Hybrid Tag (UHF & NFC) is ideal for Product ID in Consumer Products

In the past, general consumers always feel indifferent about RFID system for consumer products because they are not benefited from any of this IT investment on this from the brand owner.

It is because the RFID system that commonly used for logistics and industrial environment are UHF (ultra high frequency, which features a long range and multiple tag reading capability in RFID technologies)  which is also restricted by regional RF-regulation (check here) and highly dependent on infrastructures; it requires a proper industrial reader with a specific program to read.

(Photo shows the RFID price tag which will no longer be useful after leaving the shop)

Besides, there are many systems established for the logistics between suppliers, brand owner, warehouse, 3rfd Party Logistics (3PLs), retail shops. One single system that can connect all these 5 parties can be a solution but it is very expensive and required a lot of support and training.

Above problems can easily be fixed by NFC, which store websites easily accessible with the use of an NFC-enabled android smartphone without any app. Industrial NFC readers are generally much cheaper than UHF counterpart as well.

Now the rise of UHF & NFC hybrid tag opens a whole new opportunity for brand-owner to reconsider how they can connect with suppliers and interact with the general customers, instead of using 2 separate labels, now with the use of ONE single label, the product data is now accessible by consumer and all parties of the supply chain. 

The hybrid label is a standard ISO18000-6C UHF label and it is also a NFC-forum type II tag, which is recognizable by any NFC smartphone.

Hybrid Tag (UHF & NFC) is ideal for Product ID in Consumer Products. It provides more engagement with end-users.

Case A
A luxurious mechanical wristwatch brand can now have a multi-purpose warranty card that
i) readable by NFC smartphone for warranty and product registration; and
ii) readable by retail shop desktop interactive mirror with plays marketing video if the warranty card with 1m reading range to the UHF reader device.

Case B
A famous brand liquor can now have bottle label that using NFC for anti-counterfeit and UHF for production.

Case C
A professional camping tent brand can make use of the NFC to interact with the consumer and instruct the users step by step how to setup and get the tent back to the bag. And the same tag is also being used as product ID which associates with the model number in the manufacturing.

Case D
A luxurious ladies fashions and hang-bags brand can use the hybrid label for its raw materials logistics to control their trademarked leather material stock control. Their international supplier can all use easy-access NFC for data input, whilst the brand owners warehouse can use UHF for bulk scanning for better effectiveness.

Case E
Baggage tag ID can now be detectable in their conveyor belt to x-ray. It is also accessible through NFC smartphone for pictures upload and boarding information updates by the operators.

For more information, please check the ProductoID solution page; Q&A about Dual Frequency label

Q&A about Dual Frequency label

Smartrac has announced the latest dual frequency label using EM company’s IC EM4423. There are questions regarding this revolutionary technology so we summarized a Q&A about that.

What is a Dual Frequency label?

• “The inlay’s EM4423 chip combines two functionalities on one single die: the RAIN RFID technology used for long-range application purposes; and the NFC technology used to exchange data in close proximity. Both protocols may share a common, unique ID.” [quoted from Smartrac announcement]
• NFC and UHF protocol now share the same IC. It means the same information are now accessible through different hardware (smartphone with NFC or UHF handheld reader).
• Apparently, single IC on a single label is supposed to be cheaper than 2 labels. However, the price always heavily depends on quantity and forms like packaging methods/materials.
• One thing is for sure, NFC readers are also way much cheaper than UHF readers.

How does it different if I simply put one NFC label and one UHF label together, instead of using dual?

• You need to write individual tag (NFC and UHF) if you want to update/write the info. It causes a higher the system cost, not to mention the equipment and manpower.
• Get more clumsy if you need to match both info.

Photo: Special adaptor is needed to read UHF tag on a smartphone, but NFC doesn't requrie any.

Why we need both NFC and UHF label, instead of just either one?

• NFC and UHF are designed for different applications using different radio frequency and protocol. They behave so differently that just like brothers with exactly opposite personalities.
• NFC is easily readable by most of the android smartphone; readers are also much cheaper, some USB desktop reader cost less than US30. Proximity 1-on-1 reading is the main drawback but it is fine with general application like tapping to see the product’s URL link.
• UHF provides much faster, longer range and multiple-tag reading performance; it is perfect for retails, logistic and manufacturing process; producers are much more willing to pay for the efficiency provided by more expensive device or gadgets.

Photo: Smartphone can read NFC (and even update E-link display), while UHF (upper label)  works in longer reading range.

Where would this Dual label be best used?

• Exhibition visitor cards now can have a long reading range for people counts, while a shorter range for booth interaction.
• Machine/product serial number label or ID labels are now not just for retail/logistics, general public user can also access to product information page for interaction with brands like authenticates / promotion / new product notice, etc.

Photo:  NFC 1-on-1 reading is perfect for wine biding applications. UHF's long range reading become handy in logistic applications.

What kind of software required to read/write Dual label?

• “PRODUCTO  ID” Solution provided by HK-RFID now supports both NFC and UHF. “ProductoID” is a set of tools that help product/brand owner to manage their product ID, using Smartrac’s high-quality Dual label.
• More about “PRODUCTO  ID” solution is here.
•  Note: Reading NFC doesn’t require any software but writing does.

Keywords: Retail, PID, Product, Retail RAIN RFID technology

Reference:

Smartrac website 

Raspberry Pi will change the game in RFID industry [Insight]

Anyone has spent some time on googling "RFID" will soon realise comprehending RFID-product should earn you a doctorate degree. The toughest part is the "RF" in this 4-character word, it involves the selection of right RF reader and tag, system design and installation, not to mention the expensive middle-ware software and application software part. These factors lead to long sales and project cycle, eventually unsuccessful user experience.

HK-RFID has over 10 years of RFID design and deployment experience and we believe Raspberry Pi might be the game changing solution, bringing extra value in the whole RFID value-chain. 

Raspberry Pi is a low-cost mini-computer, with a proper program installed, it will be capable to handle basic RFID reader setting, data processing and provide data output. The user-skills required should be as simple as typical household WiFi router setting. 

We are developing a web-interface on Raspberry Pi (Project code: IMPRESS), so user-friendly that user doesn't require any programming skill or RFID knowledge. One single set of Raspberry Pi and RFID reader would be enough to cope with instant DEMO request, and small-scale business applications such as Attendance, Inventory Listing, Media trigger, etc. All it takes is just mapping IDs to what your names and actions, with a few clicks on a web-interface. 

Automatic data delivery to server by Raspberry Pi, in a customised format, would make system integration so easy that the programmer no need to study the long API document or call any library. They just need to set the network setting and all data will be auto-update into database. 

HK-RFID is capable of integrating Raspberry Pi into any of its RFID reader in their product series, as one single product. However, doing so may add up extra-cost to the product and bringing less value because users have fewer upgrade options. 

Raspberry Pi, as a part of RFID system, will accelerate the wide-use of RFID, including the evolving Bluetooth low energy (or BLE, BT4.0, ibeacon) and near-field-communication (NFC) technologies . The same platform can apply to any BLE dongle to perform more network or database related function. 

We welcome any comment and partnership, or proposal of co-development. Please provide your comment by send to our email: info@hk-rfid.com