RFID vs Barcodes for Seed-to-Sale Tracking
When it comes to product tracking of any kind, RFID and barcodes are two different ways of scanning a product at specific times in its lifecycle. For the cannabis industry, RFID and barcode processes play a big role in compliance by tracking plants into products from seed-to-sale.
Cannabis Plant Tracking: Barcodes or RFID?
In America, state-mandated track-and-trace compliance systems like BioTrackTHC, Leaf Data Systems, and the most widely used, Metrc, all require plant tracking to trace cannabis plants from seed-to-sale. In Canada, cannabis operations are required to use a GS1-compliant global identifier and barcode instead of RFID tags. Health Canada has an online Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System (CTS) which allows for license applications and renewals, and the submission of monthly tracking reports. The cannabis compliance system in Canada uses barcodes with Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs, also known as UPCs or EANs) which also include other information such as the production lot number, batch number, expiration date, and serial number.
Both barcodes and RFID tags allow for easy tracking in theory and can store data that can be easily read, but RFID is more advanced since data can be updated in real-time versus read-only data for barcodes. RFID has greater data storage in comparison to barcodes and is capable of memory storage. RFID works at much greater distances, reading information from tags up to 300 ft away. Barcodes require close proximity for scanning and need a direct line of sight, which can take seconds per plant, resulting in many additional labor hours. These are some of the reasons why Metrc uses RFID plant tags.
What is RFID Technology?
While barcodes use sensors and light to read data on a label, as we see for the products we buy every day, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) uses radio waves and electromagnetic fields to track on a much larger scale. With RFID, tags attached to the cannabis plants don't require sight to read the data, saving hours of time. RFID tags incorporate a sensor that is connected to an antenna that allows the transmission of data to be captured. In large-scale operations, efficiency and accuracy are key. With WayFast Smart Scale technology, the days of manually scanning labels one at a time at harvest are over, which is especially useful in Metrc states.
WayFast uses RFID technology to automatically capture data once a plant is weighed. A new plant can be placed on the scale every three seconds, clocking in at over 1,200 plants per hour. Handheld barcode scanners can only process one label at a time, making harvesting a long and tedious task, while with WayFast’s finely-tuned RFID system, plant tags can be read with ease and precision on the scale. Furthermore, with our Incremental Mode you can simply lay plants down, one after another, saving seconds on each plant.
Why RFID for cannabis plant tracking?
RFID technology is used for cannabis tracking and ensures plants can be tracked with minimal human interaction and error. Cannabis plants can be very delicate, so technology that allows for direct interference with growing operations is an immediate asset. RFID tags contain identification information including the type of cannabis being sold (medicinal or recreational), the ID number of the plant, product or batch number of immature plants, the order date, and the license number and name of the facility that is housing the plant or product for supply chain traceability. As each tag contains a unique chip that carries the coded regulatory information, each and every time the tag is scanned its unique ID is verified, making it next to impossible to reproduce or forge. RFID tags track the journey of a cannabis plant from the growing and cultivating stages, to harvesting, packing, testing, and transportation.
When it comes to the harvesting part of the cannabis plant lifecycle, WayFast cannabis cultivation scales make cannabis compliance simple. Book a 10-minute demo to learn how WayFast can save your team time and your operation labor costs.