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Time and cost savings are the primary advantages of replacing Barcode Tracking with RFID. A comprehensive study by Shayne Pidding for RAMP RFID states an organization with about 100,000 assets can save up to $150,000 with implantation of RFID-based asset tracking technology. Our early estimates are that our customer who implement implements RFID technology will see a 6x - 10x speed improvement of asset ID capturing, which could greatly improve efficiency in the warehouse process. When potential implementers see possible savings such as these, there is a tendency to think that all work and accountability are a thing of the past and now technology will do all the work for them, far from it. Adding RFID on top of poor warehousing software just gets the user to an inferior end product faster. Similarly, adding RFID to an undisciplined and a loosely defined warehouse process gives you only marginal advantages. Ideal candidates for RFID have an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of RFID, and that is not a magic pill that solves all problems. It should improve the speed at which you capture the identification of the items you are tracking, however, because RFID is not a line of sight capture such as barcode scanning, the possibilities are present that the user might capture tags nearby unexpectedly depending on different setups. Setting realistic expectations and understanding advantages and disadvantages of different workflows, warehouse setup and Tag types will greatly effect the final outcome. 

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Frequency Ranges

Low Frequency: >134kHz

• GloballyA globally-used frequency for applications such as access control, animal id and service industries.
• This frequency has the least problems with metal and liquids.

High Frequency: 13.56 MHz – nowadays also more known as NFC standard as you can also communicate on this standard with certain smart phones smartphones and tablets.

• GloballyA globally-used frequency for applications include includes tracking library books, patient flow tracking, and transit tickets.
• HF RFID systems work in ranges of inches, but they can have a maximum read range of about three feet (1 meter).

Ultra High Frequency: 868MHz Europe / 915 MHz USA / 950 MHz Japan / 918-926 MHz Australia

There are standards existing on the communication, but the frequency is still regionally determined.

• UHF frequencies typically offer much better read range (inches to 50+ ft. depending on the RFID system setup) and can transfer data faster (i.e. read many more tags per second) than low- and high-frequencies.
• However, because UHF radio waves have a shorter wavelength, their signal is more likely to be attenuated (or weakened) and they cannot pass through metal or water.
• Due to their high data transfer rate, UHF RFID tags are well-suited for many items at once, such as boxes of goods as they pass through a dock door into a warehouse or racers as they cross a finish line.
• Also, due to the longer read range, other common UHF RFID applications include electronic toll collection and parking access control.
• Based upon on these characteristics, UHF frequency tags are best suited for high volume inventory tracking of assets.
• Some Tags are Global-UHF capable, meaning that the antenna can receive radio frequency over a broader range and can be read by both USA and European readers. Multi-national companies should consider this if inventory will be transferred between 

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This unit comes in different global regions (i.e US or EU) and with or without barcode scanner, we recommend the version with a barcode scanner, make sure to purchase the correct version. 

To get the Reader Flex ready, you will need a windows computer or a windows emulator running on an apple Apple desktop or laptop such as Parallels. 

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Load this config file to turn the scanner into Bluetooth HID Mode, allow double trigger pull to enable the user to toggle onscreen keyboard on and hide keyboardoff.

Barcodes Inc is a great supplier for these devices. 

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The Universal Series of RFID / Barcode Labels are the closet closest thing to a "one-size-fits-all" RFID solution we have found. Tags work well on both Metal and Non-Metal Assets. The ability to have both a barcode printed on the label and the RFID tag inlayed inlay makes a an ideal tag from a vast amount of inventory. These come in three different sizes. Typical read distance is about 2'. Typically this these stickers can have both a barcode, as a backup for the RFID tag and the RFID Inlay. 

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Stage Decks

Vizinex are makers of after market aftermarket cable clamps/housing are a great way to add RFID to existing cable supplies. The shells clamp around different sizes of cable from standard 12/3 power cables all the way up to 6 cable breakout bundles. The housings have an area to captivate a tie line. In the future, they have plans to release smaller housings for cables with smaller diameters. 

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Please contact support@flexrentalsolutions.com to help with recommendations. In the future, Flex will offer an online retail store to purchase devices and tags to help our customers. 

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There are a few aspects to consider in the implementation of RFID in the warehouse process. Reader/Receiver Sensitivity, Tag Type/Tag Strength and warehouse environment and the available space will significantly affect the implementation and how overall successful it will be.
The sensitivity  at at which the reader receives information back from the is important in warehousing environments. Too high and you are getting more unexpected assets in your capture. Too small and the reader needs to be in very close proximity to the tag to read the ID.
In the real world, if you are scanning items, a barcode reader would only scan the barcode within the capture area of the scanner. However, the RFID reader receives all ID's within proximity of the read field. If the combined read strength of the tags and the reader are high, then you might capture more unexpected ID's.
 Barcodes can be scanned within proximity to other barcoded assets without any real concern for unexpected scans. Tag type and size will significantly affect read distance. More extended read distance tag types have advantages and disadvantages. It is very common for gear to be stored side by side, and on shelves above and below similar and dissimilar inventory. Often warehouse aisles have enough room to drive a forklift though and turn to pull the gear off shelves and lower it to the floor. The prep process and return process have their unique requirements. 

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With the addition of RFID functionality, V26 introduces a new field for serilalized serialized asset called RFID TAG. This field will be available in both Flex4 and Flex5. We still keep the barcode field so you can have a unique barcode and RFID Tag per asset. See below. 

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• Click the icon to enter RFID Mode.
• Pull the RFID trigger to read adjacent tags.
• Counter The counter will count up the number of unique tags read.
• Click Preview see valid and invalid tags.
  • Any RFID tag received that is connected to a serialized asset in Flex will be counted towards "Valid Units."
  • Any RFID tag read that is not assigned to a unit will be counted in the "Invalid Units."
    • Invalid tags might be real tags read not assigned to units or
    • Invalid tags might be poorly real tags that the reception was interfered with.
• Click the Right Arrow Icon to preview the units for either Valid or Invalid Units.
• Information will include the model image, model description, and barcode associated with the RFID Tag.
• Green Check Marks will appear next to valid units.
• User The user can uncheck item they wish not to process. 
• Press Scan to scan all checked items.
• Progress Bar counts up to 100%.
• Any items that need attention do due to conditions such as Out of Commission, Presumed Missing, Decomissioned Decommissioned or Deleted units will be prompted for the user to address.
• Close to complete the process and return to the screen or New RFID Capture to Capture more assets.
• Flex recommends working in small capture batches to make the review more actionable. 

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