In asset management, choosing the correct label technology ensures efficiency, reliability, and long-term usability. Many organisations adopt RFID-encoded cable labels, believing they provide automation and superior tracking capabilities. However, in real-world applications, especially in data centres, telecoms, and secure industrial environments, RFID has limitations that are often overlooked.
For engineers working in mission-critical environments, the key considerations should be:
- What happens if the network is down?
- What if RFID scanners aren’t allowed in a secure facility?
- How do you identify cables quickly in dense installations?
- Can the label withstand extreme environments like outdoor UV exposure or sub-duct conditions?
While RFID has its place in certain applications, QR and DataMatrix codes often provide superior reliability, accessibility, and durability. This article explores the challenges of RFID and explains why QR/DataMatrix labels are often the more practical solution for cable identification.
1. RFID Does Not Require a Network to Scan—But Often Needs One to Retrieve Data
A common misconception about RFID technology is that it operates independently of a network. While RFID readers can scan and detect a tag without requiring internet connectivity, most RFID-based asset tracking systems rely on a central database to retrieve asset details.
How RFID Works in Practice
- An RFID tag contains only an identifier (UID)—usually a serial number or asset code.
- The entire asset details (such as installation date, maintenance logs, and location) are stored in a centralised database, which must be accessed via a network connection.
What Happens When the Network is Down?
Asset identification becomes problematic if an RFID system is reliant on a network and the network is unavailable.
❌ The RFID scan only returns a unique tag number without displaying additional details.
❌ If the database is hosted online or on a company server, no additional asset data can be retrieved.
❌ Engineers working on maintenance may be unable to access key information about the cable, requiring delays until connectivity is restored.
Why QR/DataMatrix Labels Are More Reliable
✅ No network is required. QR and DataMatrix codes can store essential information directly on the label, allowing offline use.
✅ Scannable at any time—engineers can access asset data instantly, even in network-restricted areas.
✅ Printed text provides a fail-safe backup, meaning the cable or equipment can be identified visually without needing a scanner.
✅ Photos can be taken for future reference, whereas RFID tags cannot be visually interpreted without scanning.
💡 In unstable network connectivity situations, QR/DataMatrix labels provide a practical, always-available solution.
2. RFID Readers May Be Restricted in Certain Environments
Many secure and mission-critical facilities—including data centres, government installations, and high-voltage industrial sites—prohibit RFID scanners due to security policies and electromagnetic interference concerns.
🚨 If RFID readers aren’t allowed, how do you check an asset?
Common RFID Restrictions in Engineering Environments
❌ Secure zones prohibit mobile devices and active RFID readers due to data security risks.
❌ Some industrial sites restrict RFID frequencies to prevent electromagnetic interference with sensitive equipment.
❌ RFID readers are often bulkier and more expensive than simple QR/DataMatrix scanners, reducing accessibility.
Why QR/DataMatrix Labels Are More Practical
✅ Compatible with handheld scanners or standard mobile devices, avoiding security issues.
✅ Manually readable—engineers can reference printed information without needing a scanner if necessary.
✅ No risk of radio frequency interference, ensuring compliance in regulated environments.
💡 Where device restrictions apply, QR/DataMatrix labels remain a more flexible and universally accepted solution.
3. RFID Slows Down Identification in Dense Cable Installations
Engineers must quickly locate and verify assets in environments where multiple cables are installed close together—such as network racks, control panels, or fibre trays.
The Problem with RFID in High-Density Installations
❌ RFID forces a scan-and-check process—each tag must be scanned before determining which cable it belongs to.
❌ No visual reference—unlike a printed label, an RFID tag does not display information until it is scanned.
❌ Misreads are common—bulk RFID scanners may detect multiple nearby tags, making it harder to isolate a specific cable.
Why QR/DataMatrix Labels Are Faster
✅ Immediate identification—engineers can read the label instantly without scanning.
✅ No risk of scanning the wrong tag—QR/DataMatrix labels are fixed to individual cables, ensuring accuracy.
✅ Visual backup—asset information can still be identified manually if a scanner is unavailable.
💡 For fast, precise cable identification, QR/DataMatrix labels are a superior choice over RFID.
4. RFID Durability: Does the Tag Last as Long as the label?
Many RFID manufacturers promote “100,000+ scan durability”, but this does not guarantee long-term environmental resistance.
Key Questions That Are Often Overlooked
🚨 How does the RFID tag handle prolonged UV exposure?
🚨 Has it been tested for extreme temperatures, humidity, or chemical resistance?
🚨 What happens if the outer casing degrades before reaching 100,000 scans?
Many RFID labels rely on:
❌ Plastic housings that degrade in direct sunlight.
❌ Adhesives that weaken over time, particularly in high-temperature or damp environments.
❌ Printed elements that fade, reducing the ability to verify information manually.
By contrast, QR/DataMatrix Labels Have Been Tested for Long-Term Durability
Industrial-grade cable labels can be engineered to withstand extreme conditions.
📌 Example: A tested UV-stable label with an accelerated UV exposure rating of 8,000 hours (equivalent to 12–15 years of direct sunlight exposure) ensures that the QR/DataMatrix code remains readable for more than a decade.
✅ No electronics that can fail.
✅ No reliance on plastic casings that degrade.
✅ No adhesive failures in high-temperature or outdoor conditions.
💡 An RFID tag cannot be compared to a high-performance cable label unless it has undergone the same durability testing.
Final Verdict: RFID Is Not a Like-for-Like Replacement for High-Durability Cable Labels
🚨 Before choosing an RFID-based solution, engineers should ask:
✅ Has the RFID label been UV-tested for long-term outdoor use?
✅ Can it withstand extreme temperature fluctuations?
✅ Will the adhesive last in humid or chemically exposed environments?
✅ Does it maintain readability in dusty, sub-duct, or industrial conditions?
📌 Many industrial QR/DataMatrix labels have already passed these tests—can your RFID label say the same?
💡 Choosing an RFID label purely for its scan count without considering long-term durability is a critical mistake. If the label peels, fades, or cracks, the RFID chip inside is irrelevant—the asset is unidentifiable.
