 A critical part of improving a business process is to make it faster and more consistent. Automatic Identification technologies such as Barcode, RFID, Signature Capture, and Magnetic Stripe are emerging as critical components in these systems. They make the identification of people, products, date codes, serial numbers, etc quicker and more accurate.
What type of wireless technology best applies to your operation?
Each of the following sections contains information about technologies and links to the Solutions and Industries where we use these technologies to improve operations. To learn more, please click on one of these links or contact us (949)-600-6970.
 The barcode is familiar to most of us thanks to the UPC code that is required on most retail packages. For the grocery industry, the benefits of barcode - faster and more accurate identification of products - provided huge savings for the industry. Internal deployment of barcode for tracking of assets and inventory allows organizations to gain better control of internal operations without putting administrative burdens on staff. Thermal printing is the most popular and widely used of the identification technologies to date due to low cost and ease of implementation.
Types include:
- Linear Barcode
- 2D Barcode
Linear barcode is simpler and more common. The lines and spaces on a typical barcode are read by a scanner using a moving laser beam (or laser pattern) or image capture technology. Image capture technologies (CMOS, CCD, and Imager) are usually cheaper and less susceptible to damage since they have no moving parts. However, laser scanners still offer better performance with faster decoding and greater depths of field. Common 'symbologies' or types of barcode include:
- Code 39
- UPC/EAN
- Code 128
- I2of5
- Codabar
Each symbology enjoys advantages over the other in space utilization, character support, and error correction. Take care in choosing the one with the best fit for your application.
Common uses of linear bar code include a myriad of item and inventory tracking systems. These systems include warehouse management, fixed asset tracking, mobile item tracking, package tracking, work-in-process tracking, and document storage.
2D barcode allows the encoding of more data in a smaller space. These barcodes take more planning and require special equipment to implement making them less popular. However, in situations where more than just a single part number or ID number is required, they can be very useful. The most common types of 2D barcode include:
Common uses of 2D barcode include recording of personal information on driver's licenses and trade show cards, encoding of specific product information (date code, lot number, manufacturer, etc.) directly on products, and specific delivery information for package delivery.
Need more information about these technologies?
To find out more about these technologies and how they can apply to your operation, please browse through the Solutions we offer, the Industries we typically work with, or contact us (949)-600-6970.
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 Short for Radio Frequency Identification, RFID offers more data capacity than a linear barcode. Additionally, since RIFD uses radio waves for identification (instead of an image or pattern), no line of site is required. RFID reader can read tags that are not visible.
Two types of RFID tags are:
Active tags contain a transmitter that typically relies on battery power. Since the signal comes from the tag, read range is superior to passive tags and read rates are more reliable. Cost is one of the major issues with these types of systems as each tag can run $30 to $50. A common use for RFID active tags is the 'transponder' used with many state toll ways across the nation.
Passive tags consist of a very small memory chip and antennae. When they come into close proximity to a reader, the reader 'energizes' the tag causing it to send back the information contained in the chip. Since passive tags rely on the reader for power, they are much more affordable and simpler to implement. A passive tag can sell for little as a $1 per tag.
Despite the inherent advantages, cost and lack of standards have plagued this technology. Recent mandates by Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense promise to help both problems for passive tags. Since both organizations seemed to agree on a single emerging standard (EC) others can feel more secure in adopting it. Additionally, the principal of economies of scale should lead to cost reductions in the tag price as more organizations start to order more of the same tags in greater and greater volumes.
Need more information about these technologies?
To find out more about these technologies and how they can apply to your operation, please browse through the Solutions we offer, the Industries we typically work with, or contact us (949)-600-6970.
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 One of the oldest and most common ways to give an authentic indication of your identification (and approval) is the personal signature. Used as a mainstay in legal and financial transactions, the signature still maintains a firm presence in the digital age with signature capture technologies. Using touch sensitive screens, many devices now capture signatures electronically. The device records a digital image file showing the signature and a date and time stamp that can help prove the identity of the person in a way that other identification technologies cannot.
Deployment of this technology does involve some problems however. Specialized devices with specific programming are required to capture the signature. Developers must create or adapt databases to hold the image files that use much more memory. Although more likely to authenticate the user, the benefits of speed and accuracy associated with the other technologies are not present. A signature, by its nature is a slow way to identify oneself. Accuracy typically cannot be determined electronically requiring a human being to verify the signature is accurate.
For this reason, organizations commonly use signature capture in conjunction with another identification technology (such as barcode with UPS or FedEx or magnetic stripe when used for credit cards). Common uses for this technology include package tracking and POS systems.
Need more information about these technologies?
To find out more about these technologies and how they can apply to your operation, please browse through the Solutions we offer, the Industries we typically work with, or contact us (949)-600-6970.
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 Mostly seen on ID cards and credit cards, the magnetic stripe is the most common personal automatic identification technology. Personal information is magnetically encoded on a strip running along the back of the card. A swipe of the card runs the the strip by the magnetic head of the reader. The type of stripe used on credit card has the capacity to hold up to three 'tracks' of information. Typically, this is enough for name, short address, and some unique identification number.
Using a card printer/encoder, this technology is relatively cheap and easy to implement. Ideal for personal identification, software applications require specialized readers and programming to deliver data correctly. Most common uses include credit card, driver's licenses, and other ID cards.
Need more information about these technologies?
To find out more about these technologies and how they can apply to your operation, please browse through the Solutions we offer, the Industries we typically work with, or contact us (949)-600-6970.
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