Since the battle between touchless communications technology like RFID vs QR code began to surge, the confusion in choosing the right tech tool started.
With RFID and QR codes leading the touchless communications department, which one is better for business use?
And like the battle between traditional barcodes vs. QR codes, RFID vs QR code can stir people’s thoughts in choosing the best wireless data disseminator.
It’s no secret that RFID has existed longer than the QR code. With the RFID industry forecast of 22.8 billion dollars in 2021, the novel QR codes have a long way to grow.
But with RFID’s effectiveness in question, QR codes are stepping into the spotlight.
With COVID-19 jumpstarting their future towards safe and productive living, here are the things you should know about why RFID vs QR code exists and why you should use one now.
What is RFID?
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is a type of wireless technology that integrates radio waves to read the embedded data.
This wireless technology was first invented in 1948 and has been modified more than a hundred times to perfect a fully functional RFID system.
Charles Walton first patented his profitable RFID discoveries in the 1970s and continues to provide better solutions for the future.
It is widely used to track one’s item movement and unlock doors, and some still use this today.
Advantages and disadvantages of RFID
Modern RFID systems have been around for 50 years, and tech enthusiasts have identified their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of RFID
Provides secure data dissemination
One of the advantages RFID can provide to its users is the provision of secure data dissemination.
As they put them in keycards, the data they encrypt and decrypt requires special equipment like a microchip. Because of their robust security feature, RFID provides secure data dissemination.
Convenient to use
Just like barcodes, RFIDs are convenient to use. People have no trouble using them as it only takes a few seconds to unlock doors, transfer funds, and more.
Easy to carry
As most RFID-powered technologies are in the form of keycards, you won’t need to worry about placing them in your pockets or wallets.
Since most keycards are tailored to the sizes of the wallets generally used today, their easy-to-carry means hold great justice to the users.
Diverse application
As RFID mold comes in different spindle lengths, you can apply it to furniture and electronics, payment kiosks, merchandise tags, and more. Because of that, this technology is great for business and household use.
Multiple uses
The main reason tech enthusiasts continuously modify RFIDs is its goal to provide multiple uses for one RFID keycard. Because of that, they can make their vision a reality and provide people with multifunctional technology.
Today, RFID users can embed different command prompts in one keycard and still have different access policies for each prompt.
Disadvantages of RFID
It’s not budget-friendly
The use of RFID can cost you more than the use of other wireless technology. They need a server to maintain the data’s whereabouts, which means more expenses.
Also, the price of an RFID scanning device can cost more than the use of a regular wireless scanning device for barcodes.
It is power-dependent
Most RFID systems depend on electricity, so their power-dependent feature can harm users. Because of that, RFID users are advised only to use their keycards when the building’s power is stable.
Prone to hacking
Most RFID systems’ data are synced and secured using a server. But as security in a server can be compromised by tech-savvy people, RFIDs are prone to data alteration and hacking.
Expires after a given period
As most RFID keycards are battery-operated, occasional replacement is necessary. Because of this, the expense you spend on using RFID stacks up.
Hard to retrieve when you lose it
Once you lose your RFID keycard, you will lose access to your RFID-powered furniture and objects.
As RFID replacement can take weeks, users are forced to return to the traditional means of locking and unlocking their doors.
Uses of RFID
Inventory management
RFID best performs in the asset tracking department. As asset tracking is important for manufacturers and retailers, they use RFID to track the movement of their products in real-time.
Travel baggage tracking
As RFID asset tracking features bring promising results in tracking items in real-time, their use for travel greatly helps airline companies.
Contactless smart cards
As contactless smart cards are becoming a thing in the retail industry, RFID enables retailers to make cashless payments easy for customers.
RFID vs Barcode
The key difference between RFID lies in three notable factors:
Creation process
The creation of RFID can take weeks to complete before deploying them to its users. After the user receives the RFID tag or keycard, they program the RFID using an online RFID system maker and test them beforehand.
While creating barcodes can only take a few minutes to complete the setup.
In terms of the creation process, RFID has a more complex creation process than barcodes.
Scanning device
An RFID scanning device is limited to bulky and chunky RFID scanners. At the same time, today’s barcode scanner can be found in smartphones that support barcode scanning.
The availability of a scanning device is a must for businesses, so barcodes are better.
Ability to store data
These two wireless information disseminators can store data. But unlike barcodes, RFID can store different data prompts in one tag.
What is a QR code?
A QR code or Quick Response code, which is generated using a dynamic QR code generator, is a two-dimensional barcode type invented in 1994 by Denso Wave.
Its two-dimensional feature makes QR codes scan faster than typical one-dimensional barcodes.
These QR codes are now widely used in business, healthcare, transportation, and education.
As they are omnipresent, they are placed in posters, brochures, flyers, magazines, window panes, newspapers, product labeling, business cards, and social media posts.
Advantages and disadvantages of QR codes
With the QR code’s presence for 26 years, tech enthusiasts have pinpointed its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of QR codes
Cost-efficient
QR codes are inexpensive to make. As they don’t require money and more resources to make, QR codes are economical for small businesses and startups.
Easy to create
Unlike the creation of RFID, QR codes are way easier to make and use. With a QR code generator available online, people can easily explore how to create a QR code and use them.
Can hold different multimedia formats
Modern QR code technology can hold different multimedia formats. This includes URLs, documents, images, audio and video files, emails, and WiFi access.
Have higher damage tolerance
By looking into the features between an RFID vs QR code, a QR code can withstand any physical damages thanks to its high error correction feature.
Through it, people can still scan the QR code even if it gets damaged due to natural or man-made occurrences.
Mobile-ready
One great thing about QR codes is that people can scan them with their smartphones and access the content online. Because of this, accessing a piece of information from a QR code is within your reach.
Disadvantages of QR codes
Lack of familiarity
As much as they are welcomed in Asia, QR codes are not given importance by the Western part of the globe. Because of this problem, some people have doubts about using them.
Advertisers tend to misuse them
As advertisers improperly use QR codes, people see the incompetence QR codes make and create negative impressions of them.
As a result, people are avoiding them and may never want to give QR codes a chance for them.
Uses of QR codes
Menu QR codes
With the pandemic continuing to affect the food and hospitality industry, QR codes helped them continue their operations.
As their means of providing a safe dining experience is necessary, digital menus like Menu QR codes boost contactless technology towards its well-deserved spot.
Related: How to Make Your Restaurant or Bar Menu in a QR Code?
Audio guides and Spotify playlists
Music is a great companion in times of distress, and luckily, you can use QR codes for making audio guides and Spotify playlists.
With the use of it, people can share their favorite songs with their families by just letting them scan the QR code.
Related: How to create an audio QR code in 5 steps
Marketing Campaigns
Before QR codes stored digital menus, marketers used QR codes to intensify their marketing campaigns and gain more customers from print and digital platforms.
Burger King and L’Oréal are some brands that continually use QR codes to promote their products.
Related: Successful QR code campaigns and how these brands are killing it
File storing portal
Aside from storing text and URLs, QR codes can store file data such as PDF, DOC, Excel, PowerPoint, Video, Audio, and Image. Because of its ability to store files, businesses can easily relay important documents to their staff by scanning the File QR code.
Related: How to use a PDF QR code generator online
RFID vs QR Code – Which is better?
To decide which wireless technology businesses should use in their operations, tech enthusiasts drafted four deciding factors.
Creation cost
Comparing the cost of making these two wireless information disseminators, QR codes are cheaper than RFID.
As the materials used in making an RFID tag can cost makers a fortune, companies with a little budget should choose QR codes to save more and efficiently deploy their operations.
Setup duration
If your business is up to a quicker and faster wireless technology setup, QR codes are recommended. They will take a few minutes to set up and be placed in areas where people can see and scan them.
Security
In terms of security, QR codes are more secure than RFID. As RFIDs are power-dependent, using them in your door locks with an unstable power supply can compromise your safety.
On the other hand, QR codes have a security feature that only lets the owner take control of the data.
With RFID vs QR codes, QR codes are more secure and promote personal control for the user.
Related: QR code security: Determine a secured QR code generator
Duration of usage
As RFID only lasts for a few years, replacing them can cost businesses more than they think. Because of that, RFIDs can be a hassle in terms of usage and expense.
On the other hand, the QR code usage never expires as long as the directory doesn’t change. On this point, QR codes win in terms of duration of usage.
RFID vs. QR code: Battle for wireless information unpacking
RFID and QR codes can still go hand in hand and are no competitors as they serve different benefits.
With the information given to back up the idea, it's up to you to decide what kind of wireless technology you want to use in your business.
QR codes are best for a budget-friendly and easy-to-make wireless solution.
To start your journey with QR codes, you can always partner with the best QR code generator online, like QR
TIGER, and unlock new possibilities.
If you have more questions and require assistance with QR codes and how to use them, contact us now!
Related: QR code vs NFC tags: Why QR codes are better for your marketing
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