Aarti Khoesial

Object of the Future: RFID tags used in supermarkets

Defenition
RFID ( Radio Frequency Identification) is a wireless datacollection technology that uses electronical tags to store data. In those chips a lot and all kind of data can be saved, which makes the RFID technology usefull in verious ways.

Defenition in the context of supermarkets
RFID tags are electornical tags which can be seen as replacements for bar codes.

Current Situation of RFID's used
Currently, RFID is used in numerous ways:
- for tracking ex.libraries
- implants in humans
- implants in pets

Current Situation of RFID's used in supermarkets
Some supermarkets are already experimenting with the RFID tag. For example, in Germany it is already used. Also, Wall Mart also required all their suppliers to apply RFID to all shipments. Some Dutch supermarkets are already experimenting with RFID: Ahold, Schuitema.

Advantages for the use of RFID in supermarkets
- no queues: a whole shopping car full with products can be scanned at once, no need to scan each product seperately.
- quicker and efficienter stock control;scan automatically when shipment arrives, when enters warehouse, leaves warehouse, enter supermarket.This can be done more efficiently than with barcodes because in relation to barcodes, RFID tags offer the following advantages:

     1. RFID tags can be read more rapidly and over more distance

     2. Scanner does not have to point exactly towards the RFID tags

     3. RFID tags take less space

- on a RFID tag more information and information of other kinds can also be storaged or generated. ex. picture of everyone who bought Gillete razor blades.