RFID tags have very limited range. The following table was extracted from Wikipedia:
RFID tags can be used to do the following:
- Track individual items
- Track boxes of products, cages of products and pallet
- Track containers with multiple loads
- Locate equipment within a building
- Trigger alarms should equipment or stock be removed without authorisation.
RFID tags are made of three different components: an RFID chip, which is an integrated circuit (IC), an antenna, and a substrate. RFID chips are very small integrated circuit incorporating a small memory capability
- many are smaller than 2mm square and 2mm thick. Despite its size, many can hold 2000 characters of data.
Many retailers simply use the tag as a thick label and print both sides with product information and perhaps a barcode.
It is important to note that there are multiple standards in use for RFID - some of these are standardised for industries but there are also national standards in operations. These standards need to be investigated before investment as not all readers work with all cards. GS1 is a non-for-profit organisation which make the standards for barcodes and RFID.