And design considerations
BY KATIE FORSYTHE
RFID mandates continue to reshape retail—and the way products are labeled. As RFID becomes a requirement rather than an option, brands are getting more strategic in how they meet compliance without disrupting packaging design or operations.
While applying a separate RFID label is one approach, it’s not always the most efficient or visually appealing. That’s why many companies are turning to prime RFID labels—an option that seamlessly integrates the RFID inlay directly into the primary product label.
By combining branding and functionality into a single label, your customers can streamline application, reduce labor, and maintain a clean, consistent look on the shelf. It’s a smarter way to meet mandates without sacrificing design or efficiency.
A prime RFID label brings together the best of both worlds—high-quality, eye-catching graphics with the advanced tracking capabilities of RFID, all in a single solution.
This all-in-one approach is exactly why more customers are making the switch. Instead of sourcing and applying separate labels, they can streamline their process with one cohesive product that does it all.
Beyond convenience, prime RFID labels can also deliver long-term cost savings. By eliminating the need for a secondary RFID label, your customers reduce material costs, simplify inventory, and improve application efficiency—all while maintaining a polished, on-brand appearance.
Here are some of the key benefits of RFID technology within all industries.
One of the biggest advantages of RFID compared to other auto ID technologies is its extended scanning range. Unlike traditional barcodes, which require close, line-of-sight scanning, RFID enables reads from a much greater distance.
This added range can significantly improve efficiency for your customers, especially when it comes to inventory management. Not only can items be scanned from farther away, but multiple products can be captured in a single read—eliminating the need to handle and scan each item individually. The result is faster workflows, reduced labor, and greater overall visibility across operations
RFID technology also drives efficiency through its speed. These labels enable rapid, highly accurate data capture, giving your customers real-time visibility into a product’s location—whether on the retail floor or across a warehouse.
Because scanning happens automatically and doesn’t rely on line-of-sight, RFID reduces the need for manual handling and significantly lowers the risk of human error. The result is fewer discrepancies, more reliable inventory data, and smoother day-to-day operations.
Prime labels offer vivid images and crisp text, which can help your customer's products pop off the shelves and stand apart from competitors. Here are some of the key advantages of prime labels and what they can do for your customers.
An effective label design will help bring attention to your customer's products. Many companies will enhance their brand from their high-quality product labels, and ultimately stand out from their competitors.
Prime labels use printing techniques that create vivid, crisp colors and text. Your customer’s product labels can benefit from prime printing because they can ensure their designs are rendered with precision and clarity.
To properly adhere to the retail mandates and also create the best label design, here are some considerations for your customers.
When your customer designs their label, one of the RFID retail mandate requirements they need to keep in mind is to include the EPC logo somewhere on the face of the label. This logo can be small, but the placement must completely visible on the label or barcode. Customers should be informed of this requirement before they start the design process so it can be incorporated in the beginning to ultimately save them time.
RFID inlays can be scanned from far distances, but there are a few limitations of where they can be placed. One factor your customer should consider includes what type of surface the product will be placed on. Since RFID uses Radio Frequency to be scanned, some metal surfaces can sometimes interfere with these inlays. In these cases, your customers should try to avoid inserting their RFID inlays on the bottom of the product to prevent possible interference.
Another important consideration in label design is the size of the product of which your customer is applying an RFID inlay. Because RFID inlays are manufactured in specific, fixed dimensions, the packaging or label structure must be designed to properly accommodate those sizes. It’s important to ensure the product container or label layout aligns with available inlay dimensions during the planning stage. RFID inlays cannot be trimmed or altered to fit a different format, so proper sizing from the start helps ensure optimal performance and reliable readability.
Label materials can have a major impact on overall RFID performance. Since RFID relies on radio frequency signals, some materials are more likely to interfere with readability than others. To maintain consistent performance, paper and standard synthetic materials like polypropylene or polyester are typically preferred for most applications. For products that require tagging on metal surfaces, specialized on-metal RFID tags are available to ensure reliable readability.
At DLS, we take pride in delivering more than just high-quality labels—we provide expertise and support our distributors can rely on. As subject matter experts in RFID solutions, we help guide you through the evolving requirements of RFID labeling and the best ways to meet them with confidence.
When paired with reliable RFID printing and mobility solutions from industry leaders like TSC and Bluebird, customers gain a complete end-to-end RFID system that supports accurate encoding, efficient data capture, and seamless tracking across operations.
If you’re looking for more information on Prime RFID Labels and how your customers can benefit from combining performance, efficiency, and cost savings into a single solution, we’re here to help. Reach out to one of our RFID experts to learn how DLS can support your labeling needs from concept through implementation.
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