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 El NORTE NEWSPAPER / INTERFASE06/11/2006Replacement of bar codes initiates By Verónica Valencia During the First RFID Forum in Mexico, they assured that the new technology is not yet viable for massive use. Although there are Mexican firms using radio frequency labels (or RFID) in their production and logistic processes, there is still a long way to go before this technology can be implemented in small products such as bubble gum, because its cost would not justify the cost of implementation, considered Eduardo Ruiz Esparza. The CEO of IDZ, a firm offering RFID solutions, explained that, so far, companies utilize this technology to know the exact location of their shipments, or to monitor the status of products in the production line. "The main benefit of RFID is real time visibility of a products, an asset or a person, but it will still take some time before we see it at a massive level", he said. The executive participated in the first RFID Forum in Mexico that was held here last week, with several companies showing their solutions. RFID technology is based on "intelligent labels" that may store a certain amount of information and transmit it for several meters to a specialized reading device. Its main characteristic is that labels do not require batteries or any other power source, because they transmit data using the energy sent by the receiver when it activates them. This way, they may work as bar codes, except that they are wireless and the label does not have to be visible. The item may be, for instance, within a box and send data from there to the receiver. Mr. Ruiz Esparza assured that RFID is not a complement for bar code, but a substitute for it, because it allow for simultaneous data entry and product location. Also, labels last more than 30 years and are weather-proof. In order to implement this technology, he said, companies must think of changing their business processes; for instance, if it's a middle-sized company, it may integrate this solution to its logistics, that is, from shipment to customer and this way, ensure timely product delivery. RFID makes it possible to get such information as production date and place. This information is stored in an electronic label, which is also known as EPC that includes a chip with a miniaturized antenna. The type of label depends on the product, explained the executive, and the type of solution to be implemented depends, in turn, of the type of label. That is why firms such as Syase, Zebra, OTA Ommitrol and Omron attended the event and offered solutions for labeling, reader mobility and integration software. Next year, IDZ will develop a project of Nuevo Leon University Hospital, where RFID will be used to monitor electronic patient files and medicine control. |
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