Bracket International (BI) seems to be facing the dilemma that all corporations face in today’s technological age; when should the company invest into new technology. The new technology is exchanging the simple bar-code tag on product to a more up to date radio frequency identification device (RFID) system.
The question that is most frequently asked is “when is RFID better than Barcodes.” RFID is not necessarily better than Barcodes. The two are different technologies and have different applications, which sometimes overlap. So the question remains, when is it time to upgrade to a more sophisticated inventory control system.
Overview
The main points that Mr. Bracket need to reflect upon when making his decision are as follows. * …show more content…

Ability to read items and nothing else. | Durability | High. Much better protected, and can even be internally attached, so it can be read through very harsh environments. | Low. Easily damaged or removed; cannot be read if dirty or greasy. | Security | High. Difficult to replicate. Data can be encrypted, password protected, or include a "kill" feature to remove data permanently, so information stored is much more secure. | Low. Much easier to reproduce or counterfeit. | Event Triggering | Capable. Can be used to trigger certain events (like door openings, alarms, etc.). | Not capable. Cannot be used to trigger events. | | | |
(Atlas RFID Solutions website)
Payback Possibilities Mr. Beckett needs to look at how this change will benefit his company. Implementation of the RFID system would allow BI to lower their inventory numbers. Simple forecast interactions programs with their customer will enhance BI’s capabilities to react to market changes. The fact that the RFID system can read multiple tags at once thus reduces the human factor in the inventory control process. Bracket International would be able to shift their employee focus from inventory control to other areas in the organization. Bracket International states that their competitive priority is service first, followed be product quality and low cost. Although the initial cost of the RFID seem high, when you relate them to aiding in customer service, inventory and quality control, the