What Is RFID?
RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) is a technology that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. Tags store information electronically and are read remotely by RFID readers, with no line-of-sight or physical contact required.
How RFID Is Used
RFID is used widely for inventory management, access control and asset tracking. Tags come in three forms: passive tags draw power from the reader's signal, active tags carry their own power source for longer range, and semi-passive tags combine both, making RFID a versatile fit for supply chain management, retail and healthcare.
An RFID system has three main parts: tags attached to items, readers that interrogate them, and a backend system that turns reads into usable records. Because readers capture many tags at once without contact, RFID excels at bulk operations, receiving a full pallet in one pass, counting shelf stock in minutes, and it continues to drive innovation in supply chain, retail and healthcare operations.
Components of an RFID System
Why RFID Matters in the Supply Chain
Contactless, bulk-readable identification changes warehouse and retail operations:
- Whole pallets read in seconds without line of sight
- Real-time inventory accuracy across locations
- Faster goods receipt and dispatch
- Reduced shrinkage and misplacement
- Asset tracking for returnable containers and equipment
- Foundation data for traceability programmes
RFID and Authentication: Where Acviss Fits
RFID answers "where is it?" but not "is it genuine?": tags can be cloned or transplanted. Acviss pairs logistics-grade identification with consumer-grade authentication, using non-cloneable labels and secure QR codes from Certify.
Origin ingests identification events, RFID reads included, into unit-level traceability, so movement data and authenticity verdicts live in one record per product.
Combine Identification with Authentication via Certify
RFID tells you where stock is; secure identities prove it is genuine. Built for brands and manufacturers.
Book a Free DemoFrequently Asked Questions
Radio-Frequency Identification, a technology that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects, read remotely without line-of-sight or physical contact.
Tags (passive, active or semi-passive), readers that emit radio waves and capture tag data, antennae that shape read zones, and a backend database or system that processes and stores the reads.
Passive tags have no battery and draw power from the reader's signal, giving short range at low cost. Active tags carry their own power source, enabling longer-range communication and continuous broadcasting. Semi-passive tags sit between the two.
Inventory management, goods receipt and dispatch, pallet and case tracking, returnable asset tracking, retail stock accuracy and access control across warehouses, factories and stores.
Only partially. Standard RFID tags can be cloned or moved to fake products, so RFID works best for logistics identification, paired with non-cloneable authentication technologies that prove each unit is genuine.
