RFID vs. The Barcode: Mark Beauchamp Contrasts the Barcode Against Emerging RFID Technology in Food Packing and Processing Applications (Auto Id‪)‬

A hot topic for some time, RFID has been surrounded by considerable rhetoric, designed to 'talk up' the technology, which has served to create confusion among potential buyers at all stages of the supply chain. If you cut through the hyperbole, there is some powerful technology waiting to be unleashed which is, slowly but surely, being implemented by process, packaging, logistics and retail operations, where it is offering real benefit. The same embellishment has also obscured two important points: first, that for many businesses RFID can be overkill for managing what are often simple processes; and second, that there remains considerable life in traditional barcode solutions--existing technology continues to offer a proven and cost effective, although perhaps less high profile, method of stock control, tracking and management.