How to Choose the Right RFID Tags: 3 Key Questions for Success
Your guide to smarter RFID selection and smoother project rollouts
RFID is transforming how businesses manage inventory, track assets, and improve operational efficiency. But selecting the right RFID inlays and tags isn’t always straightforward. Between materials, environments, and encoding requirements, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
At ID Images, we help our customers cut through the complexity. In this guide, we break down the three essential questions every salesperson, converter, or customer should ask before choosing an RFID solution, so you can deliver the right label, the first time.
What’s the Application and What Should the RFID System Actually Do?
Every RFID project should start with one question:
What’s the customer trying to accomplish?
Before diving into chip specs or read ranges, define the real-world use case. Understanding the “why” behind the project guides everything else, from material selection to encoding strategy. Common applications include inventory tracking, asset management and work in progress tracking.
Here’s what to consider:
- What item is being tagged? (Boxes, assets, returnable containers, etc.)
- What is the label sticking to? (Cardboard, metal, plastic, glass)
- Are there environmental factors?
- High heat or freezing temps
- Exposure to liquids or dust
- Presence of metal or interference
- Any layout constraints?
- Will tags be packed tightly together?
- Is high-density encoding required?
💡 Pro Tip: For complex environments, choosing the wrong inlay can cause signal loss, misreads, or complete failure. That’s why context is everything.
What’s Being Encoded and by Whom?
Encoding refers to the process of writing product data onto the RFID chip. And depending on the project, this step can make or break compliance with major retail or industrial mandates.
Ask these two questions early:
- What data needs to be encoded and are there any compliance standards that need to be used (e.g., UPC, GTIN, SGTIN-96)?
- Who is doing the encoding and on what printer?
If your customer is working with Walmart, Target, or another large retailer, they may be required to encode specific data structures like SGTIN-96 for item-level tracking. Knowing that upfront saves time and ensures compliance.
Also, understanding the printer model (Zebra, Sato, etc.) ensures proper inlay compatibility and smooth on-site deployment.
What’s the Required Read Range?
This one gets overlooked, but it’s critical.
There’s a big difference between a desired read range and a required read range. One is a nice-to-have. The other is a dealbreaker.
For example:
- A customer might want 35 feet of read range but can work with 25 feet.
- Another may require 35 feet to scan items stored on warehouse racks 35 feet high.
- Some customers may have a short read distance need and don’t want any stray reads.
Understanding the minimum viable read distance helps determine:
- Whether the project is passive or active RFID
- What frequency is needed (LF, HF, UHF)
- Which inlay designs meet performance and ARC compliance standards
Final Thoughts: Don’t Guess, Ask the Right Questions
Successful RFID labeling isn’t about guessing which tag might work, it’s about asking the right questions from the start.
At ID Images, our experts are here to help you navigate every step, from substrate compatibility to encoding strategy. Whether you’re rolling out your first RFID program or managing a nationwide retail mandate, we’ve got the tools and experience to help you succeed.
Ready to Get Started?
Explore our RFID solutions (link to RFID landing page or connect with our team for expert advice.