Should RFID Hardware Be Purchased Separately, or as a Package?

When considering RFID solution providers, is it normal to pay a separate cost for tags, readers and other system components?

—Name withheld

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It depends. Some active RFID system providers will sell you an entire system—hardware, software and installation services. With passive systems, you generally hire a systems integrator who evaluates the best tags for your particular application, helps choose the right readers and either installs or writes the software (if an off-the-shelf product won’t do the job). There are integrators that will purchase and install the readers for you, and then include the price in the overall bill. But generally, with passive systems, tags are a consumable item, so you will need to purchase them on an ongoing basis.

—Mark Roberti, Editor, RFID Journal