Problems Faced By Use Of RFID
For every device there is a positive as well as negative side to its success or failure. Radio Frequency identification though widely used and well known for its positive effect as well as time and cost saving abilities also has a down side to the story. Though most companies employ use of RFID in their day to day functioning there are others who feel that the devise can hamper their success as well. After weighting the pros and cons of installation of RFID and though they definitely need to have this system in place are looking there is an urgent need to find out ways and means to overcome these difficulties and counterattack the negative aspects.
Some of the difficulties faced by installation of Radio Frequency Identification are the problem of poor reading which can sometimes occur and thereby cause a major problem. Wrong data, miscalculation in billing, in accuracies in maintaining statistics and records etc are bound to occur due to faulty reading by RFID systems. Secondly, RFID tags are the personal property of the companies or organizations concerned. They more often than not contain secret information. This information in wrong hands would be an encroachment on privacy and will have an impact on the confidentiality of the company's policies and procedures.
There is also a concern regarding stealing or pilfering of information. If for example a competitor requires some vital information of a rival company or product. It is easy to get such information by setting up a directional antenna which can scan data which will give the competitor ass information regarding details of product, its flow, availability, price, stock, etc. Fraud in this case would be very easy. Sometimes reading of signals become weaker and poor reads can cause a problem. Some items may not be charged for at a supermarket or some miscalculation of data could lead to increased or decreased stocks as well.
There have been instances when the reader reads a tag twice or skips a tag. Tags also cannot be read properly when placed on metal or liquids or if metal comes in the way of the reader and object. Besides the above reasons, there is the problem of cost. This RFID system is fairly new and cheaper modes are yet to be devised. Components and tags are expensive in comparison to barcodes. Operation costs mount up due to the additional costs to be incurred to install the system operate RFID due to advanced software and experienced personnel that would be needed.
Unlike barcodes, each of which emit a beep when scanned, and items which do not give off a beep can be entered manually, multiple tags of RFID are read at the same time and it is difficult to determine which tags have been read and which have not. Radio frequency identification chips can get damaged due to water, power surges or strikes by lightening thereby making the entire system faulty and useless. Hence, before installation of such RFID systems it is best to try and find a way through these complexities which one may face and thereby lead to the failure of the system.