RFID Are better – By a mile –

While the principle of retrieving data via scanning is the same, the similarities between RFID and bar codes end there.

I could write at length about the differences but this handy table provides a quick overview.

Using RFID technology gives organisers real-time analytics of how wearers move about and interact with your event, venue or attraction.

You can highlight busy periods, queue times, and popular attractions. Helping you constantly flex and adapt to optimise the experience for your visitors.

The types of data you will find stored on RFID tags can include identification credentials, purchasing credits, coupons, access control into hotels or VIP areas, and even social media information.

So when you walk through a checkpoint, you can choose to have your activity or photos posted to social media automatically.

These types of information don’t usually require too much data to hold them.

The biggest passive RFID tags can store up to 3720 bytes, or 3.72 kilobytes of information. This is enough to store personal data, such as someone’s name, address, credit card authorisation, and identifying information.

UHF (ultra high frequency) tags store up to 8 kilobytes of information.

For access control systems, RFID tags are usually 3 kilobytes or smaller.

Most RFID wristbands use passive tags that operate at high frequency, as such, it is impossible to track a wearers location as the tags are limited to very short distances.

However, RFID can record the last known location of a person. This can be vital and useful information for understanding traffic flow and security risks at future events.