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RFID Printers Instantly Improve Efficiency, Accuracy, and Supply Chain Visibility
RFID printers and encoders are similar to barcode printers in that they allow you to print identifying data onto a cost-effective label. Unlike barcode printers, however, RFID printers make use of smart labels, which are shipping labels that contain pre-embedded RFID tags. The smart label is a popular alternative to the RFID tag because it's less expensive and can be printed with text and barcode data as well.
In fact, many companies are phasing out their barcode labels in favor of smart labels. One reason is that such companies are now required to comply with certain RFID mandates, and smart labels are the least difficult, least expensive, and least disruptive way to ensure compliance with these mandates. Using smart labels in this context is commonly referred to as slap and ship.
Because of their print-on-demand capability and ease of use, RFID printers allow you implement instant and quantifiable improvements in operational efficiencies. In addition, the use of smart labels with these printers improves data accuracy and supply chain visibility. Since smart labels have RFID tags embedded in them, they provide several advantages over using barcodes exclusively. The most notable advantage is that little or no human intervention is required to read data from the label -- the data are read automatically when the labeled item approaches the vicinity of an RFID reader, which may be placed on a case and pallet transport vehicle, dock doors, and walls throughout your facility. Every time an item tagged with a smart label passes by, the reader captures the data.
RFID printers/encoders digitally encode error-free data into the smart label. The data can then be wirelessly transmitted to your RFID readers, even in harsh environments (another advantage of smart labels over traditional barcode labels). Error recovery and validation are incorporated into smart label systems by design. The reason for this is that almost all RFID printers and encoders read the labels after they write to them, and they will overwrite any labels that could not be read for whatever reason. The smart labels are also human-readable, so in the event that an unreadable label is encountered somewhere in the supply chain or an RFID reader is unavailable, a human can read the data.
While the upfront cost of an RFID printer is more expensive than a barcode printer, the former will save you money in the long run, namely due to the advantages of using smart labels instead of traditional bar code labels.
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