Smart labels

RFID labels have a built-in microchip and antenna, to enable automatic identification and remote data transmission, without direct visual contact. Available either plain or with pictograms, these labels revolutionise supply chain management and offer unprecedented optimisation and security.

Technology and advantages in the pharmaceutical sector:
RFID technology leverages chips and antennas to automate key operations such as the loading and unloading of raw materials and greatly increases logistical productivity as a result. In pharmaceutical settings, RFID generates value in clinical trials by ensuring ongoing validation of the medicines at every stage, not only by tracking stock but also capturing crucial data such as subject allocation and time and environmental conditions, thus improving the quality and effectiveness of trials. From a security perspective, incorporating RFID tags into labels makes it possible to authenticate and trace products throughout the supply chain and create an invisible safeguard that guarantees the integrity of the medicinal product. This technology is also playing a crucial role in the cold chain revolution. RFID tags can monitor temperature fluctuations in real time, thus ensuring that products remain within the required ranges throughout the supply chain and preserving the integrity and efficacy of sensitive medicines.

Although NFC labels are similar to those using RFID technology in that they are programmable chip-based, they only operate within a close communication range (a few centimetres). These labels, which are also available in plain or pictogram versions, are ideal for identification and automatic data transmission between microchips and readers (such as smartphones and compatible devices), thereby facilitating user-friendly, interactive traceability and security.

Technology and advantages in the pharmaceutical sector:
NFC technology is suitable for direct and immediate interactions, which makes it invaluable for optimising logistics in settings requiring timely and close product control, such as inventory verification or individual item management. NFC technology can bring advantages in clinical trial settings by supporting point-of-use data capture, thus enabling continuous medicinal product validation and accurate recording of details such as subject assignment or specific environmental conditions, which improves trial accuracy. From a safety perspective, the NFC tags embedded in labels offer an intuitive way for end-users or healthcare professionals to authenticate products simply by tapping them with a smartphone, thereby providing an invisible safeguard and ensuring the integrity of the medicinal product in the hands of the user. Although it is less popular than RFID technology for large-scale continuous monitoring applications, NFC can contribute to the cold chain revolution by allowing spot checks of temperature values or access to temperature data logs, to ensure that products remain within the required range at specific checkpoints.