n the last two weeks I have been researching RFID and NFC technology and it’s uses.
I got curious about it first when I was in a Dechatlon shop at self service checkout with RFID tags. I talked with a employee there and asked how do they like it and so on and got feedback that it is great for them especially when doing inventory.
Then I talked with a startup company which is coming out with an amazing new project with RFID tag on the frame. This is quite difficult in terms of making it invisible and read outs on metal are also a challenge.
Finally I found out that the company I work with, Alfred Thun GmbH had a project with RFID technology almost 10 years ago already done and ready for the market. Being a visionary Mr. Alfred Thun was ahead of his time as usual.
And this was the big problem, product was much ahead of it’s time and it never picked up. At that time the price of RFID was high, NFC option on your mobile phones weren’t available as it is the case today and the software platforms were not ready for it yet.
We see this happening a lot in the software and computer industry with technology coming too early to the market and then failing to pick up. Then just a couple of years later another company comes with the same thing and enjoys huge success.
Well there is one lucky thing here. Thun kept the project alive and just sent me the samples of their RFID tags that are assembled together with the bottom bracket on your bike.
Today you can read RFID tag with your phone easily and get all of the information about the bike you scanned. This includes specs, frame number, service history, sales history, production date anything you can imagine.
I am really eager to see and test them myself and learn more.
What do you think about the RFID and NFC technology ?
Please share your thoughts in the comments section or DM me for more information.
