Barcodes and RFIDs

One of the key phenomena of the globalization of commerce has been the internationalisation of goods and brands. A set of diverse practices and processes, including the transformation of transport infrastructure and logistics and the virtualisation of money, have enabled both producers (e.g., goods manufacturers) and sellers (e.g., wholesalers, supermarkets) to massively extend supply chains, to globally expand their markets, and to increase their turnover and profits. A key technology in improving the efficiency and productivity of logistical organisation and operation has been development of sophisticated identification systems that overcome the anonymity of manufactured products by assigning unique numerical identifiers – digital thumbprints - to material products. These identification systems allow products to be effectively and unambiguously processed, shipped and traced through complex logistical networks, to monitor sales, aid account management, refine supply chains and inform marketing strategies. Conceptually they have two distinct components, first an agreed allocation of unique id code numbers and, second, an agreed media to physical store the code. The most obvious manifestation of this technology for product identification and tracking are the parallel black and white printed stripes of barcodes