Technology Showdown: The Bar Code Versus RFID

The much-hyped RFID challenges the UPC bar code, for decades the tried-and-true, black-striped workhorse of businesses everywhere. Putting them head to head, let's see who wins.

By
Tue, July 24, 2007

CIO — In this technology battle, the much-hyped Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags goes head to head with the UPC bar code.

Geek Quotient

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
Print out label, stick on object, scan. Not rocket science.
Hmmm...do we know anyone who studied radio waves?

Do You See Me?

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
Line-of-sight on item is necessary.
Even if you don't see the tag, the RFID reader will.

The Money, Honey

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
A label costs fractions of a penny.
Tag costs vary from 20 cents to a couple of dollars (for specialized tags).

You're How Old?

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
First commercial use 33 years ago, at a Marsh's supermarket in Troy, Ohio. First item scanned: a pack of gum.
British forces used RFID-like technology to identify friendly airplanes in World War II.

UPS and FedEx Factor

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
They can't run their businesses without it.
Lots of pilot testing and problems with read rates of tags.

Immutable Laws of Physics

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
Scanner reads bar code—if nothing is in the way, no problem.
Metals and liquids don't play nicely with wireless waves.

Storage Appetite

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
POS (point-of-sale) data volumes are growing, but the number of gigabytes is manageable.
RFID-enabled supply chains can generate 10 to 100 times more information than traditional bar code technology.

Toll Booth Suitability

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
Not on this highway.
Turns your toll experience into the Indy 500, if you're willing to risk a speeding ticket.

The Wal-Mart Promise

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
The boys from Arkansas have been riding this horse for decades to manage shipping and POS data.
The tantalizing future of retail supply chain—after all of Wal-Mart's suppliers figure out how to actually get it to work.

Pharmaceutical Power

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
Works great for manually tracking product.
Security and tamper-proof features make for safer medicine.

Privacy, Please

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
Printed bar code labels can't tell anyone much.
Passive and active RFID tags can tell anyone a whole lot.

Hospital Hotshot

BAR CODE
EDGE
RFID
Often found on patients' wristbands and stuck on diagnostic equipment, but needs to be seen to be located.
Can be attached to or implanted in patients and affixed to equipment; can be located anywhere inside the building.

WINNER: BAR CODE!

SOURCES: CIO.com; About.com; Computerworld; ESJ.com; Informatica.com; RFIDJournal.com.

What is Tech Briefcase?
TechBriefcase is a new, free service where IT Professionals can Search, Store and Share IT white papers and content like this. Learn more
Bookmark content
Speed up your research efforts with content across the web.
Search and Store
Find the white papers you need. Create folders for any topic.
View Anywhere
Open your briefcase on your iPhone, tablet or desktop. Share with colleagues.
Don't have an account yet?
This research assesses the impact of the growth in media tablets and other "off desktop" form factors entering IT deployments and makes recommendations on building an enterprise management plan based on industry best practices.
This BYOD implementation guide from Absolute Software provides three simple steps to legally secure and manage employee-owned devices within a corporate environment.
The promise of enterprise mobility means that employees are more productive and address business issues in a timely, untethered manner.
Learn why a mobile development platform is critical to be able to support today's complex enterprise mobility strategies. Learn what to look for in a mobile development platform and how apply these tools whether you're developing a dedicated app for one device or multiple apps running across multiple devices.
Learn how developers are using HTML5 and native development methods to build mobile apps. Get practical insights on how these tools are being used, what's driving their usage, and how to choose the best development approach for your business.
Driven by explosive growth in smartphone and tablet sales, enterprise mobility has become an essential part of business. Organizations across industries are developing internal- and external-facing mobile applications that drive revenue, build brand loyalty, strengthen communication with partners, and enhance employee productivity. Learn how keeping pace in this market requires an agile, flexible, and iterative approach to application development.
Ben Snyder, Desktop Support Analyst at Under Armour, discusses how this fast-growing company with thousands of mobile employees uses an automated process to manage its mix of PC and Apple devices from a single console.
At one time, a smart phone was only on executive tool that increased productivity. But now, more employees than ever before are bringing their own mobile devices and tablets into the workplace. CIOs must satisfy this new class of users but they need the tools to manage the growing number of devices and tablets over a wider variety of mobile operating systems.

Join David Heit, Senior Director of Product Strategy for Research In Motion (RIM) and award-winning technology editor Stan Gibson for a look at the forces that are transforming mobile IT today. In this Webcast you will learn about BlackBerry(R) Mobile Fusion and now you can manage and secure BlackBerry(R), iOS and Android(TM) devices all from one unified interface.
How "mobile ready" is your infrastructure? This Mobility Knowledge Vault provides a wide variety of expert advice on how to strike a balance between end user ease-of-use and security. Prepare your organization with primers on data encryption and user authentication, device disablement and devising an employee-liable device strategy that makes both IT and users happy.
Today's workforce is truly mobile. At the office, from customer sites, even at home or in a hotel - their connectivity and application performance needs remain the same. But even though their requirements don't change, the challenges in meeting their expectations do.
Stay connected while on the go
As the workforce around the world becomes more mobile, enterprises are enabling their workers to stay informed and connected while on the go. Deploying Workday's cloud-based mobile solutions could not be easier!
Mobility is reshaping business worldwide. It's also reshaping how IT operates, fueled by the "Bring Your Own Device" trend, a trend that's been in the making since at least 2008. In this webcast, you'll learn how world IT leader SAP has embraced BYOD for lower costs, higher employee satisfaction and better business outcomes.
Newsletter Sign-Up »

Receive the latest news test, reviews and trends on your favorite technology topics

Choose a newsletter
  1. View all Newsletters | Privacy Policy
Sponsored Links

Complimentary Gartner Report on BYOD: Media Tablets & Beyond. View Now

Elevate storage agility and efficiency with HP 3PAR storage.

Choose New and slash the number of devices you manage

Customized information views & Twitter events at New Fulcrum Point

Splunk translates machine data into "aha" moments for IT and the business.

ManageEngine Desktop Central - Automate and Audit Your Desktop Management! Learn More...

Cloud Readiness Starts with Intel® Technology

High performance. Delivered. Click to see Accenture's client successes

Visit the Virtually There Learning Page to learn how to use virtualization to your competitive advantage.

Free: Hunter Muller's "The Transformational CIO."

Join us for an upcoming Microsoft 365 live online demo event.

Discover your easiest path to unified communications

Virtualizing Your Infrastructure Just Got Easier

Connect with global CIOs now at Enterprise CIO Forum

Connect with IT leaders redefining mobility at the Enterprise Mobile Hub

Choose New and manage one device instead of 170

Choose New for 8x the firewall and NAT performance

Check out a smart way of mobilizing your business with enterprise-ready Samsung Mobile.

Redefine your data center with HP servers.

Enhance your business with Windstream IT Solutions. Speak to someone local.

BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion. Different mobile devices. One platform.

Click to see how Accenture has delivered high performance to clients

CYBERMARYLAND | Learn Why Maryland is the Epicenter for Cybersecurity

Get Ethernet speeds from 1 Mbps to 10 Gbps - Comcast Business Class

Cognizant. Leading in Business, Application & Technology Services

Collaboration: driving better business outcomes

Gain cutting-edge insights at MIT in 2-5 day executive programs.

Resource Center