Building Your RFID Use-Case Evaluation Plan
Building Your RFID Use-Case Evaluation Plan
After all of the high-level strategy sessions and ROI spreadsheets the decisions around implementing RFID can trigger, there is still one thing left to figure out: will it work? A major step in the implementation process is evaluating RFID technology to determine if it meets your requirements.
There are a number of different methods you can use to examine the realities of RFID to see if it synchs with your calculations and expectations. One approach many companies are using is a pseudo-scientific method of testing the equipment in the environment it is to be used in, with the assets to be tracked. This is often referred to as use-case testing.
Use-case testing is very beneficial to companies that are just getting started with RFID. It can quickly demonstrate how RFID may, or may not, work. Current users will go through the same steps when deciding whether to introduce RFID to a new part of their operations. A great byproduct of this process is that it allows people that are new to RFID to get some hands-on experience.
For long term success, your company will need to develop ‘in-house knowledge.’ This is one way to begin building that. When approached organically with in-house talent, your cost levels rival those of the least expensive pilots, although if you bring in seasoned consultants the time savings, and even the accelerated learning curve, will probably pay off.
The first step to building a use-case evaluation is the up front analysis. The more rigorously you question your true needs, the better able you will be to select the types of equipment which to evaluate. The answers to these questions become the foundation of your test cases.
Developing a Test Scenario
The basic questions you need to start with are these:
Now you reach the old chicken-or-egg conundrum: while you are testing equipment for your needs, do you start with one particular type of tag? Or, after you decide on testing specific equipment based on your discussions with technology providers, do you test a wide variety of tags, too? Click here for an in-depth look at evaluating RFID tags, Density Testing, Speed and Distance Testing, and Durability Testing.
Once you’ve selected the equipment that seems to be a good fit, it is time to get started with the test scenarios. The goal of the testing is to help determine:
Tip for testing antennas at different heights and angles: Tripods are excellent if you don’t have a big budget. They can be purchased at most local camera, craft, electronics or even hardware stores.
All of these variables should be captured for each test. If you delve into every aspect and combination of variables, it is possible to execute hundreds of tests or more. Properly recording and analyzing all of variables captured will help determine what equipment is best suited to your requirements and exactly how it should be installed and configured. If the information is captured in a database, then reports can quickly list what scenarios had the best performance. Check with your technology providers for available software to aid in tracking and evaluating your tests.
There are a number of different methods you can use to examine the realities of RFID to see if it synchs with your calculations and expectations. One approach many companies are using is a pseudo-scientific method of testing the equipment in the environment it is to be used in, with the assets to be tracked. This is often referred to as use-case testing.
Use-case testing is very beneficial to companies that are just getting started with RFID. It can quickly demonstrate how RFID may, or may not, work. Current users will go through the same steps when deciding whether to introduce RFID to a new part of their operations. A great byproduct of this process is that it allows people that are new to RFID to get some hands-on experience.For long term success, your company will need to develop ‘in-house knowledge.’ This is one way to begin building that. When approached organically with in-house talent, your cost levels rival those of the least expensive pilots, although if you bring in seasoned consultants the time savings, and even the accelerated learning curve, will probably pay off.
The first step to building a use-case evaluation is the up front analysis. The more rigorously you question your true needs, the better able you will be to select the types of equipment which to evaluate. The answers to these questions become the foundation of your test cases.
Developing a Test Scenario
The basic questions you need to start with are these:
- What assets do you plan to track?
- How suitable is RFID for the particular application you are trying to use it for?
- Where is asset visibility required?
- At what distances do they need to be tracked?
- How often is visibility required? Once per day/hour/minute/second, or only when the asset is moved?
- How reliable is the equipment and tag reads under the given conditions?
- What is the optimal equipment configuration?
Now you reach the old chicken-or-egg conundrum: while you are testing equipment for your needs, do you start with one particular type of tag? Or, after you decide on testing specific equipment based on your discussions with technology providers, do you test a wide variety of tags, too? Click here for an in-depth look at evaluating RFID tags, Density Testing, Speed and Distance Testing, and Durability Testing.
Once you’ve selected the equipment that seems to be a good fit, it is time to get started with the test scenarios. The goal of the testing is to help determine:
Tip for testing antennas at different heights and angles: Tripods are excellent if you don’t have a big budget. They can be purchased at most local camera, craft, electronics or even hardware stores.
All of these variables should be captured for each test. If you delve into every aspect and combination of variables, it is possible to execute hundreds of tests or more. Properly recording and analyzing all of variables captured will help determine what equipment is best suited to your requirements and exactly how it should be installed and configured. If the information is captured in a database, then reports can quickly list what scenarios had the best performance. Check with your technology providers for available software to aid in tracking and evaluating your tests.
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