Why NFC / RFID Tags are not Efficient for Lost and?Found

As Lost and Found operations strive to enhance efficiency and customer experience, technologies like NFC (Near Field Communication) and RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) tags have been explored for use in various applications. One such area is now Lost and Found management, where streamlining the registration, handout, and disposal processes is crucial. In this article, we will explore the challenges we faced with one of our 50+ Million Passenger Airport that we helped to run a pilot project with a NFC label setup for Lost and Found, and why it did not yield the expected benefits.

The Assumption

The airport management assumed that using NFC tags would save time during Lost and Found registration, handout, and disposal processes. It was evident from the outset that web applications cannot directly access the NFC reader in a phone or a connected computer, as demonstrated by the limitations presented by the website whatwebcando.today.

The NFC Tag Implementation

To address this limitation, we decided to use NFC tags with unique URLs, which could be scanned to fetch the item’s ID in their ?Lost and Found. The URLs were structured like this:

https://lostandfoundsoftware.com/ /NFC-1

https://lostandfoundsoftware.com/ /NFC-2

https://lostandfoundsoftware.com/ /NFC-3

When an NFC tag was scanned, it would open the corresponding URL, and the unique code embedded within the URL would facilitate the registration of the item.

Advantages Over QR Code Track and Trace

The airport management had some clear advantages in mind when comparing the NFC tag implementation with our existing QR Code Track and Trace function:

1. Faster Scanning: NFC tags are known for their quick read times, and it was expected that they would outperform QR codes in terms of scanning speed during Lost and Found processes.
2. Shelf Storage Management: The NFC tags’ quick read times could facilitate faster scanning of items into the appropriate shelves or boxes, streamlining the storage management process.
3. Environmentally Friendly: Reusing NFC tags with unique URLs seemed more environmentally friendly than printing and disposing of QR codes after single-use.

The Outcome

Despite the initial optimism, the NFC tag implementation did not live up to expectations. During daily Lost and Found operations, it became evident that the NFC process was not faster than the QR Code function. This outcome was attributed to a few key factors:

1. Technical Complexity: The NFC setup required more complex infrastructure and integration compared to the QR Code system, leading to delays and complications during usage.
2. Reading Range: NFC tags require very close proximity to the reader, which could be cumbersome, especially when handling numerous items quickly. In contrast, QR codes can be easily scanned from a distance.

Cost Considerations

In addition to the technical challenges, the NFC setup incurred significantly higher setup and operational costs compared to the QR Code system. The more than 50 times higher expenses for NFC codes could not be justified.

Key Learnings

Through this trial, we all gained valuable insights into optimizing the Lost and Found processes:

Dedicated QR Codes: The QR Code Track and Trace function can be enhanced by introducing dedicated QR codes for the top 10 categories of lost items. This simple tweak would save time and effort in selecting a category during registration.

Reusable QR Codes: Corrected grammar: “Exploring the possibility of printing QR Codes on wooden or plastic labels, instead of one-time stickers, has the potential to address environmental concerns. However, it’s important to note that no research was conducted during this trial to investigate this option.”

Conclusion

While NFC and RFID tags have proven beneficial in many applications, the Lost and Found process at a bustling airport is not one of them. The NFC tag implementation fell short of expectations due to technical complexities and the reading range issues. Furthermore, the significantly higher costs associated with the NFC setup made it an impractical choice. Instead, the airport management recognized that optimizing our existing QR Code system by introducing dedicated QR codes for top categories is a more viable and cost-effective solution for their Lost and Found processes.

The Lost & Found Solution we all Deserve: www.lostandfoundsoftware.com