Facing challenges when installing a new system or procedure is expected, but it helps to consider potential problems before installation. Large and small companies, as well as individuals, thinking about installing an RFID system have numerous things to consider before making a purchase. If the potential user prepares thoroughly and completes enough due diligence up front, it should reduce unplanned issues mid and post-installation. Unfortunately, even the most prepared organization might run into a few issues during installation due to the unpredictable nature of RFID when implemented in a new environment.
Deploying an RFID system can present many challenges; below are the four most common challenges (and ways to mitigate them).
1. When your business problem is non-existent
One of the most important things to consider when thinking about RFID is – be realistic when it comes to the problem that needs to be solved. When considering automating a process, the first step is to take time to understand what the business problem is currently and how the business would be affected if a part of the process, or the entire process, were automated. Would it save time, money, or both, and what would those savings mean in terms of a return?
Other important factors to consider are the advantages that RFID has to offer and if RFID technology is necessary for the application to accomplish its goals. One of RFID’s most important characteristics is that the technology uniquely identifies items (or crates of items) without requiring line of sight, making it exceptionally productive in applications like inventory and asset tracking. For example, finding a particular wrench, or group of wrenches, in a truck filled with hundreds of tools can be invaluable.
While problems can start out as small and grow until they reach a substantial size, generally speaking, small problems usually do not receive the return on investment (ROI) needed to offset the initial (and potentially ongoing) cost of installing an RFID system. Sometimes, automating a personal (i.e. non-business related) problem may lead to a very lucrative product or process, but because RFID systems are still relatively expensive, careful analysis should be undertaken in order to ensure RFID will produce a significant ROI.
2. When you are working in an extremely non-RF-friendly environment
The most common dilemma with RFID is environmental issues – whether that be non-RF-friendly substances like metal or water, or a generally unconducive environment. Environmental considerations can impose many limitations when discussing an RFID system deployment, but these considerations don’t necessarily erase any chance of RFID success. Depending on the specific environmental concerns, there are usually a few ways to mitigate the problems and ensure a successful RFID application.
Mitigating Metal – Metal reflecting RF waves is one of the most common sources of interference experienced with RFID. The interference occurs because of the movement and reaction of electromagnetic waves with other surfaces, also called multipath. In other words, RF waves sent from the reader/antenna to the tag collide with objects or other RF waves causing refraction, diffraction, absorption, null zones, or extended read zones.
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