RFID

FUTURE TRENDS

•RFID technology is expected to make substantial advances in the healthcare, retail, food safety, and
other industries, according to analysts. As more industries and businesses invest in RFID, the
technology's future becomes brighter and brighter.

•RFID tags from different manufacturers will become more compatible with each other, making it easier
to use multiple types of tags in a single system

•More sophisticated applications: RFID will be used for more than just tracking inventory and assets.
The technology will be used for things like security, access control, anti-counterfeiting, and much more

Challenges

••In many applications, RFID is more expensive than traditional tracking methods. There’s the upfront
expense of RFID readers and tracking software, as well as the continuing cost of either active or passive
RFID tags for each item monitored. This issue becomes less critical over time as RFID technology comes
down in price, but it can still be an issue for any business making an initial RFID investment.

••RFID technology can be confusing. There are different types of tags to deal with, as well as different
frequencies to learn about.

••RFID isn’t ideal for all applications. In particular, the technology often has difficulty attaining proper
reads around some types of materials. Liquids can absorb radio signals from RFID tags, while those same
radio waves can bounce off some metals—though tags do exist that will function in such scenarios. The
industry needs to be clear about these limitations and continue to develop technological workarounds.

••The final challenge comes with RFID reader and tag collisions when there’s interference between
multiple readers or reflections from multiple tags. Reader collisions can be avoided by using dense
reader mode, which allows more frequencies in a small space, and work is still being done to reduce tag
collisions. The following video explains RFID collisions and how anti-collision technology works.

https://rfidjournallive.com/content/blog/current-rfid-trends-and-challenges-you-should-know-about/

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/rfid-market-446.html#:~:text=The%20reduction
%20in%20tag%20costs%20has%20emerged,a%20broader%20spectrum%20of%20industries%20and
%20applications.

QRCODE

CHALLENGES
QR code scams are becoming more common, and users need to be reassured that what they're scanning
is legitimate

••Privacy concerns -Users are concerned about data privacy and want to be transparent about what a
QR code offers and how it can benefit them.

Data privacy is more of a concern than ever, and users expect transparency about what a QR code offers
and how it can benefit them before taking out their smartphones. And with QR code scams becoming
more pervasive, users need reassurance that what they’re scanning is legitimate.

https://www.usertesting.com/blog/how-test-qr-code-ux#:~:text=Data%20privacy%20is%20more%20of
%20a%20concern,reassurance%20that%20what%20they're%20scanning%20is%20legitimate.

BARCODE

FUTURE TRENDS

••The Internet of Things (IoT) is turning barcodes into gateways of information. Smart barcodes,
embedded with sensors, are providing real-time data on everything from product location to
environmental conditions, opening up a new world of analytics and insights.

••Barcodes are becoming a powerful tool for engaging customers. From interactive product labels that
offer a deeper brand experience to loyalty programs integrated directly into barcode scans, the
potential for enhancing customer relationships is immense.

••AI and machine learning are not just buzzwords—they're revolutionizing barcode technology. From
predictive analytics in inventory management to AI-driven barcode generation and recognition, these
technologies are making barcode systems smarter and more adaptive.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-emerging-trends-barcode-technology-2024-barcode-gulf-mlvef

NFC

••NFC is a dynamic and evolving technology that can offer new opportunities and challenges as it
matures and expands. For example, some of the emerging trends of NFC include active communication,
dynamic tags, biometric authentication, cloud-based services, and blockchain integration.

••NFC tags provide accurate data on asset locations, usage, and maintenance needs, allowing
businesses to make informed decisions about resource allocation and inventory management.

As near-field communication enables access control credentials to be stored on mobile phones, an

To use NFC-enabled access control, people often assume it’s enough to have their mobile phone with
them. But it’s not; various criteria must be met. The phone must be:

A smartphone.

Equipped with the correct app and credential.

Switched on and have sufficient battery and NFC functionality enabled.

Most mobile credential readers also need people to complete one or two actions, so they may need to:

1.Wake up their phone so the screen’s active.

2.Present it to the reader.

3.Toggle their phone (or other secondary motion) to confirm they need access

Technology limitations

••As the various operating systems such as Android and Apple have regular updates, older smartphones
may not be capable of installing NFC apps. And some phones may just not have storage available for
another app.

••If someone changes their phone, it can also mean they need to download an NFC app and request
their credential again. And, with some systems, credentials are locked to one phone and can’t be reused,
so this can mean a second charge for another credential. All of which can take time to issue.

Cyber risks and hacking

Physical DESFire EV2 (and soon EV3) cards can be misused if they fall into the wrong hands. But the data
stored on the card, and then transferred, is encrypted to a very high level – often up to AES 128 or
greater. Whereas some mobile credentials are plain numbers stored on an app and transmitted via near-
field communication. So there’s a much greater risk these numbers can be intercepted and used for
criminal activity.

https://www.nedapsecurity.com/insight/near-field-communication-nfc-for-access-control-the-benefits-
challenges/#:~:text=This%20can%20have%20a%20significant%20effect%20on,with%20NFC
%20credentials%20as%20people%20usually%20remember
https://nordvpn.com/blog/nfc-security/#:~:text=Data%20tampering.%20If%20a%20hacker%20were
%20to,request%20data%20that%20it%20isn't%20meant%20to.
RFID

Guidelines

How can RFID systems be categorized?

RFID systems are often categorized by their operating frequency band. Frequency refers to the size of
the radio waves used to communicate between system components. RFID systems throughout the
world operate in low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands.

High-Frequency (HF) RFID

The HF band ranges from 3 to 30 MHz. Most HF RFID systems operate at 13.56 MHz with read ranges
between 10 cm and 1 m. HF systems experience moderate sensitivity to interference.

There are several HF RFID standards in place,

• ISO 15693 standard for tracking items,

• ECMA-340 and ISO/IEC 18092 standards for Near Field Communication (NFC)

• ISO/IEC 14443 A and ISO/IEC 14443 standards for MIFARE technology, which used in smart cards and
proximity cards

•AJIS X 6319-4 for FeliCa, which is a smart card system commonly used in electronic money cards.

Low Frequency (LF) RFID

The LF band covers frequencies from 30 KHz to 300 KHz. Typically LF RFID systems operate at 125 KHz,
although there are some that operate at 134 KHz. This frequency band provides a short read range of 10
cm, and has slower read speed than the higher frequencies, but is not very sensitive to radio wave
interference.

LF RFID applications include access control and livestock tracking.

Ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID

The UHF frequency band covers the range from 300 MHz to 3 GHz. RAIN RFID systems comply with the
UHF Gen2 standard and use the 860 to 960 MHz band. While there is some variance in frequency from
region to region, RAIN RFID systems in most countries operate between 900 and 915 MHz.

The UHF frequency band is regulated by a single global standard called the EPCGlobal Gen2 (ISO 18000-
63) UHF standard.

Standards for LF animal-tracking systems are defined in ISO 14223, and ISO/IEC 18000-2.
http://surl.li/tumhyn

https://www.impinj.com/products/technology/how-can-rfid-systems-be-categorized#:~:text=High
%2DFrequency%20(HF)%20RFID,used%20in%20electronic%20money%20cards.

ISO Standards

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a global body that develops and publishes
standards for various fields and industries, including RFID. ISO standards provide common specifications
and guidelines for RFID components, such as tag data formats, air interface protocols, security features,
and performance testing.

• ISO 14443 for contactless smart cards,

•ISO 15693 for vicinity cards,

•ISO 18000 for air interface communication,

• ISO 19794 for biometric identification.

https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/what-current-emerging-rfid-standards#:~:text=to%20be
%20featured.-,1%20ISO%20Standards,ISO%2019794%20for%20biometric%20identification.

QRCODE

Resolution

A QR code should be generated at a resolution of 38 x 38 pixels for a 1 cm x 1 cm QR code.

Size

The minimum size for a QR code is 1 cm x 1 cm (0.4 in x 0.4 in), but 2 cm x 2 cm (0.8 in x 0.8 in) is best.

Legibility

QR codes should be presented with a dark foreground and a light background.

Error correction

QR codes use Reed-Solomon code to restore data when part of the code is missing or damaged.
https://www.keyence.eu/ss/products/auto_id/codereader/basic_2d/qr.jsp

https://www.uniqode.com/blog/qr-code-best-practices/how-to-perfectly-size-your-qr-codes#:~:text=to
%20do%20this!-,Resolution%20requirements%20For%20QR%20Codes,minimum%20guideline%20to
%20work%20with.

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/qr-code-guidelines/

BARCODE standards

The ISO categorises barcode standards to streamline global practices. Key standards include.

••ISO/IEC 15415 for 2D barcode print quality

••ISO/IEC 15416 for linear barcodes

••ISO/IEC 15459 for item identification

••ISO/IEC 15418 for electronic product code (EPC) structures

••ISO/IEC 24731 for RFID technology

https://tritonstore.com.au/iso-standards-for-barcode/#:~:text=ISO/IEC%2015415%20establishes
%20essential,in%20another%2C%20facilitating%20international%20commerce.