What technology uses electromagnetic fields for tracking items?

The technology that uses electromagnetic fields for tracking items is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID systems consist of tags, which contain small microchips and antennas, that communicate with readers through radio waves. The tags can be passive, meaning they do not have an internal power source and rely on the reader’s signal to provide power for transmission, or active, which have their own power source.

RFID technology is widely used for inventory management, asset tracking, and supply chain logistics because it allows for quick and accurate identification of items without the need for direct line-of-sight, unlike barcoding. RFID can read multiple tags simultaneously and can operate over a variety of distances depending on the type of system used, making it versatile for various applications.

In contrast, other technologies like barcoding require a scanner to directly see the barcode, Bluetooth technology is primarily designed for short-range wireless communication between devices rather than item tracking, and Near-field communication (NFC) enables communication over very short distances, typically for payments or data exchange but not for tracking items at greater distances.