How does RFID work

Readers can be handheld and communicate with your iOps360 app or fixed mounted to the vehicle/inventory room. Hand held readers allow one device to quickly scan items as you move through out the vehicle or stock room. RFID Tags are placed on an equipment or inventory items to allow for convenient monitoring in real time. Due to higher operational cost, fixed readers are no longer offered by iOps360.

Handheld Readers

Handheld RFID readers are specialized Android devices are designed to work with the iOps360 app. Selecting the mode such as a Vehicle Scan or Inventory Location Scan tells the app what tags should be present and indicates any missing tags. You can customize the power level and use other features such as the tag locator to find missing items. Handheld Readers can even be used in multiple vehicles and inventory rooms. Handheld readers can vary in price depending on your specific needs, but typically cost between $950 and $1200 each.

RFID tag types

Tags come in many different types depending on your needs. For assets and equipment, higher quality tags should be used since these will need to be cleaned/sanitized and will stay with the equipment for many years. Special Anti-metal tags are used to help with reading tags when placed in a metal object since radio waves can be impacted by the metal. For one time use items such as medical supplies, cheap tags allows for optimal cost effectiveness. These tags come in two formats, wet inlay (aka clear/no label, typically the cheapest option) and paper (which allows for printing). PET (petroleum) tags are a special paper tag which is more robust and resists smearing/damage. The average tag for inventory supplies costs ~$0.10/per with cheaper options depending on range, size, and quantity needed.

• Zip Tie tags are great for your jump bags or any other non-rigid items.
• Equipment tags are specialized tags made for direct mounting to devices using the included 3M adhesive or bolts as needed.
• Inventory tags are designed to be used on single use/medical supplies.

There are many types of tags and our team can help you decide on the most cost effective solution for your needs, to provide the best read range and lifespan at the best price.

RFID Range

The range of the tags is a biproduct of many factors including your environment, tag density, proximity to the antenna, tag type (antenna and chip), reader quality, and antenna quality. We have selected high quality readers and antennas so we can utilize cheaper tags and reduce cost long term.

Monthly Service License

iOps360 servers will be recording your scans along with user information, date time, location and more. The monthly service cost depends on the number of tags we are tracking and the frequency you will typically be doing scans. Normal implementations will typically cost $10/month for every 1,000 tags tracked.

RFID Vehicle Templates

The vehicle templates are similar to your vehicle check off. In fact, you can quickly create a RFID vehicle template from your vehicle check. This will define what items are required to be present in a given scan and the minimum status for each item (e.g. EKG Monitor must be green but a suction unit could be green or yellow).

Implementation

We want you to have a successful implementation and will be present on site for training. This includes evaluation of the most cost effective tags for your needs, placement strategies, scanning best practices and more.

Frequently asked questions:

1.) Is RFID worth the cost?

There is a certain cost to the initial hardware needed, tags, and training. iOps360 is committed to providing the best balance of cost and efficiency for your agency. Optimal hardware and tags will ensure the most accurate scans, but if an RFID tag costs more than the item itself, it’s worth considering a cheaper tagging option. We have evaluated many different types of tags to provide you with several great choices for tag types, read ranges, and cost effectiveness. Several additional steps may be worth considering depending on what items you want to track. Your current inventory and equipment will need to be tagged and registered with iOps360, and any new equipment and inventory items will also need to be set up within iOps360.

Once your RFID system is set up, staff can quickly perform scans using the handheld reader or automatically with the fixed readers. Your cost savings will be created by increased accuracy of inventory supplies, equipment tracking and reporting of missing items, reduced labor hours for inventory quantity checks and increased compliance with state requirements. The overall improvements to operational convenience will also benefit Satisfaction among Staff .

2.) What’s the most cost effective way to implement RFID?

There are several ways to answer this. The hand held readers allow one reader to scan several apparatus as well as inventory stock rooms. However staff will still need to do a scan periodically (i.e. each shift). This process will take only a few seconds depending on the placement of the items. Hand held readers can handle 300-500 tags per second.
For a fully automated approach, high quality fixed readers and several antennas allow for continuous monitoring of equipment and inventory. Fixed readers can also be integrated with Sierra Wireless routers to trigger a scan anytime the vehicle starts moving or the door to your narcotics is opened.

3.) How does the hand held reader work?

Hand held readers use the iOps360 app and your devices Internet connection to add and scan tags. Simply click on the RFID module in the iOps360 app and select which action you would like to perform. (Vehicle scan, Inventory Location scan, General inquiry, Tag finder and more).

4.) How many hand held readers do I need?

A single reader can be used for multiple vehicles and inventory locations. If your main stock room is at Station 1 and you have two trucks there, one reader could easily be shared each morning to do the necessary scans. We recommend one reader per location and one backup in case the reader is damaged. iOps360 keeps several extras on hand too, always available for quick shipment in an emergency.

5.) Do I have to use the recommended hardware above?

You can pick any hardware you like. However, our team has personally tested the recommended hardware above to ensure operational standards are met. We recommend against fixed RFID scanners, because on average, they are more expensive and less practical than handheld scanners. Because of the encoding that is necessary for RFID to function, all tags must be purchased from iOps360. We buy our tags in bulk and should be able to offer the best price. If not, please let us know!

6.) Can I test it out?

Yes, you are able to test out the system. Contact an member of the iOps360 sales team for specific details.

7.) How do I add items/tags?

Using a hand held reader and the iOps360 app, adjust the power level to the lowest setting that scans the correct tags (Usually 3%). Next, identity the item and equipment or inventory and click save. If desired, you can also add lot numbers or expiration dates.

8.) Can I track narcotics with RFID?

Yes, that feature will be coming soon. You can use the RFID system to track it today, however narcotics tracking needs specialized controls which we are currently designing.

9.) What are the draw backs with RFID?

Any RFID tags will have two logistics to consider. Water and metal absorb the RFID frequency. For an RFID reader to scan a tag, it must receive transmitted information. Water and metal will absorb this return transmission and reduce your readability. We have special foam tags for fluids and metal equipment to ensure a minimum spacing from the water/metal to correct this situation.

Another aspect is complacency. RFID is convenient, but does not prevent maintenance issues. For example, items can be tagged incorrectly, expire, or be misplaced in a vehicle. iOps360 still recommends that crew members manually verify dates and equipment readiness. RFID can not replace the legal responsibilities of the crew member to ensure operational compliance.

10.) What is the best part of RFID?

Vehicle checks can take a fraction of a second to scan hundreds of items accurately. Counting items in your stock room used to take days, now takes 30 seconds. Awesome!

Interested in RFID for your Agency, or have a question that isn’t present here? Contact an iOps360 team member to learn more and see if RFID is a great fit for your agency.