OK, I know when you look at this blog, it seems wrong on so many levels.  A non-techie writing about RFID?  A non-techie blogging? 

If you had asked me two years ago what RFID stood for I may have looked at you with a dumbfounded look on my face and replied “Really Fun Irish Dancing?”

If you had asked me two weeks ago what  blogging was I would have told you it’s what teenagers use as a diary.

Two years and two weeks later I know better.  I know that RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and that blogging is also a great marketing tool.

I have delved into the world of RFID through BlueBean and RFIDSupplyChain.com.  In an effort to assist them with their marketing, I have learned quite a bit along the way.  I may not be able to tell you which RFID reader would work best for your particular application, but I can tell you that RFID is being used in many industries in ways that you may not even be aware of.

Stores like WalMart and BestBuy use RFID systems in order to track their inventory and to keep the shelves stocked appropriately so that you and I can always find what we are looking for when we shop.  Hospitals are using RFID to track valuable equipment and even staff in order to serve patients better, especially in an emergency situation.

If you are new to the RFID scene, then stay tuned.  I’ll be filling you in on RFID technology from a non-techie’s point of view.  I’ll also tell you how we have been educating industries and individuals about RFID and how it can be used to save time and money.

Now, if I can just figure out how to post this….

Did you know that in many countries, RFID is being used on vehicle license plates in order to ensure drivers are registering their cars appropriately?

It’s true.  These systems are called electronic vehicle registration (EVR) or electronic vehicle identification (EVI).  How does it work?  RFID tags are embedded in decals on windshields or license plates.  Then, RFID readers are set up at intersections and officials can even use handheld RFID readers when they make a traffic stop.  The system allows these countries to make sure that the vehicles are insured, the registration is up to date and any taxes or fees are up-to-date.

And, according to the RFID Journal, “Another potential benefit of deploying EVR and EVI systems is their ability to count the number of cars that drive on a particular roadway during a specified period of time. Many cities worldwide have increasing levels of traffic, but were not designed to accommodate vehicles.”

RFID’s use is indeed widespread.  What do you think?  Should the US consider a similar program?  Let me know your thoughts!

As the mom of two little girls, I am becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues and steps that I can take to make a difference for them and future generations.  I use energy-efficient lightbulbs, reuse plastic containers and bags as much as I can, turn off the lights when I don’t need them on and we always make a point to recycle.  So when I saw this article about Kraft and its recycling program I was thrilled.  Here’s a big manufacturer taking steps to help our environment.

Check it out.  Kraft foods has started a pilot program where they reward people for recycling!  According to RFID Journal, “Kraft is the "official food sponsor" of RecycleBank, which has been expanding its offering across the United States with technology to weigh recycling bins as they are lifted into the recycling truck, while also recording whose recyclables are being weighed. The consumer can then use that record to download a variety of coupons and other rewards, based on the amount of recycling they did.”  Read the article.

So how does RFID play a role?  The bins are tagged with RFID tags and each customer has a unique ID code on their bin and to use when they log in online.

How awesome is that?!?  Let’s hope some other manufacturers join in the program too.

Let’s talk now about how RFID is being used to improve healthcare and how RFID can be used in hospitals.

The RFID technology allows verification of the patient and procedure as well as surgical site.  This can be verified pre-op and in the operating room.

We hear about it on the news all to often that the surgeon performs an operation on the wrong appendage or even performs the wrong operation. 
This use of RFID technology would eliminate any confusion.  This is good news for people like you and me.  Now, the question is, does your hospital use RFID at all?  You may want to check into it!

And, by the way, if your hospital doesn’t currently use RFID, BlueBean has great solutions for healthcare systems looking to use RFID in their facilities.  To find out more, check out RFIDHealthcare.com.

So, we’ve talked about how RFID works and how you can get the technical help you need.  Now, let’s talk about a really great RFID product that is simple and easy to use (even for a non-techie!).

The BlueBean Simple Conveyor Portal is a radio frequency identification (RFID) conveyor portal/tunnel solution that is specifically designed to be used with existing conveyors.  The portal uses T-slot technology (if I can do it, so can you!) for easy modifications and assembly.  It’s so easy that only one hand-tool is required and it’s even included with your kit!

And the best part is that you can use your existing RFID equipment to get this portal up and running.  And, if you don’t have existing RFID equipment, you can order that at RFIDSupplyChain.com too!

Additionally, the BlueBean RFID Simple Conveyor Portal Solution kit allows for adjustable antenna mounts and four-side read capability  -- that means less errors and greater productivity.  Even better, the BlueBean RFID Simple Conveyor Portal Solution can be customized for your specific application.  Now that is simple!

Thanks to everyone who sent me their marketing ideas, tips and tricks.  No surprise that many of you said that you are branching out into the world of blogging as a way of reaching more people while staying on a budget.

There seems to be some general ideas that apply whether you are selling RFID equipment, some other technology or dog grooming supplies!  Here they are:

We’ve talked a lot about the various components of an RFID system and how they work.  Now, let’s talk a little about marketing these products.

One of the best ways to get your company name out in public view and without spending a whole lot of money is a press release.  Press releases can be distributed to industry publications and other niche publications that apply to your specific product.  In addition, there are a number of submission sites online that will distribute your release for free.

We also use a number of pay sites that guarantee inclusion on google and a number of other search engines.  Everyone has heard the old adage…the best publicity is free publicity.  Press releases are a great way to do that. 

Here is an example of a press release that we sent to industry publications.  Material Handling Management picked up our press release on the BlueBean Dock Door Kit and featured it on their website.

This was great publicity for our company and our product and the only cost was our time and effort to write and send out this release.  Pretty cool.  Let me know if you have any tips or tricks on getting free publicity…I look forward to hearing from you!

I was chatting online with one of my fellow bloggers the other day.  He was telling me that the warehouse he works in is going to be receiving and processing RFID-tagged items in the near future.  Being somewhat of a non-techie himself, especially where RFID is concerned, he asked me if I knew how this might work and if I could explain it in non-techie terms.  Well, the first thing I told him was that I had to sit down because no one had ever asked ME for RFID advice before!  But seriously, I did know of a great RFID solution for his company…The BlueBean EasyInbound.

The EasyInbound is a RFID case receiving line, specifically designed and engineered to efficiently and accurately process both RFID labeled and non-RFID labeled cases.  As the boxes move down the BlueBean EasyInbound RFID case receiving line, the conveyor’s zones control spacing between boxes which allows for proper separation.  The box then passes through a lightweight RFID conveyor portal that is framed with RF-reflective mesh screens and over RF-transparent conveyor rollers to ensure bottom read capability.  These components provide highly accurate RFID receiving read rates.

Once the box goes through the portal on the EasyInbound RFID case receiving line, the status lights will indicate whether or not the box had an RFID read.  If the RFID tag on the box was successfully read, the green status light illuminates and it continues down the line. If the RFID tag was not successfully read, the red status light illuminates and it is automatically pushed off the line and down a conveyor specifically for non-RFID labeled cases or RFID labeled cases that failed to read.

So, now, I tell my friend, his warehouse can process both RFID-tagged and non-RFID shipments.   Awesome and, dare I say it, Easy(Inbound)! 

So, there you have it, my first bit of RFID advice.  Keep those questions coming, fellow bloggers.  And, if I don’t know the answer, I’ll check in with one of my fellow RFID techies and attempt to translate to something us non-techies can understand!  Looking forward to hearing from you.

In the meantime, check out BlueBean's EasyInbound in action...

Now that we know all of the components of the RFID system, don't you wish you could simply order one kit that contains all of the pieces you need to RFID-enable your system?

Well, BlueBean has done just that for any company looking for Dock Door Kits.  These kits can be ordered with components from the top RFID manufacturers including Alien, Impinj, Intermec, Motorola and Omron.

BlueBean's Dock Door kits include the following:

• portal
• reader
• power supply
• antenna
• cables
  
  
  It couldn't be easier!  The portal uses T-slot technology for easy assembly and modifications and needs only one simple hand tool to assemble (this is included).  In addition, adjustable antenna brackets allow users to optimize antenna placement.
  
  Wow...did you ever imagine RFID could be so easy?  I'll tell you more soon...stay tuned!

Wow, we have covered lots of ground on the different parts of the RFID system the additional components.  Now, let's talk about software.

RFID software makes reading and retrieving the tag data easier.  Products like BlueBean's RFIDSimpleware, which comes in a few different version for different readers, allows you to easily retrieve tag data without having to write any code yourself (hey, is that perfect for us non-techies or what?)

Other software, such as Integral RFID's Hotspot assists the user in determining the best place to place the tag on your products to optimize readability.

Once again, although not a necessary component of the RFID system, it certainly can make RFID implementation easier.

Stay tuned for more non-techie RFID talk coming to a blog near you soon!

We’ve talked about the necessary components of the RFID system – the reader, tags and antenna.  Now, let’s talk about some other components that enhance this system.  First, the RFID Portal.

The RFID portal is commonly placed around doorways, dock doors and conveyors.  Many portals come complete with the reader and antenna which are mounted on the portal.   When the tagged items pass through the portal, the RFID antenna reads the tags and sends the info to the reader (sound familiar).

Portals make it easy to RFID-enable shipping and receiving functions in a company and allow companies to easily track assets.  Another great component for finding the blue bean!

Ready for software?  We’ll talk about it next time…in non-techie lingo of course!

The RFID Antenna is the last of the three necessaray components (the other two we already discussed -- the RFID reader and the RFID tag).

To put it simply, the RFID antenna is what "connects" the tag to the reader.  When a tag passes by the reader it is the antenna that transmits the tag's signal to the reader.

There are a few different types of antennas.  Linear antennas are used if the tags always pass by the reader in the same way.  Circular antennas are used if the orientation of the tag cannot be controlled.

So, now we have covered the three necessary components of an RFID system.  We'll talk about some other add-on components such as RFID portals, software and RFID printers in upcoming blogs.

Tag...you're it!  Gotcha...now read on to find out about RFID tags....

As we talked about previously, the RFID reader is needed in order to read the individual RFID tags.  An RFID tag is placed on each object that needs to be tracked, just as a barcode is placed on items.

However, RFID tags can hold a lot more information than a barcode.  RFID tags can track each individual item whereas a barcode is the same on every similar bottle of shampoo.  So, with RFID tags you can track down to a specific item (remember, that's the bluebean!)

Now that you have delved into the world of RFID, you have probably heard the main components of an RFID system.  The necessary components are the RFID reader, the antenna and RFID tags. Other components, such as RFID portals, can be used but are not necessary in a functioning RFID system. 

I will explain each of these components in some non-techie language so that you can understand what each component is and what it does.  Today, we will cover the RFID reader.

Unlike bar codes where the reader needs to “see” the barcode in order to recognize it, RFID readers need to only “hear” the tags (we’ll talk about tags next time).  The RFID reader is an integral part of the RFID system.  The reader logs the information from each tag that passes by it and stores the data. 

Think of the scanner at the supermarket as its parallel in the barcode world.  The advantage to RFID, however, is that it can read multiple tags at the same time.  This is unlike a bar code that has to “see’ each bar code before it can register.

Stay tuned for your non-techie tutorial on RFID tags…I know you’ll be waiting anxiously!  

As I have previously talked about, branding and company name are very important.  You want a name that is easy to remember and one that tells a story. 
Of course, this doesn't mean that somewhere out there that someone else didn't think of the same company name or using something similar.  Sometimes when we say "BlueBean" to someone they think we are a coffee shop (that would be some funky blue cofffee) or exercise equipment (have you seen the infomercial yet...you could have lost 20 pounds already!)

When one of my colleagues was looking for BlueBean online, he came across this video on YouTube when searching under "BlueBean."

Now I could be wrong but I don't think this "Blue Bean" can tell you which RFID reader you may need or which version of RFID middleware would work best for you.  But it just goes to show that you never know when someone else may use your company name for something that is totally unrelated to your company's purpose.

I guess that's the one of the challenges of marketing.

Until next time...

Perhaps you’re in the same boat as I am…you understand the concept of RFID (note…if you don’t, read my blog on what the bluebean is).  However, you don’t fully understand the technical aspects of it.  But here’s the worst part…your boss just dropped you an email that said “We need to find out about using RFID at our facility – report back to me in a month on your findings.” 

Well, if you’re like me, the sweat starts to break out, your palms are clammy, you think to yourself, can I find another job before this deadline?” 

RELAX!  Take a deep breath and know that the super BlueBean Tech Team is here to save the day!  (insert superhero music of your choice here).

OK, so we know from the old song, the Reader is connected to the antenna and the antenna connects to the tags (isn’t that how it goes?)  But, where to put the reader, where to put the antenna and where to put the tags? 

Seemingly impossible answers to you and I are only a job for the BlueBean Tech Team!  They can tell you exactly what you need faster than a speeding bullet (well, OK, maybe not that fast but they know their stuff!)

As BlueBean executive (and perhaps undercover superhero himself) Gregg Maggioli says “RFID technology can be intimidating.  With BlueBean’s Tech Team, clients can feel at ease knowing that an expert is at their disposal to install their systems and answer their questions.”

So, rest at ease, my fellow non-techies…the BlueBean Tech Team is here to save the day.

Until next time…

One day my then four-year-old daughter was looking at my computer and asked  “Mom, what is a bluebean anyway?”  OK, not only am I a non-techie but  now I have to explain it in language a four-year-old will understand?  Yikes!

Let me tell you what it says on the BlueBean website:  The items you need to track, anything from cases of goods throughout a supply chain to mobile assets throughout a facility, let’s just call them beans. You need to know where all of your “beans” are at any given time. Radio Frequency Identification technology gives you that visibility and more. It allows you to locate any individual bean if it is properly tagged. That's the blue bean!

The company name BlueBean is a great example of creating a name and a brand that tells a story.  That’s an important part of your marketing and really the first step you need to take in order to market your company effectively and efficiently.

When the company began the executives knew that they didn’t want another name that started with RFID.  Why?  Because every other company out there doing RFID seemed to have a similar name.  They wanted something that would stand out…hence the BlueBean.  When someone is looking for RFID consulting or RFID equipment it’s a lot easier to remember the name BlueBean than one of the dozens of “RFID XYZ” companies out there.

So, now you know how BlueBean relates to RFID….pass it on!

Until next time….