RFID Getting the Job Done
We came across a couple of uses for RFID/NFC in the beverage industry that we found to be interesting case studies. It is important to use the best tool for the job to be done and we think these stories showcase this nicely. Let us know if you have any other interesting examples.
The first one is a story of automation, which is always exciting to us. The folks over at Wild Turkey had been using manually labeled barrels and they’d need to visually indicate what date that barrel had been filled to determine the age of the whiskey in that barrel. They have 650,000 barrels in storage at any given time. The company opted to install an RFID-based solution to bring digital visibility to its product. The system they built consists of handheld RFID readers, Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID tags on barrels, and the company’s own software to capture and manage data regarding when each barrel was filled. Read more here.
Another example, also from RFID Journal tells a story of using NFC to verify the authenticity of a product. In this case, a bottle of whiskey. One challenge that a high-value liquor distillery faces is counterfeits. The “job to be done” is provide the purchaser with a way to verify the legitimacy of the product. The Old Kempton Distillery (OKD) staff attaches a 13.56 MHz (High Frequency) NFC tag to each bottle of premium malt whiskey or other liquor. The tag has a unique ID number encoded on it that links a user’s smartphone with Web-based content from OKD regarding the company and their products. That content can include videos, membership offers and links to websites. The technology lets OKD know how its products are being interacted with, a bonus for their marketing team, for sure!
Here’s a good infographic on the difference between RFID and NFC as well as many other facts about these technologies. An excellent primer or refresher!
Spigot Labs uses High Frequency (HF) NFC tags to deliver meaningful connections at events. Imagine attending a whiskey festival and passively tracking what you tasted. And, just like the OKD example, you can interact with the information the whiskey maker has provided about the products they are pouring at that event.
Tell us about your event and we’ll help you determine whether these technologies will help you solve your challenges. hi@spigotlabs.com
