Wiha, manufacturer of hand tools for professional use in trade and industry, has partnered with nVentic, the inventory optimisation specialists, to optimise its inventory management capabilities.
Automatic Identification/Datacapture, AIDC, RFID
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the process of automatically identifying and collecting data about objects/goods, then logging this information in a computer. The term AIDC refers to a range of different types of data capture devices. These include barcodes, biometrics, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), magnetic stripes, smart cards, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and voice recognition. AIDC devices are deployed in a wide range of environments, including: retail, warehousing, distribution & logistics and field service. The first RFID solutions were developed in 1980s. It has since been deployed in a range of markets including Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems due to RFID's ability to track moving objects. RFID is also effective in challenging manufacturing environments where barcode labels might not prove resilient enough.
2024 Sophos Threat Report: Cybercrime on Main Street details cyberthreats facing SMBs
Mar 14, 2024
Sophos has released its annual 2024 Sophos Threat Report, with this year’s report detailing ‘Cybercrime on Main Street’ and the biggest threats facing small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs*).
RAIN Alliance reports 32% Increase in global RAIN RFID chip shipments as adoption and usage diversifies across multiple industries
Mar 12, 2024
RAIN Alliance has today announced that 44.8bn RAIN RFID tag chips were shipped globally in 2023. This figure represents year-on-year growth of 32%, and reflects increasing demand across a variety of industries for technology solutions that improve transparency, efficiency, traceability and sustainability.
PayCargo and Rippey AI partner to bring innovation to growing logistics payments network
Mar 05, 2024
Logistics payments and data infrastructure platform PayCargo has announced a partnership with Rippey AI, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven company that produces automation solutions for freight forwarders/NVOCC, 3PLs, ocean carriers, trucking companies, and shippers.
Ergonomic Solutions: Delivering customer engagement at EuroCIS2024
Feb 29, 2024
Recognizing the need for enabling innovative digital customer experiences, Ergonomic Solutions will showcase a comprehensive lineup of engaging customer facing solutions to drive personal interaction in retail and hospitality environments at EuroCIS 2024 (Hall 9 A40) in Dusseldorf from 27th – 29th February.
89% of consumers say it is important to them that a small business has ethical values, survey reveals
Feb 22, 2024
As consumer awareness grows around the consequences of their buying choices, the focus has turned towards the ethical conduct of enterprises - with particular attention on small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
Avast blocks record breaking 10 billion attacks in 2023 – Nearly a 50% Increase from Previous Year
Feb 15, 2024
Avast reports that it blocked an unprecedented 10 billion attacks in 2023 for a remarkable 49% increase year-over-year.
According to the latest quarterly Avast Threat Report, which looks at the threat landscape from October-December 2023, scams, phishing and malvertising continue to account for more than 75% of all cyber threats.
Underwhelming in-store device experience tempers consumer excitement for AI in retail
Feb 14, 2024
New research from SOTI has found that while 95% of UK consumers have used in-store tech, only 23% believe in-store devices – such as kiosks, tablets, scanners and mobile computers – enhance their experience.
Dakota Integrated Solutions ranks 79th in the Latest Tussell Tech200 list of fastest-growing public sector technology companies
Feb 01, 2024
Real-time data capture, printing, mobility and voice-directed solutions specialist Dakota Integrated Solutions has been ranked 79th in the latest Tussell Tech200 list of the top 200 fastest-growing public sector technology companies.
Why choose phones with antibacterial surfaces?
Jan 22, 2024
In recent times, there has been a greater focus on hygiene in the workplace, likely spurred on by the COVID pandemic. While some germs are completely harmless, others can cause unpleasant illnesses.
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC)
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the methods of automatically identifying objects, collecting data about them, and entering that data directly into computer systems (i.e. without human involvement). Technologies typically considered as part of AIDC include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), biometrics, magnetic stripes, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), smart cards, and voice recognition. AIDC is also commonly referred to as “Automatic Identification,” “Auto-ID,” and "Automatic Data Capture."
Barcoding has become established in several industries as an inexpensive and reliable automatic identification technology that can overcome human error in capturing and validating information. AIDC is the process or means of obtaining external data, particularly through analysis of images, sounds or videos. To capture data, a transducer is employed which converts the actual image or a sound into a digital file which can be later analysed. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is relatively a new AIDC technology which was first developed in 1980’s. The technology acts as a base in automated data collection, identification and analysis systems worldwide
In the decades since its creation, barcoding has become highly standardised, resulting in lower costs and greater accessibility. Indeed, word processors now can produce barcodes, and many inexpensive printers print barcodes on labels. Most current barcode scanners can read between 12 and 15 symbols and all their variants without requiring configuration or programming. For specific scans the readers can be pre-programmed easily from the user manual.
Despite these significant developments, the adoption of barcoding has been slower in the healthcare sector than the retail and manufacturing sectors. Barcoding can capture and prevent errors during medication administration and is now finding its way from the bedside into support operations within the hospital.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data. Unlike a bar code, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight of the reader, and may be embedded in the tracked object. It can also be read only or read-write enabling information to be either permanently stored in the tag or it can be read-write where information can be continually updated and over-written on the tag.
RFID has found its importance in a wide range of markets including livestock identification and Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems and are now commonly used in tracking consumer products worldwide. Many manufacturers use the tags to track the location of each product they make from the time it's made until it's pulled off the shelf and tossed in a shopping cart. These automated wireless AIDC systems are effective in manufacturing environments where barcode labels could not survive. They can be used in pharmaceutical to track consignments, they can also be used in cold chain distribution to monitor temperature fluctuations. This is particularly useful to ensure frozen and chilled foods have not deviated from the required temperature parameters during transit.
Cost used to be a prohibitive factor in the widespread use of RFID tags however the unit costs have reduced considerably to make this a viable technology to improve track and trace throughout the supply chain. Many leading supermarket chains employ RFID insisting that their suppliers incorporate this technology into the packaging of the products in order to improve supply chain efficiency and traceability.
