If you run a big company, you’ll agree with me that it’s not easy to manage a big number of employees. You may have to tackle their location and monitor activities to improve productivity. Safety is also critical, and you should put measures in place to deal with emergencies. In this case, most companies employ RTLS and RFID Solutions.
These solutions provide accurate data on the status and movement of workers at any given time. Why is this important? RTLS technology is an excellent way to enhance productivity and efficiency through streamlined processes.
Understanding RTLS and RFID technology
Nowadays, companies use modern technology to ease their operations and processes. According to RTLS and RFID facts by the Litum company, RTLS technology is pretty common. It works through Bluetooth technology and GPS systems to monitor and track the location of objects within a facility.
The technology uses radio frequency identification and other systems to achieve this. These can range from ultrasound to infrared. RTLS technology employs active RFID tags to transmit signals within a specified period depending on the set beacon rate.
What are their differences?
RTLS is best suited for companies seeking overall global coverage, while RFID uses portals and won’t give you the global coverage offered by RTLS. However, it will still monitor the movement of goods within a vast space.
RFID also enables companies to transmit data through a wide electromagnetic connection using an electromagnetic field.
How to accurately track and muster employees using RTLS and RFID solutions
There are different types of RFID tracking, and both work to locate and track employee movement. These are the;
- Active RFID systems
- Passive RFID systems
These are set up differently and allow real-time monitoring and tracking of employees and assets. Passive RFID systems are useful in tracking a company’s assets and people as they pass through a reader or gateway.
Similarly, active RFID location tracking systems are very popular and will track the real-time movement of people and assets in a monitored space.
There are various ways to track and muster employees using these systems. These include;
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Use of RFID identification tags
Companies use different methods to locate workers, and radio-frequency identification tags are common in the healthcare sector. The tags help locate the worker, which helps protect them from workplace violence. For instance, a health care worker wearing a discreet RTLS tag can activate the duress button to call for help. The locating features make it easy to locate the worker at any given point.
A muster point is also handy and allows employees to gather at a designated area during emergencies. This helps avoid confusion, allows for better accounting, and enhances employee safety.
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Automatic scanning
Long-range Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems allow companies to scan employees at a distance. The system uses UHF tags, these operate at 900 MH frequency, and you can implement them in different ways. For instance, you can add a sticker to an existing badge, give a separate card or integrate RFID into a badge holder.
With UHF tags, you can identify workers at a distance of 25 feet, and the procedure helps verify when workers exit using popular doorways. And this detects employees who leave the workplace early and helps account for workers during evacuation.
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Using SMS systems to send text messages to users
Safety is key in the workplace, and companies employ various technologies to muster employees during emergencies. Some mustering solutions employ mobile infrastructure to meet their safety requirements. For instance, there are different systems, and you can go for app-based and SMS-based solutions.
App-based solutions help determine if an employee is outside the danger area. On the other hand, SMS solutions send users text messages, allowing workers to determine if they need help. These systems don’t use external scanners and work in reliable cell coverage areas.
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Employee identification using Biometrics
Some mustering systems integrate biometrics allowing employers to identify workers depending on their biology, such as speech. Fingerprint technology is also common and employs biometric technology in security systems. You can use biometrics such as facial recognition to identify employees during evacuation. This works better than badge scans since they can’t be misplaced.
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Use of an electronic roster
Paper lists are a tradition in most companies and have been in existence for decades. However, technology now allows companies to monitor employees using electronic lists. You only need to retrieve the list from the security system. Here are your options;
- Share the list with the evacuation team via email.
- Populate the occupancy list on a device at the facility
- Post the list online
The bottom line
With the current tech trends, it’s now easy to monitor and muster workers in an organization. Most companies employ RTLS and RFID solutions to track workers save time, and improve productivity. The solutions are also handy during emergencies and are useful during evacuation. If you’re seeking to adopt RTLS and RFID Solutions in your business, seek help from renowned companies. The team will help you determine the most suitable solutions for your needs.
