Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology changed the way businesses identify, track and safeguard assets. The system consists of hardware and software, but revolves around RFID tags; RFID tags are small computers that record and transmit data. While the market makes available a number of types of RFID tags, passive and active RFID tags represent the two most common options. The choice between them is ultimately contingent upon the operational needs of the organisation, its environment, and economic considerations.

What are Passive RFID Tags?

Passive RFID tags do not contain a power source. They derive the energy necessary to operate from the RFID reader that emits a radio signal to power up the tag to communicate data back to the reader. Passive RFID tags can be small, lightweight, and extremely cheap—perfect for large-scale deployments.

Passive RFID tags generally provide reading distances from a couple of centimetres to about 10 metres, depending on the RFID reader and the context. Passive RFID tags are ideal for use in settings such as shopping malls, warehouses, and libraries where tracking small distances is acceptable and volume is key. Passive RFID tags represent the lowest expense and longest life-cycle user experience (given that they do not have a battery) and economic perspective tracking on large quantities of repetitively tracked items, like as books, clothes, or stock items, etc.

Understanding Active RFID Tags

Active RFID tags use an internal battery to provide power for both the chip and a transmitter, which means that these tags actively send signals as and when they need to, have significant (and possibly up to 100m of more) read range, and can transmit faster than (allowing something to happen without reacting or trying to stop it) tags.

Because active tags are battery-powered and more functional, you will generally find them in more complex uses, such as in following and recording of vehicles, following and recording of valuable equipment, or in (happening or viewable immediately, without any delay) location systems (RTLS) in an industrial or healthcare facility.

Active tags are usually bigger and more expensive than passive tags, and their life expectancy is limited to their battery life, usually a few months to several years.

In the end, the main trade-off of these two tag types is really distance for price. Passive tags are ideal for short-range, high-quantity item tracking where cost and size are concerns. Active tags, however, excel in situations calling for long-range visibility and lots of data transmission. If you require constant, real-time tracking of high-value assets in vast areas, active tags provide the performance you desire, but at the cost of more money.

Consider this: utilise passive RFID to track inventory within a retail environment, and active RFID to monitor delivery trucks or heavy machinery on a building site.

Why Poxo?

Poxo assists organisations in deciding between passive and active RFID solutions. Whether you're counting books in an e-library, monitoring tools in a warehouse, or tracking equipment on the go, Poxo has custom RFID systems that provide efficiency, security, and intelligent automation. With our extensive knowledge and complete support, we guarantee that your RFID investment generates results from day one.