Impinj’s Octane 5.4 Update for Fixed RFID Readers
Impinj has announced the availability of the new Octane 5.4, firmware that enables Speedway, xArray, and xPortal readers to access LLRP data from RAIN RFID tags. Octane 5.4 firmware is now available for Impinj authorized partners and our customers that have Enhanced Maintenance. All other users should contact the company their reader was purchased from to request firmware updates. In this update, several new features were added to the firmware based on customer feedback. Also based on feedback, Impinj graduated the Octane Java SDK from beta status.
Updates in Octane 5.4 include:
- Expanded RAIN RFID tag tracking functionality with Impinj xArray tag direction mode.
- Get entry, update, and exit reports for tags as they move through designated sectors via Octane Java SDK 1.2
- Enhanced security profiles to protect your reader.
- Require readers to authenticate to gain network access using standards based 802.1x.
- Leverage SFTP to protect upgrades by authenticating to a remote server and ensuring secure transport of files.
- Encrypt Customer Application Partition (CAP) files to secure embedded applications.
For assistance updating to Octane 5.4 or finding the right Impinj RFID reader, contact one of our RFID specialists at Barcodes, Inc.
Route Planning Solution: Descartes and the MC45 Mobile Computer
When managing a mobile workforce, one of the first steps to ensuring success is proper fleet management and route optimization. Expanding your workforce’s potential begins with proper planning for pickups, deliveries and service calls.
Having the right software and mobile device is key to providing the tools to maximize fleet and mobile resource utilization and efficiency. At the end of the day, the right tools will allow you to get the most out your workforce while reducing costs and improving service to your customers.
Descartes Route Planning Software and the MC45 from Zebra form powerful combination for any mobile workforce aiming for maximal efficiency. Pairing Descartes’ real-time visibility and flexibility with the robust wireless connectivity and data collection capabilities of the MC45 makes for the perfect companion to any mobile workforce.
Descartes Route Optimization Features:
- Automated Vehicle Location – GPS-based fleet wide visibility in real-time
- Dispatch – Facilitate new orders, manage exceptions
- Turn-by-Turn Navigation – Reduce miles driven and maintenance costs
- Interactive Voice Response – Automated IVR solutions for pick-up/delivery scheduling
MC45 Rugged Mobile Computer Features:
- Wi-Fi, WWAN, and Bluetooth connectivity options
- True field durability – IP64 rated
- Industry-leading 1D scan engine with Adaptive Scan technology
- 3.2MP Camera
- Outdoor-viewable 3.2″ screen
- VoWWAN handset mode with active noise reduction
CipherLab’s RS30 Enterprise Smartphone with an Industrial Design
The CipherLab RS30 defines a smartphone-like touch mobile computer precisely designed to meet the demands of the customer-facing mobile workers in field sales, field service, retail and healthcare industries.
The RS30’s industrial design has the full protection for users to enjoy its features worry-free in the field. The RS30 series is proven to endure accidental drops, sprinkling rain and dusty environments. It is also thoughtfully built with a 4.7 Corning Gorilla Glass 3 panel capable of taking heavy usage while remaining sensitive to latex gloves. Under this ultimate protection, users can casually carry the RS30 in their pocket along with keys or coins without worrying about scratches. Its ruggedness extends to keeping the operating temperature of the RS30 series at 4°F to 122°F which ensures its efficiency regardless of hot or cold weather in the field. RS30 series is an investment that is built with the ultimate protection.
How to Choose the Right Thermal Ribbon for your Label Printer
Thermal transfer printing provides for a longer lasting print as compared to direct thermal printing. The reason thermal transfer prints last longer is due to the use of a thermal transfer ribbon during the printing process. A thermal transfer ribbon is required to obtain a long lasting print. However, choosing the proper thermal transfer ribbon to fit your printer and application can be difficult. Help choosing the correct thermal transfer ribbon has arrived!
Follow the simple steps below to identify the proper ribbon:
Step 1: Ensure you have a Thermal Transfer Printer
Ribbon is only used with Thermal Transfer printers. A ribbon cannot be used with a Direct Thermal printers as they do not have the proper internal mechanical components to hold or thread the ribbon.
Continue reading »
EMV Compliance and Payments Explained
If your business takes any kind of card payments then you probably have been coming across the term “EMV” quite a bit recently. If you haven’t, then it’s a good time to get educated given EMV will be changing the way payments are made and who will be held accountable for fraud in the US.
EMV enabled cards are the type that have the small smart chip on them as well as the traditional magnetic stripe. Compared to magnetic stripes, EMV cards are much more secure against fraudulent usage and copied cards.
With the October 1, 2015 EMV compliance deadline coming up, getting up to speed on how you can ensure your business isn’t going to be held accountable for fraudulent usage is a must. Barcodes, Inc has you covered with our new EMV Learning Page and the expertise to provide you will payments solutions for any budget.
SATO’s CLNX Series: Industrial Printing Made Simple
SATO has designed a true plug and play printer with their new CLNX series. The CLNX series has been engineered to be simple to use and easy to assimilate with existing systems. The CLNX also is offered in two different size options, a 4 inch (CL4NX) and a 6 inch (CL6NX). With its multiple sizes, energy efficiency and coreless ribbon, the CLNX series may be the perfect label printer to easily plug into many different printer applications.
Key features of the new CLNX include:
- Accessible operations from its 3.5-inch color display and onboard video tutorials
- Unparalleled communication and emulation capabilities
- Simple maintenance with its tool free printhead and platens replacement
- Outstanding print quality consistent across a wide range and size of labels
- Superior rugged aluminum die-cast construction
- Equipped for global distribution with 30+ display languages and 40+ print character sets
Asset vs Inventory Tracking Explained
When explaining data tracking, the first question our customers ask is “Aren’t asset tracking and inventory tracking the same thing?” The short answer is no.
Assets are “permanent” objects that belong to a company. They are items a business uses internally, such as computers, tools or educational material. An asset is always tracked as a unique item. For example, even though you may give 10 of the exact same PC, you are managing each PC as an individual item with its own unique barcode label. You want to ensure that you have accurate information on each specific asset’s location, condition, purchase date, value, custodian and most recent maintenance.
Inventory tracking refers to objects that are sold, distributed or otherwise consumed by a company. These “temporary” objects include retail items and office supplies. For example, you may have 100 boxes of staples in inventory and when you use one box the tracked quantity decreases by one. You are not concerned with what specific box was used, but rather that 1 of 100 was removed. Ultimately, you want to know how many you have in stock and when to order more.
To begin, compare your objects with the chart below to determine if you need inventory or asset tracking:
| Description | Asset | Inventory |
|---|---|---|
| Objects used internally, such as computers, tools, and educational materials | • | |
| Track depreciation of company property | • | |
| Track maintenance on company equipment | • | |
| Objects are for sale or resale | • | |
| Ability to track/monitor reorder levels | • | |
| Objects are “temporary” and/or often replace, such a paper, pens and other consumables | • | |
| Employees may check objects in and out | • | • |
For more assistance finding the right data collection solution for your needs, contact us at Barcodes, Inc.
Mobile Label Printing for Shipment Processing
The transition to a mobile experience in retail and consumer-focused applications has ushered in a range of new hardware to support these new demands. Even though the focus has been towards retail environments, manufacturing and warehouse facilities have been finding ways to improve efficiency with these new mobile technologies.
Shipping/receiving and inventory are two applications that have taken advantage of the wide range of mobile printers currently available to improve performance and accuracy. In a warehouse environment, employees are constantly on-the-go and being able to print labels when an order is picked or stock is put away saves time from being tied to a fixed print station. With on-demand label printing, employees will have an increase in efficiency and better control of production.
Zebra Labels for Indirect Food Contact FDA 175.105
Many food packaging and repackaging businesses have a need to find a packaging label that has an adhesive suitable for indirect food contact. Most importantly these business need a labeling solution that meets Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for indirect food contact. Indirect food contact is defined as a substance that may come into interaction with food as part of packaging or processing equipment, but are not intentionally added directly to the food. Using a label that doesn’t meet food contact requirements can potentially lead to contaminated food, product returns and fines for having unapproved adhesives used in a food application.
Zebra manufactures several sizes and types of labels that have an adhesive formulation developed to meet FDA regulation 175.105, indirect food contact (see this list for FDA approved labels). These labels are approved to be used for indirect contact food applications such as, label food in a retail location to large scale packaging of food from a manufacturing facility.
Avoid the hassle and expense of using non-food approved labels by introducing Zebra labels, which meet FDA regulation 175.105 for indirect food contact, into your food application today.
Contact your dedicated BarcodesInc representative today, for more information.
RFID vs Barcodes
With the introduction of NFC, RFID has become a trendy technology, but is it really a necessity for your business? Let’s go over some of the differences between barcodes and RFID:
- Line of Sight – Rather than using light to collect or read a number from a barcode, radio waves are used to read a number from the RFID tag. Therefore, RFID does not require a line of sight to operate, but rather you can wave the RFID reader to read the tags.
- Multiple Item Scanning – Since RFID does not require line of sight it is not necessary to present each tag to the reader separately (as is required for barcodes); instead, all tags within the range of the reader can be read almost simultaneously as they pass the reader.
- Automation & Accuracy – Barcodes require a person to manually read each individual barcode, which can lead to manual read errors and mis-scanning. RFID, on the other hand, is a fully automated solution with a higher accuracy rate.
Although there is a huge savings in RFID technology from a resource, time and accuracy standpoint, we rarely recommend a business migrating from a completely manual process to a RFID solution. Companies that currently incorporate barcodes face the best return on investment from a RFID solution. Talk to one of our experts today to get a full assessment of your business.
