Capture identity where work happens

Barcode traceability and RFID tracking systems.

Track materials, components, work in progress, finished goods, cases, pallets and assets with the right mix of barcode and RFID technology.

Plan a tracking system Barcode or RFID?

Industrial identification

Choose the identification method around the process—not the trend.

Barcode and RFID can both provide dependable traceability, but they behave differently on the factory floor and in the warehouse. The right choice depends on line of sight, read range, speed, environment, item value and the event you need to capture.

Oxford Traceability designs the full capture point: code or tag, reader, antenna or optics, product presentation, trigger, edge logic, operator response, exception handling and the system that receives the event. Read how these capture points support manufacturing traceability software and WIP tracking.

Capture technology

Fixed, mobile and portal-based data capture.

A tracking solution can combine multiple device types. Each capture point should reliably identify the intended object and prevent ambiguous or duplicate events.

Fixed barcode readers

Automated 1D and 2D code capture at conveyors, machinery, cells, pack stations and controlled transfer points.

Handheld workflows

Guided scanning for receiving, picking, reconciliation, maintenance, rework and lower-volume production tasks.

RFID readers & antennas

Fixed, handheld or embedded RFID capture using suitable tags, antennas, reader power and zone design.

RFID portals & tunnels

Controlled read zones for pallets, cages, cases or tagged items, with direction and exception logic where required.

Tag & label commissioning

Encode, print, verify and associate smart labels or tags with the intended product, asset or logistic unit.

Edge event processing

Filter repeated reads, apply process context, validate status and forward a meaningful event to connected software.

Technology comparison

Barcode, RFID or a hybrid system?

A hybrid architecture is often sensible: visible codes for people and trading partners, with RFID at selected high-value or high-volume capture points.

Line of sightBarcode: normally required. RFID: not always required, depending on frequency, material and read-zone design.

Multiple itemsBarcode: normally one presented code at a time. RFID: can capture multiple suitable tags within a controlled field.

Data carrier costBarcode: usually lower. RFID: typically higher and influenced by tag performance and construction.

Human readabilityBarcode: can include visible text and is easy to inspect. RFID: often benefits from a printed human-readable identifier.

EnvironmentBoth require testing. Dirt, damage, glare and motion affect codes; metal, liquids, tag orientation and interference affect RFID.

Best useChoose against the event: product identity, high-speed movement, bulk reading, asset history, stock visibility or customer compatibility.

Grey production machinery with cables, hoses and yellow rails inside a factory.

Capture + context A read becomes useful when the system knows what process event it represents.

Reliable read points

A reader alone is not a tracking system.

Reliable capture depends on the physical read zone and the surrounding logic. The system must know what should be present, when to read, which identity is valid and what to do when the expected result is missing.

Product and tag presentation
Triggers and presence sensing
Reader and antenna positioning
Lighting and code contrast
Duplicate-read filtering
Direction and zone logic
Read confirmation
Exception workflow

Barcode formats and applications

Code 128 and GS1-128 logistics labels
Data Matrix for compact industrial identity
QR codes for data and connected experiences
EAN and UPC product identification
Direct-part marks on suitable components
SSCC pallet and logistic-unit labels

RFID formats and applications

UHF / RAIN RFID for supply-chain visibility
HF and NFC for shorter-range interaction
On-metal tags for suitable assets and tools
Durable tags for reusable containers
Smart labels for cases, pallets and products
Specialist tags for demanding environments

Connected events

Send the right event to the right system.

Production and warehouse platforms need a clear business event—not a continuous stream of raw reader messages.

Detect

Recognise that an item, carrier, pallet or asset has entered the defined capture point.

Identify

Read the code or tag and check its structure, status and relationship to the active task.

Decide

Apply process rules, remove duplicate reads and trigger operator or equipment actions.

Record

Write an authorised movement, consumption, completion or exception event to the target system.

Start with a read study

Unsure whether barcode or RFID is the right route?

Tell us what must be identified, the distance and speed, the surrounding materials, available space and the software that needs the event. We can help shape a testable approach.

Discuss barcode and RFID tracking