Contactless payments have taken a leap forward during 2020, in part driven by concerns around the potential spread of COVID-19. In the Nordics, the contactless payment ratio has grown from around 57 per cent in early January to 75 per cent of all in-store card payments in late October this year, according to data from Nets, the Nordic payment provider.
Retail Data Capture Technology News
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the process of automatically identifying and collecting data about objects/goods, then logging this information in a computer. The term AIDC refers to a range of different types of data capture devices. These include barcodes, biometrics, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), magnetic stripes, smart cards, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and voice recognition. AIDC devices are deployed in a wide range of environments, including: retail, warehousing, distribution & logistics and field service.
Central England Co-op debuts its first-ever Christmas adverts to promote ‘Goodwill to All’ this festive season
Nov 18, 2020
Central England Co-op has created its first-ever Christmas adverts all based around putting community at the heart of this festive season.
Tis the season for a customer database health check
Nov 18, 2020
By Barley Laing, UK Managing Director at Melissa.
With the festive ads of big retailers hitting our screens and Black Friday not far away, the busiest trading period of the year is getting into full swing.
Adding protection and wellbeing in consumer environments. Ergonomic Solutions introduces an antimicrobial coating to its SpacePole Technology Mounting Solutions
Nov 11, 2020
Ergonomic Solutions provides an added layer of protection across its product range designed to repel bacteria and offer an enhanced sense of wellbeing to customers at the POS, payment and service points, where the company’s solutions are installed in future.
One million members tap into Co-op’s new digital Membership app
Nov 10, 2020
Co-op has announced that more than one million shoppers have now downloaded it’s digital Membership app, unlocking extra vale and personalised offers for Members as part of the new refreshed Co-op Membership programme.
So much more than systems integration
Nov 03, 2020
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with John Greenwood, systems integration specialist, Dakota Integrated Solutions, about the company’s commitment to ensuring customers receive tailored IT solutions that are the best possible fit for their organisation, backed up by full ongoing service and support.
Data and the changing business and operational landscape
Nov 03, 2020
Special Technology report on Automatic Identification & Data Capture and Mobile Computing.
Retail Technology Review spoke with leading analysts and vendors about the current state of play within the Automatic Identification & Data Capture and Mobile Computing technology space, what potential benefits technology can afford the user in light of the current pandemic, and what might be some of the key developments and enhancements.....
PXP Financial launches new report ‘Supporting Businesses and Payments through COVID’
Oct 28, 2020
PXP Financial has launched its ‘Supporting Businesses and Payments through COVID’ report, advising businesses in gaming, retail and hospitality on best payments practice throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
PayDelay: Pandemic signals the end of the payday splurge, with money-conscious Brits now buying big at the end of each month
Oct 27, 2020
Openpay, the UK’s latest next-generation, interest-free payment solution, has found that due to the pandemic, Brits now shun the payday treat - with nearly half (46%) now waiting until the end of the month to treat themselves after assessing finances. Almost two fifths (38%) said that the pandemic had permanently changed their outlook on spending.
New Town and City Gift Cards site aims to revive UK high streets
Oct 20, 2020
Loyalty and gift card provider Miconex has developed a new Town and City Gift Cards website that features over 50 of its gift card programmes in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC)
Technologies typically considered as part of AIDC include:
- Barcodes
- QR codes
- Radio frequency identification (RFID)
- Biometrics
- Magnetic stripes
- Optical character recognition (OCR)
- Smart cards
- Voice recognition
AIDC is used in a wide variety of applications, including:
- Inventory management
- Shipping and logistics
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Retail
- Transportation
- Security
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the methods of automatically identifying objects, collecting data about them, and entering that data directly into computer systems (i.e. without human involvement). Technologies typically considered as part of AIDC include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), biometrics, magnetic stripes, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), smart cards, and voice recognition. AIDC is also commonly referred to as “Automatic Identification,” “Auto-ID,” and "Automatic Data Capture."
Barcoding has become established in several industries as an inexpensive and reliable automatic identification technology that can overcome human error in capturing and validating information. AIDC is the process or means of obtaining external data, particularly through analysis of images, sounds or videos. To capture data, a transducer is employed which converts the actual image or a sound into a digital file which can be later analysed. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is relatively a new AIDC technology which was first developed in 1980’s. The technology acts as a base in automated data collection, identification and analysis systems worldwide
In the decades since its creation, barcoding has become highly standardised, resulting in lower costs and greater accessibility. Indeed, word processors now can produce barcodes, and many inexpensive printers print barcodes on labels. Most current barcode scanners can read between 12 and 15 symbols and all their variants without requiring configuration or programming. For specific scans the readers can be pre-programmed easily from the user manual.
Despite these significant developments, the adoption of barcoding has been slower in the healthcare sector than the retail and manufacturing sectors. Barcoding can capture and prevent errors during medication administration and is now finding its way from the bedside into support operations within the hospital.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID)
RFID is the wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data. Unlike a bar code, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight of the reader, and may be embedded in the tracked object. It can also be read only or read-write enabling information to be either permanently stored in the tag or it can be read-write where information can be continually updated and over-written on the tag.
RFID has found its importance in a wide range of markets including livestock identification and Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems and are now commonly used in tracking consumer products worldwide. Many manufacturers use the tags to track the location of each product they make from the time it's made until it's pulled off the shelf and tossed in a shopping cart.
These automated wireless AIDC systems are effective in manufacturing environments where barcode labels could not survive. They can be used in pharmaceutical to track consignments, they can also be used in cold chain distribution to monitor temperature fluctuations. This is particularly useful to ensure frozen and chilled foods have not deviated from the required temperature parameters during transit.
Cost used to be a prohibitive factor in the widespread use of RFID tags however the unit costs have reduced considerably to make this a viable technology to improve track and trace throughout the supply chain. Many leading supermarket chains employ RFID insisting that their suppliers incorporate this technology into the packaging of the products in order to improve supply chain efficiency and traceability.
Overall, AIDC is a powerful technology that can be used to improve efficiency, accuracy, and traceability in a wide variety of applications. However, it is important to weigh the costs and benefits of AIDC before implementing a system.
Here are some examples of how AIDC is used in different industries:
- In the retail industry, AIDC is used to track inventory levels, scan barcodes at checkout, and prevent theft.
- In the healthcare industry, AIDC is used to track patient records, identify patients, and prevent medication errors.
- In the manufacturing industry, AIDC is used to track parts and products, automate assembly lines, and prevent counterfeiting.
- In the transportation industry, AIDC is used to track cargo, track vehicles, and prevent collisions.
AIDC is a rapidly growing field, and new applications for AIDC are being developed all the time. As AIDC technology continues to develop, it is likely to become even more widespread and have an even greater impact on our lives.
