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. 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. Related content brandpost Fireside Chat between Tata Communications and Tata Realty: 5 ways how Technology bridges the CX perception gap By Tata Communications Sep 24, 2023 9 mins Emerging Technology feature Mastercard preps for the post-quantum cybersecurity threat A cryptographically relevant quantum computer will put everyday online transactions at risk. Mastercard is preparing for such an eventuality — today. By Poornima Apte Sep 22, 2023 6 mins CIO 100 Quantum Computing Data and Information Security feature 9 famous analytics and AI disasters Insights from data and machine learning algorithms can be invaluable, but mistakes can cost you reputation, revenue, or even lives. These high-profile analytics and AI blunders illustrate what can go wrong. By Thor Olavsrud Sep 22, 2023 13 mins Technology Industry Generative AI Machine Learning feature Top 15 data management platforms available today Data management platforms (DMPs) help organizations collect and manage data from a wide array of sources — and are becoming increasingly important for customer-centric sales and marketing campaigns. By Peter Wayner Sep 22, 2023 10 mins Marketing Software Data Management Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe