The RAIN alliance and its members are committed to using standardized numbering systems, including the RAIN Alliance ISO Numbering System, because these numbering systems enable the success of all RAIN RFID deployments.

Why Use Standardized Numbering Systems?

The structure and format of the data stored on a RAIN RFID tag is called the numbering system, and it is often part of a broader data standard. Successful RAIN RFID deployments leverage numbering systems that are part of data standards managed by organizations such as GS1 and ISO because these numbering systems:

• Eliminate tag clutter: Allows easy filtering of “my tags” from other stray reads, e.g. quickly filter package level tags from tags on items inside the same package.  Read more.
• Ensure uniqueness: Following a numbering system can prevent different organizations from unknowingly encoding duplicate tags.
• Facilitate resolution: The use of numbering systems allows readers to quickly and efficiently resolve tag data to gain additional item information when desired.
• Support interoperability: Uniformity of data structures supports supply chain partnerships.
• Efficiently use memory space: RAIN RFID tags have limited memory, so data must be encoded efficiently.

As the prevalence and size of RAIN RFID deployments grow and tag read range increases, you are more likely to encounter tags in your everyday life or— if you have a RAIN RFID deployment —in your read zone. Combined, these factors underscore the importance of the broad adoption of standardized numbering systems to avoid interference with neighboring RAIN RFID deployments.

The following resources will help members navigate and the resources and decisions needed to achieve successful RAIN RFID deployments using standardized numbering systems:

• Getting Started
  Learn how to choose a standardized numbering system and about registering a RAIN Alliance CIN.
• Practical examples, FAQs
  Read practical examples using the RAIN Alliance ISO Numbering System, access frequently asked questions and a table of common PC Word values using the RAIN AFI.
• Illustrated Glossary
  Access a glossary of terms and acronyms, with detail on the PC Word and AFI Bits and extensible bit vector EBV-8 encoding.