RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) is widely considered to be the most up-to-date electronic identification technology on the market. It is based on the use of radio waves and it allows for the automatic recognition of objects that carry RFID tags (labels that incorporate a tiny microprocessor and an antenna) and can be automatically detected by fixed or mobile RFID readers, without it being necessary to scan each individual item. The antenna allows the microprocessor to convey information from recognition to the reader, which in turn converts the radio waves 'reflected' off the RFID tag into digital information. This information can then be 'sent' to computers for further processing and use.

An RFID system is made up of the following components:

• RFID tags

• RFID readers

• RFID access points

• RFID label printers/tag encoders

• Software capable of supporting RFID technology

Two key advantages of RFID technology over barcode technology are:

• An RFID tag can convey more valuable information than a barcode, such as for example, crucial information about the product which due to size cannot be included in the barcode.

• Barcodes are "line-of-sight" technology, which means that the scanner must be able to 'see' the linear code in order to read it. On the contrary, RFID tags do not require this of the reader and can be read as long as they are within its reading radius.

The aberon solution platform supports RFID technology and may exist alongside barcode technology. The use of both technologies together provides the user with unparalleled convenience, friendliness, reliability and speed.

One of the most interesting RFID deployments is the implementation of aberon WMS in the archives of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT).