RFID - radio frequency identification - is a recent technology that allows reading and unique identification of items without physical contact or visual reading.

By associating an RFID tag to an article and making use of a compatible RFID reader, a user can identify the presence of the labels in the vicinity of the read zone automatically.

This technology replaces the traditional bar codes in retail and storage areas with advantage. There are several classes of RFID tags and respective readers - the most popular is the proximity reader as seen in many stores nowadays. At Bulk we're currently working with passive UHF RFID tags, which can be read at distances from 50 up to 150 cm.

Briefly, the adoption of this technology in the retail area lets you:

• Identify the product and automatically obtain its associated information
  
  (Eg: temperature that must be stored, expiration date, product number and price, etc.);
• Supports the simultaneous reading of multiple labels;
• Reading requires no physical or visual contact.

Traditionally, the implementation of a technology like this causes problems as:

• Large investment in hardware and contracting / allocation of experienced resources;
• Purchasing of high-priced and excessively complex products on the market.