CounterPath Corporation, a global provider of Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) solutions for enterprises and service providers, has partnered with Honeywell to create Smart Talk -- a new Unified Communications (UC) software solution that enables organizations to streamline communications, increase productivity, and enhance customer experiences by allowing mobile workers to connect and collaborate on the devices they already use in their daily operations.
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.
FutureProof Retail's scan and go solution featured at NRF 2020
Jan 14, 2020
utureProof Retail’s scan and go mobile checkout solutions featured in National Retail Federation Big Show 2020 with implementation workshops, solution demos for fashion and grocery retailers, and live store tours!
QR Code celebrates 25 Years of innovative Data Collection
Dec 17, 2019
The QR Code was invented for Toyota by DENSO in 1994 by Masahiro Hara. In 2014, it won the European Inventor Award. 25 years later, the question arises as to whether the QR Code requires a security update. DENSO WAVE EUROPE meets these requirements with the Secure QR Code (SQRC®).
Leading 3PL selects TouchStar as part of major IT investment
Dec 17, 2019
UK-based manufacturer of rugged mobile computers, TouchStar Technologies, has announced that Avon Freight Group, a leading 3PL, has selected TouchStar’s TS8000 handheld mobile computers.
Nets trials face payments in Copenhagen
Dec 16, 2019
With the tagline ‘Hungry? Face it’, Nets, provider of digital payment services across Europe, has launched a pilot programme testing facial recognition as a payment method.
mPOS transaction values to exceed $1.9 trillion by 2024, fuelled by new use cases
Dec 16, 2019
A new report from Juniper Research has found that biometric authentication will be used to secure $2.5 trillion worth of mobile payment transactions by 2024, an increase of almost 1,000% on the $228 billion expected to be transacted through the method by the end of 2019.
Simoldes` just-in-time (JIT) productivity increases significantly with ZetesMedea
Dec 13, 2019
assets/files/images/18_12_19/image Simolde's.jpgThe Simoldes Group produce car door panels for several major international automotive brands. In order to efficiently respond to the demanding requirements of the sector for increased personalisation, they selected ZetesMedea using pick to light (PTL) technology to optimise their just-in-time (JIT) assembly line operations.
Made for high speed sorting applications: AV500™, the new imager by Datalogic
Dec 10, 2019
Datalogic introduces the AV500™ imager, an innovative 2D image-based barcode reader developed for sorting applications. The new imager solves high speed applications in retail e-Commerce, postal/parcel sortation and airport baggage handling, covering all conveyor sizes, as well as static reading applications.
Barcoding, Inc. honours Fleet Farm with Innovator of the Year Award
Dec 10, 2019
Barcoding, Inc. has named Fleet Farm the 2019 recipient of the Innovator of the Year award.
New line of premium mounts simplifies assembly process with quick slide-and-click connections
Dec 10, 2019
StarTech.com has announced the introduction of a new family of premium monitor mounts that provide space-saving, display mounting solutions. These new monitor mounts incorporate an innovative quick slide-and-click feature that saves time in the assembly process. Ideal for customer-facing environments where appearance matters, these mounts offer superior construction and a premium finish without the premium price tag.
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.
