RFID: 4 Steps To Do It Right

With compliance requirements, concerns about theft, protecting the supply chain and managing inventory management, it's no wonder radio-frequency identification solutions seem to be on a lot of companies' radar screens. Tracking and mapping technology has made the most inroads in the commercial distribution and delivery space, but there are many possible implementations. For this Solutions That Work, CRN Test Center spoke with Todd Morris, president of New York-based BrickHouse Security, on how to approach an RFID deployment. Instead of depending on one technology vendor or a single end-to-end RFID solution, BrickHouse Security creates customized solutions using products from a variety of vendors and industry best practices. Here are four tips for deploying RFID technology successfully.

Determine if RFID is really the answer.
RFID is still, for the most part, an emerging technology for many customers, Morris said. While various components have been around for a while, customers still don't have a clear idea of what RFID really means. Some people think RFID is a GPS system, and there are others who consider it a replacement for bar codes.

In fact, BrickHouse Security tries to avoid using the word during the initial sale and discussion stage. "Many customers often call and say, 'I need RFID,' but to them, it's just something they heard about," Morris said.

Solution providers should talk with the customer to understand, first, what the problem is that needs to be fixed, or what risk they are trying to minimize, Morris said. This is essential. For instance, Morris told of a client that supplied fresh seafood to restaurants around the country that requested RFID. After further discussion, it turned out the company was concerned about thefts of lobster tails and crabmeat from the warehouse. RFID was not the ideal solution in this situation because of the cold temperature and the way the seafood is packaged. No one wants to insert an RFID chip inside food. BrickHouse Security installed security cameras instead. A simple conversation saved the customer time and money.

For small to midsize businesses, making sure RFID is the best solution is crucial, since some RFID deployments require a significantly high buy-in, such as investing in expensive Oracle databases and Symbol Technologies hardware.

Next: Step 2: Design by understanding the specs.