RFID (Radio Frequency identification) is leading the future for businesses by innovating the way we track tools and equipment. Its evolution has seen it become much more powerful and intelligent, while its capabilities are now extensive.
Here at RedBite, we have teamed up with RF Controls, to integrate their state-of-the-art passive RTLS CS smart antennas into our flagship product, itemit. This gives our customers an innovative opportunity to tag more products and assets with fewer limitations, particularly within the manufacturing industry.
RF Controls’ CS antennas are a smarter way to locate RFID tags using 3D technology. This blog will give an insight into how their technology works, the benefits and who we both are.
Who are RedBite Solutions and What is itemit?
RedBite Solutions is an IoT and RFID software provider, offering inventory track and trace products and solutions to both end users and partners around the world. RedBite’s flagship product: itemit, is a powerful asset tracking software with QR, Barcode, Mobile & Fixed RFID and GPS capabilities. itemit allows users to create an asset register, export asset reports, track asset locations, assign assets to employees, set maintenance reminders and so much more!
Who are RF Controls?
RF Controls provide revolutionary antenna technology. Their technology eliminates barriers end users previously faced, while also reducing costs for RFID deployment. RF Controls’ smart antenna hardware enables use of passive Ultra-High Frequency RFID in real time location systems, with their technology they aim to identify, locate and track passive RFID tags.
RF Controls’ technology is the next generation RFID. It defies the “conventional” RFID capabilities that we are so familiar with since RedBite’s founders worked on RFID back in 2000. Its phased array technology surpassed conventional fixed RFID readers in terms of performance, range and even cost – providing the first true 2D or even 3D location positioning using passive RFID tags.
But what is it that makes their technology stand out? Let’s take a look.
CS Smart Antenna
The CS Smart Antenna, really is smart. This unique piece of technology is what puts RF Controls ahead in the RFID industry. It’s revolutionary. Just picture this, you’re trying to locate an item in a huge warehouse, you know it’s in there but you don’t know which aisle, which shelf or even which slot on the shelf. Previously, this meant a lot of time was spent searching. That’s where this unique piece of technology comes in. Imagine a spotlight shining down to show you where your items are: RF Controls’ antennas do just this by allowing you to identify exactly where a piece of kit, part or product is within your factory or workspace. From the minute a product arrives with an RFID tag, these powerful antennas will pick them up from the get go and track its journey through your workspace!
So how does this technology work? The CS smart antenna technology allows hands-free, constant scanning using 3D location of passive UHF tags at a distance significantly further than any conventional RFID readers. RF Controls offer two types of antennas, the CS-445 can read passive RFID tags as far as 30ft (about 9 metres) whilst the larger sized CS-490 can go as far as 50ft (about 15 metres) away! The CS antennas are ideal for high-ceilings and wide areas particularly beneficial in the manufacturing industry.
itemit and RFID
itemit is a powerful system built on a range of auto-ID technologies, including RFID. Within your itemit workspace, not only can you take advantage of all of our powerful features including assignee, locations, collections, reports and more, you can also connect both handheld and fixed RFID readers out-the-box! itemit has a dedicated tab within all Pro workspaces known as the devices tab. In here you’ll be able to connect all RFID readers you wish to use alongside itemit. Once you have paired your RFID devices you’ll be able to get full visibility over your data and use this data in your day to day operations and decision making.
The Benefits
There are many benefits to deploying itemit and RF Controls’ smart antennas to supercharge your asset tracking. Let’s take a look at what those benefits are!
itemit’s simplistic approach to RFID means there are are no upfront setting up fees whatsoever. Instead you’ll find you can pay a low-cost monthly subscription. Say goodbye to prohibitive set-up and installation costs entirely!
Another advantage is the itemit mobile app also can be paired with your RFID readers, so no matter where you’re you’ll be able to check in on your devices thanks to itemit’s cloud-based software.
With itemit RFID you’ll be able to use both handheld readers and fixed readers. Handheld readers are great for a more manual approach to scanning as they’re perfect for when on the go auditing is required, as you can easily move them around. Fixed RFID readers, on the other hand, are great for automated asset tracking, as they can simply be fitted to a room and continuously update your assets’ location data.. With RF Controls’ antennas, too, you get even more insight into your assets’ locations. All of which can be viewed clearly in your itemit workspace.
Location tracking is simple with itemit RFID. Bringing itemit’s asset tracking software and RFID together has never been easier, as you can utilise your RFID data to pull off useful reports, ideal for auditing, asset lifecycle tracking and stock checks.
RF controls’ smart antennas are opening opportunities for RFID to be used by smaller organisations and companies that RFID couldn’t work for in the past due to hardware limitations. Their smart antennas will allow longer reading ranges, higher ceiling deployments and can even work alongside low-cost tags, making this RFID solution more in reach of those with limited budgets.
Before RF Controls’ smart antennas, there wasn’t RFID technology that read thousands of tags automatically and simultaneously from long distances, either. Due to this many would rely on handheld readers which can be costly and require human intervention, which isn’t suitable in some environments. RF controls’ smart antennas require minimal human intervention, cutting costs and the need for training resources and can read significantly larger quantities of data. Not to mention they also offer real-time visibility. Their solution is ideal for large workspaces, including manufacturing plants, and large retail spaces as it allows workers to move products faster and in an efficient manner.
A further benefit sees RF Controls’ technology reducing labour costs, as their readers can instantly capture tags as soon as they arrive into a warehouse or large workspace thanks to their long read ranges and high ceiling deployments. This also means less work is required for the unloading and processing of products. As well as going hand in hand with helping to manage inventory, you can know what is entering and leaving your workspace instantly, and therefore improve your replenishment processes.
Be a Part of itemit And RF Controls’ Partnership Today
It’s clear RF controls’ smart antennas can offer businesses a higher Return On Investment through reducing costs, labour and giving greater visibility over a company’s products. itemit can store your important data, produce reports and organise your products anytime, from anywhere alongside your RFID deployment. So why not make the investment and see for yourself just what RF Controls and itemit can offer your business.
Sign up today to itemit’s free 14-day trial or contact the team at team@itemit.com for more information on RFID. If you’d like to find out more on RF controls’ smart antenna technology the team at itemit are also happy to help and can put you in touch with an RF Controls advisor. We look forward to solving your asset tracking challenges quickly and at unbeatable costs.
