FIFA is proud to showcase interesting RFID applications, having first used this technology in 2006 during the World Cup. Tickets contained a chip that prevented the sale of counterfeit tickets and the presence of unauthorized persons at matches. Thanks to RFID, during the 2014 World Cup, over 50 individuals attempting to enter stadiums with fake tickets were identified on the very first day. The RFID system enabled efficient control of stadium entrances and exits, improved staff operations, and reduced queues.
In Colorado and California, RFID technology is used on ski slopes. Passes are equipped with mini chips and placed on the skier’s forearm or chest. Readers can quickly and easily verify the authenticity of the passes and identify individuals using the lifts, ensuring greater comfort and safety.
RFID identification systems have been used for over 10 years by the Walmart supermarket chain in the United States, one of the largest retailers in the world. In the early stages of RFID implementation, tags were placed on pallets transporting goods. In 2010, they began to be applied to individual clothing items as well. The advantage of tags over barcodes is that they contain more information and can be scanned from a distance. This has streamlined and significantly sped up the inventory process and identification of customer demand for particular products.
Similarly, in the United Kingdom, Tesco began large-scale implementation of RFID technology in 2004, purchasing 4,000 readers and 16,000 antennas. Initially, warehouse deliveries were monitored, supporting and improving the supply channel control process by, among other things, eliminating delays in deliveries and stock shortages. The current plans of this retail giant include the implementation of RFID technology to monitor sales of F&F brand clothing, thereby enabling efficient and rapid recording of sales and demand in a given region.
RFID technology is perfectly suited for airports, allowing tracking and monitoring of baggage throughout the entire journey. By placing RFID chips on travelers' luggage, airport staff efficiency can be increased by up to 20%. RFID enhances security and streamlines the check-in and baggage claim processes. Thanks to the automation of passenger service, associated costs are significantly lower, and most importantly, with the implementation of RFID tags, the number of errors in baggage handling can be reduced by up to half, as confirmed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
In the Polish market, RFID technology is used in selected seaports. Trucks onto which goods are transferred are equipped with active RFID tags containing a unique identifier. This identifier contains information automatically transmitted to databases when the vehicle is within range of the readers. The implementation of RFID has reduced the value of losses on average from 0.5% to 0.2% per single ship unloading.
The RFID system has also found applications in public and university libraries. Using tags placed in books and magazines, control and organization of collections is smoother, and thanks to external book return machines available in selected libraries, books can be returned 24 hours a day. The system identifies the user by their personal library card and, based on information contained on the RFID library label, assigns books to their account. The RFID reader located in the library can identify up to five items simultaneously, which significantly speeds up the borrowing and returning process. The database is automatically updated, and information about the availability of collections is verified in real time.
The American company Olympus Medical Systems Group has released Unifia, a solution based on RFID technology that enables tracking of all activities performed on endoscopes — including their use, testing, cleaning, and reprocessing — before they are returned for reuse on another patient.
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