the scan distance can go on indefinitely.
Less Chance Of Errors
If you want to reduce the likelihood of making a mistake, a QR code is the way to go. Because RFID tags rely on radio waves to communicate, they become ineffective if they sustain even the slightest amount of physical damage, move out of range of the scanner, or run out of power.
A QR Code’s reliance on a straightforward image makes it the more sensible choice. In addition, a third of a QR Code can be damaged and still work properly, demonstrating their high error resistance.
They become much more robust and straightforward when scanning them only requires a smartphone.
Customisation For Branding
QR Codes have the distinct advantage of branding over RFID tags. However, because RFID tags are merely metal chips embedded in silicon, they are not suitable for use in advertising.
However, due to their usefulness in advertising campaigns, QR Codes are gaining in popularity. To begin, they can be designed in any way you like, down to the last detail. This includes brand colours, custom frames with an editable CTA (call to action), unique edges, and your logo in the centre.
Flexible Marketing
QR Codes can be used in a variety of contexts, which is the second reason for their marketing viability.
QR Codes can be used in any kind of marketing effort, whether it’s purely digital, entirely printed, or a hybrid of the two. Its short URL can be used for QR Codes on digital platforms.
Each QR Code you create will be assigned a short URL of your choosing, which will allow users to access the linked content quickly and easily regardless of whether they are using a desktop computer, a laptop, a tablet, or a mobile device.
Whether you’re advertising on a billboard, a business card, or an email, a QR code can help you reach your target audience. This makes it clear why QR Codes are the best option.
Editing And Tracking
In addition to their superior readability, QR Codes also offer the advantages of being easily editable and trackable. Some RFID tags are writable, but only with extensive device updates; this is rarely done.
However, if you need to make changes to a QR Code, you can easily do so by selecting a Dynamic version and making the necessary changes from your QR Code Generator account. If you want to switch from images to a video, for instance, you don’t need to make a new QR Code; just use the same one for both.
Conclusion
But despite RFID tags’ superior functionality and connectivity, QR tags are often more useful. If a scanner is within range, data from an active RFID tag will be transmitted continuously. Sticking a reader onto a label isn’t enough to decipher the information contained within a radio frequency identification label. There has been RFID technology available since 1948. Because radio waves serve as the RFID tags’ power source, they can be read from hundreds of metres away.
They are easy to implement and use, but specific tools are necessary. RFID tags enable covert monitoring of multiple assets at once and monitoring through solid objects. RFID tags have applications beyond simple stock-tracking. They are frequently seen on company vehicles, in computer equipment, and even on animals in transit. Quick Response codes, a novel type of two-dimensional barcode, were introduced in 1994.
Some of the many potential uses for RFID tags are only now being explored. It is much easier to meet multiple deadlines when scanning multiple assets at once. Quick Response (QR) codes are useful because they can be read by smartphones. QR Codes can be read by almost any smartphone, unlike RFID tags, which require specialised equipment. QR code generators and other similar online tools make it easy to learn how to create and use these codes.
All that is needed to make a QR Code that works is an image of the code. If the scan distance is sufficiently high and the shape remains square, it can be extended indefinitely. Error-resistance is exemplified by the fact that a QR Code can have a third of it damaged and still function correctly. A custom short URL of your choosing will be appended to each QR Code you generate. This will make it possible for readers to easily view the linked content on any device, be it a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. QR codes also have the advantages of being simple to edit and track.
Content Summary
- Accordingly, the goals of the QR Code and the RFID are distinct but complementary.
- It can be difficult to decide between the two for an online retailer.
- The information contained within a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tag can be read using radio waves.
- Therefore, the cost of RFID usage quickly adds up.
- RFID BenefitsQuickly gaining access to the benefits of RFID tagging.
- Therefore, RFID tags are not only more futuristic but also have a plethora of uses, far surpassing those of QR codes.
- Since QR codes are two-dimensional in nature, they can be scanned much more quickly than traditional barcodes.
- They can be scanned from any distance, can be personalised for a specific brand, and require no special equipment to read.
- Creating a functional QR Code requires only the image’s creation and subsequent printing.
- Make the image bigger if you need it scanned from a distance.
- A QR Code’s reliance on a straightforward image makes it the more sensible choice.
- However, due to their usefulness in advertising campaigns, QR Codes are gaining in popularity.
- QR Codes can be used in a variety of contexts, which is the second reason for their marketing viability.
- Its short URL can be used for QR Codes on digital platforms.
- Whether you’re advertising on a billboard, a business card, or an email, a QR code can help you reach your target audience.
- In addition to their superior readability, QR Codes also offer the advantages of being easily editable and trackable.
- However, if you need to make changes to a QR Code, you can easily do so by selecting a Dynamic version and making the necessary changes from your QR Code Generator account.
FAQs About QR Code & RFID
What are QR codes, and how do they work?
It is a machine-scannable image that can instantly be read using a Smartphone camera. Every QR code consists of several black squares and dots which represent specific pieces of information. When your Smartphone scans this code, it translates that information into something that humans can easily understand.
How do you use QR codes effectively?
Use QR codes only in locations where they can easily and safely be scanned. If the code is in a digital format (email or website), it must also be a link to the same content. Make sure there is WiFi or 3G access where the code is placed.
What is the benefit of using QR modules at all?
When you utilize QR code digital menus, you can seamlessly add or 86 any items without having to reprint an entirely new set of menus. Now, with customers paying through their phones, you can also reduce receipt printing costs, making your brand seem eco-friendly, tech-savvy, and cost-effective.
What is RFID, and how useful is it?
RFID can increase efficiency over standard barcode technology by reading multiple tags simultaneously. Tags can store more information per chip than a barcode, and wireless scanners can identify and capture data when within scanning range instantly.
What would be the best use of RFID in a business?
RFID technology is especially widely used in production and logistics. It allows companies to track their entire supply chain easily. They can ensure things like an uninterrupted refrigeration chain, and they can identify missing goods instantly.
