An introduction fo Radio-frequency identification technology for businesses:
This is a flooring industry software series segment, about RFID technology that covers what may be of interest to flooring industry suppliers with a need to track particular products in their inventory, which are of sufficient value to justify the incremental cost of tagging each product. Readers not entirely familiar with this particular subject matter are eased into it with the introduction below that defines what this technology is and what this technology can do for suppliers serving the flooring industry. This feature includes the generally accepted definition of RFID, how it is grouped and practical RFID applications; implemented by flooring industry suppliers.
According to Wikipedia.org, Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is defined as "the wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency, electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags; attached to objects. Tracking tags contain electronically stored information."
RFID technology serves a diversity of industries; including the flooring industry.
On January 16, 2005, Bob Violino of the RFID Journal, provided readers with a plain-English explanation of what radio frequency identification is and why it has suddenly become an important technology to many. Mr. Violino defined Radio frequency identification (RFID) as a generic term used to describe a system that transmits the identity - in the form of a unique serial number - of an object or person wirelessly, using radio waves. RFID is grouped under the broad category of automatic identification technologies.
Auto-ID technologies include bar codes, optical character readers and some biometric technologies, such as retinal scans. The auto-ID technologies have been used to reduce the amount of time and labor needed to input data manually and to improve data accuracy.
Some auto-ID technologies, such as bar code systems, often require a person to manually scan a label or tag to capture the data. RFID is designed to enable readers to capture data on tags and transmit it to a computer system—without needing a person to be involved.
The RFID Journal offers readers timely, objective news and information about RFID (radio frequency identification) and its business applications. Over the last few years, the RFID Journal published a duo of editorials about suppliers, serving the flooring industry, which devised unique uses for RFID within the flooring trade. Links to the original articles are posted in the following section:
On March 17, 2006, The RFID Journal published an article; authored by writer: Rhea Wissel, which was titled: In-Floor RFID Tags to Navigate Robots about Vorwerk Teppichwerke, a manufacturer of vacuum cleaners and carpets based in Hamlin, Germany; that at the time was introducing their "smart-floor" system, a flooring underlayment with embedded passive 13.56 MHz RFID tags for guiding robots that transport objects and people or clean floors.
On March 31, 2009, The RFID Journal published an article; also authored by writer: Rhea Wissel, which was titled: Wooden-Flooring Companies Embed RFID Tags Beneath Parquet about Jilg Parkett a company that has been installing wood flooring or parquet flooring in residential homes, commercial buildings, museums and palaces across Austria for decades. Like almost all companies in the wood flooring business or the parquet business, each contract the firm is awarded represents not only a business opportunity, but also some risk that may not materialize until years after a floor has been installed. Semi-passive UHF tags contain temperature and humidity sensors that can verify the flooring was properly installed and maintained.
On February 4, 2013, Floor Covering Media published a software related feature titled: The FloorWare Report; an alphabetical listing of B2B software suppliers serving the flooring industry with a diversity of solutions; ranging from presentation software to inventory control software. Review this report HERE.
As part of its flooring software series, Floor Covering Media will be publishing a feature on Inventory Control Software toward the end of July. In the interim, the following section is a preview of that scheduled feature of sorts; in the respect that Integrating RFID into inventory control software is one of the many custom software solutions these B2B software suppliers offer to the flooring industry.
It was years ago that a sizeable crowd gravitated to a software demonstration; held at a flooring trade show, where an Albrightsville, Pennsylvania supplier, one of the early pioneers in the field of software development since the 1970's, successfully integrated RFID into an inventory control software application, which was specifically developed for businesses serving the flooring industry.
It was Coverings 2006. Exhibitor American Business Software wowed the group attending this software demonstration, as RFID was integrated with their flagship inventory control software, FloorPro®. According to Mr. Joe Flannick, the group thinned out after fielding questions about the cost of integrating RFID. "Most customers like the idea of RFID, especially how easy it is to do a physical inventory. However, once I tell them that an RFID tag / bar code costs around 10 cents, they lose interest.". RFID is not a cost effective solution; unless the prospect is a supplier of higher value products. "RFID is more for businesses tracking high-end products. I never pushed RFID for inexpensive items. Once you have trim pieces at $45 - $50 and up, I think it makes sense."
When asked to describe the challenges of presenting features and benefits of RFID, he replied. "The problem is that once you tell someone it's not free, people seem to lose their enthusiasm."; except for high end flooring suppliers. Suppliers of porcelain tile could better justify budgeting for the cost of RFID.
One of American Business Software's Canadian based prospects, a supplier of high end flooring products, could be considering RFID solutions this year. "Later this fall, we have a customer in Quebec City (French speaking Quebec Province, Canada) that might want to experiment with certain expensive trim tiles. We'll see what happens later this year."
Suppliers stocking and or shipping higher value products are likely to consider justifying the high cost of RFID, as a reasonable investment in their inventory. RFID could empower the specialty flooring supplier to track the whereabouts of expensive products, which makes recovery convenient; should products go missing; get stolen or get delivered to the wrong person or at the wrong time.
The precision tracking that RFID provides suppliers might be less critical in the flooring industry; opposed to other industries. For example, pharmacology. "Once of the advantages of RFID - accuracy - making sure you get the correct product - is not as important in the flooring industry as it is in other industries, such as pharmacy. There, if you mix someone's blood pressure medicine with Vigara, the patient might have a problem. But if you give someone the wrong trim tile, you'll probably get a complaint but it's not a life and death issue."
While losing flooring to theft is clearly not a life and death issue to the owners, it is likely to take a bite out of the company's profits; especially if there are a number of unexplained incidents. RFID is a compelling counter measure; that deturs theft, prevents loss and preserves financial stability within the company.
Suppliers with significant investments riding on the line with the most to lose have an interest in protecting their investments. RFID could provide certain flooring suppliers with valid concerns the piece of mind that they are seeking; knowing where their inventory is.
This concludes the feature on radio frequency identification, the March segment of the spotlight series; providing periodic coverage on the subject of flooring industry software, brought to you by Floor Covering Media. Click here for RFID search tools. Click here to reach an alphabetical listing of RFID suppliers located around the world.
Floor Covering Media, a business network serving the floor covering industry, provides readers timely, objective news and information about flooring topics.
Readers may conveneintly retrieve this timely, objective news and information at Floor Search.info, which is Floor Covering Media's public search engine.
