Auto-ID

Auto-ID stands for Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC). The term refers to technologies that automatically recognize, identify, and digitally capture physical objects without manual data entry.

The most important Auto-ID tecahnologies include barcode and QR code scanners, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems, mobile computers, label printers, and biometric recognition systems. They are used in logistics, production, retail, warehousing, and service vehicles—anywhere where goods, components, or people need to be recorded quickly and accurately.

In the European market, Zebra Technologies, Honeywell, Datalogic, and Getac are the main players in the professional auto-ID hardware market. They develop robust mobile computers, scanners, and capture devices for industrial environments. The field is complemented by providers such as SATO and TSC Auto ID, which specialize in printing solutions and RFID technology.

Auto-ID systems are a central component of modern industrial and logistics processes. They create the link between physical processes and digital information systems, thus forming a basis for Industry 4.0 and digital transformation.