FAQs
What is RFID?
RFID is a wireless technology that allows the easy and inexpensive allocation and detection of the identity of an item or thing. A “tag” is placed on the thing, and a reader is used to interrogate the tag. There are several different types of RFID. RAIN is the term chosen by the industry to describe a standards-based, wireless communication technology that is compliant with the ISO/IEC 18000-63 standard.
What is RAIN?
RAIN is the term chosen by the industry to describe a standards-based, wireless communication technology that utilizes the ISO/IEC 18000-63 air-interface protocol (also known as GS1 UHF Gen2).
What is the relationship between the RAIN Alliance and AIM?
The RAIN Alliance became a standalone organization in 2014 and maintains a close collaborative relationship with AIM.
What does the RAIN Alliance do?
The RAIN Alliance promotes awareness, education, networking and other initiatives to accelerate the growth and adoption of RAIN technology in business and consumer applications worldwide.
What is the RAIN Alliance Mission and Vision?
RAIN Alliance Mission: The RAIN Alliance enables organizations to improve traceability, effectiveness, and sustainability by simplifying, standardizing, and accelerating the adoption of RAIN technology through global collaboration and innovation.
RAIN Alliance Vision: A world seamlessly connected through RAIN technology — enhancing lives, empowering industries, and driving a more sustainable, intelligent future for our planet.
When was the RAIN Alliance formed?
The RAIN Alliance is an organization founded in April 2014 by Google, Intel, Impinj, Smartrac and AIM.
What is the RAIN standard?
The technology uses the ISO/IEC 18000-63 air interface protocol (also known as GS1 UHF Gen2). There are many other standards related to the use of RAIN depending on which data system is used with the tag. To find out more about the many standards involved see:
What is RAIN used for?
RAIN provides the identification, location, and authentication of the thing that the tag is attached to. It can also be used to connect to sensors or actuators. Examples of applications that generate significant returns on investment using RAIN are retail, logistics, healthcare, and aviation where the rapid accurate collection of information is essential for efficient business.
What is the relationship with GS1?
GS1’s EPC Gen 2 air interface forms the foundation of the ISO/IEC 18000-63 Standard. The RAIN Alliance and GS1 work hand in hand on the technology and have agreed that the technology should be called RAIN and the GS1 data system is the EPC Code.
How do I know if a product has RAIN?
Products can have RAIN attached as a label, a swing tag, or embedded in them. The labeling of the item usually shows if RAIN is present. The label may include the RAIN emblem, the EPC symbol, or the European RFID emblem.
Does the RAIN tag contain any information about me?
The information in the RAIN tag is related to the item that it is attached to. This information could be a product identifier, a date, etc. There is no personal information encoded in the tag unless the tag is acting as an identification badge for a person.
How much information does the RAIN tag contain?
Most RAIN tags only contain a simple number, usually 96 or 128 binary bits (12 or 16 characters). This number is used as a lookup in a database to identify the item the tag is attached to.
What does RAIN compliant mean?
The RAIN Alliance does not test for compliance. To be compliant a tag or reader must follow the ISO/IEC 18000-63 air interface standard (also known as GS1 UHF Gen2) and the appropriate data encoding rules.
What is the RAIN Reader Communications Interface (RCI)?
The RAIN Alliance has developed a universal interface for systems to talk to readers and then tags. This interface has been implemented by several reader manufacturers, making it easier for a solution provider or end-user to change readers in a system.
What data should be encoded on the RAIN tag?
This depends on the data system that is being used. There are many systems available, and the correct one for the application should be used. It is important that the data is encoded in the correct format so that:
- The application understands the data
- There is no confusion or interference with tags from other applications (so called Acid RAIN) See:
Download RAIN Item Numbering to Avoid Tag Interference
Where can I get more information about RAIN and encoding data?
First download the RAIN E-Book:
Download What is RAIN E-book
Next read some of the technical documents on the web site:
RAIN Terminology FAQs
What does it mean when you say “RAIN” is the name for passive UHF RFID?
RAIN is a name or identifier for passive UHF radio-frequency identification (RFID) products and technology that utilize the ISO/IEC 18000-63 standard (also known as GS1 UHF Gen2). Giving a technology a name provides a common and recognizable identity, establishes consumer and business awareness as well as fosters brand loyalty to support a sales process. Much like the term “Wi-Fi” has simplified the way we talk about technology used for unplugged internet access, and the term “Bluetooth” has simplified the way we talk about exchanging data with a mobile device, the term RAIN simplifies the way we talk about enabling visibility into the billions of unpowered assets that make up the bulk of our world.
Why does RAIN need a name?
There are many different types of RFID technology. The differences include frequencies (UHF, HF, LF), standards, and intended uses. The RAIN name distinguishes the ISO/IEC 18000-63 standard, which uses a specific passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID technology from other forms of RFID. It provides a clear and simple identifier for the wide variety of products and services that comply with the standard. The RAIN name simplifies the terminology and makes it easier for the end-user to understand the uses and value of the technology. Similarly, the NFC brand provides differentiation for the Ecma-340, ISO/IEC 18092 standard which uses a specific version of passive HF RFID.
How does using the RAIN name and logo benefit me?
As the fastest-growing segment of the RFID market with hundreds of billions of tag ICs shipped to date, RAIN is used in many markets and industries worldwide to identify, locate, authenticate, and engage items–providing numerous benefits to end users. While other IoT technologies bring other values, none can match RAIN for cost, simplicity, and availability. The RAIN name associates your business and products to this rapidly growing market. The RAIN name provides a clear identifier that helps people both clarify and differentiate passive UHF technology, for use on any value chain, from other IoT and RFID technologies. It reduces confusion and provides a mechanism for creating industry awareness of, and education about, the core capabilities and value of the technology so businesses can focus on differentiating products and services from competitors. Some of the uses of RAIN include traceability in healthcare, smart manufacturing, and supply chain efficiency, to name just a few.
Who can use the RAIN name and emblem?
The RAIN name and emblem may be used by anyone (RAIN Alliance members and nonmembers) on marketing materials. RAIN is not a registered trademark or brand. The only limitation regarding how the RAIN emblems can be used is when used on products. For more information, contact [email protected]
How did you come up with RAIN as a name?
The word RAIN—an acronym derived from RAdio IdentificatioN—is intended as a nod to the link between UHF RFID and the cloud, where RFID-based data can be stored, managed, and shared via the Internet.
The RAIN name was adopted in 2014 when several companies working with passive UHF RFID technology began to see that the term “RFID” was being used very broadly – to represent multiple types of sensor technologies – many of which did not have the same cost-effective, transformational capabilities of passive UHF RFID. This created a concern that the expanding use and meaning of the term “RFID” might confuse the market. At the same time, these companies saw the growing importance of technology in enabling the Internet of Things.
What is the RAIN Alliance?
The RAIN Alliance is the industry organization supporting the universal adoption of RAIN, a standards-based, wireless technology that connects billions of everyday items to the Internet of Things, enabling businesses and consumers to identify, locate, authenticate, and engage assets.
RAIN Alliance’s Mission: The RAIN Alliance enables organizations to improve traceability, effectiveness, and sustainability by simplifying, standardizing, and accelerating the adoption of RAIN technology through global collaboration and innovation.
RAIN Alliance’s Vision: A world seamlessly connected through RAIN technology — enhancing lives, empowering industries, and driving a more sustainable, intelligent future for our planet.
Where can I get more information on the use of RAIN?
The RAIN Alliance website includes industry news, ebooks, whitepapers, customer stories and more: therainalliance.org.
When should I use the RAIN name?
When speaking to partners, customers, coworkers, media, investors, and more, using the RAIN term at least once in conversation will help eliminate confusion and share the value of the technology. We recommend you use the term RAIN instead of, or in addition to, RFID or passive UHF RFID. The more you use it, the more awareness it will create, improving communications between you and the customer. It can also simplify marketing and sales efforts. Please note: RAIN is not a registered trademark or brand.
What makes RAIN different from other forms of RFID?
RAIN identifies, locates, authenticates and engages items using passive Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology that utilizes and complies with the ISO/IEC 18000-63 standard (also known as GS1 UHF Gen2). RAIN tags cost pennies, don’t require batteries to communicate, can be read, or interrogated, at short or long range (up to 10 meters), without line-of-sight (through most materials such as cartons, boxes, wood, etc.), at high speeds and volumes (more than 1,000 tags per second). These unique capabilities make it ideally suited for use on trillions of items from apparel to pharmaceuticals to food, all along the supply chain.
In comparison, Low-Frequency (LF) RFID only provides short range (centimeters) and reads one tag at a time. High frequency (HF) RFID is commonly used for access control mobile payment or inside your passport, public transport ticket. The NFC brand refers to a particular type of HF RFID. Active RFID uses batteries to communicate, increasing the read distance to several tens of meters. For more information:
Download What is RAIN E-book
How do I tell the RAIN story? Is there already existing material available?
The RAIN Terminology and Logo Usage Guide includes sample copy that can be used by anyone. And the RAIN Alliance website includes industry news, ebooks, whitepapers, customer stories, and more: therainalliance.org.
What should I do to promote RAIN to my customers?
You can create RAIN marketing materials, share both internally and externally, and update your website. If a customer is unfamiliar with RAIN, share information and evangelize. These educational materials provide you with a great reason to contact a customer. RAIN Alliance resources can be found here.