Both EMV and RFID are technologies used in the payments industry. If you are wondering which is better, EMV or RFID, this article will help you understand their differences. We will also explain how they work and what they can offer to your business.
What is EMV?
EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa, who developed the standard. It is also called Chip and PIN because it uses a chip on a card and requires a PIN to authenticate transactions. The EMV standard has been in use since 1994, but only recently are we seeing more widespread adoption of this technology in the U.S.
In the last few years, many merchants have upgraded their terminals to accept EMV cards; however, most consumers still use magnetic stripe cards that have no built-in security features unless they request one specifically (for example: chip-and-signature).
What is RFID?
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. It is a wireless non-contact system that uses electromagnetic fields to transfer data between an RFID reader and an electronic tag attached to an object. These are commonly known as RFID tags, but sometimes also referred to as proximity cards or transponders. With the help of these tags, you can identify all sorts of items in your store, from books and clothes to cars.
The principle behind RFID is simple: it emits electromagnetic waves that carry information about its position and distance from the reader located near it. The reader receives this signal, decodes it and processes its information accordingly (for example: stores it in memory).
EMV vs. RFID – Comparison
So, which is better? EMV or RFID?
The answer depends on what your needs are. If you want to be able to scan products from a distance, RFID is the obvious choice. But if security is more important to you, then EMV would be the right solution. EMV is generally considered more secure than RFID because it uses a chip-and-PIN system that encrypts data during transactions and creates unique identifiers for each cardholder within the system. In addition, this technology has been around since 1990 and has been widely adopted across many industries as an example of how technology can help protect consumers against fraud.
RFID tags are also quite common nowadays and can be used in everything from credit cards to keychains (which allow users access into their homes). However, unlike EMV chips that contain personal information such as names and addresses stored in databases connected by networks like VisaNet or MasterCard Worldwide Network (MCW), RFIDs simply store serial numbers which are useful for inventory management but not much else beyond that—making them less secure than their chip-and-PIN counterparts!
Disadvantages of Using EMV & RFID?
Now that you know the advantages of both EMV and RFID, the question remains: which one is better? The answer is “it depends.”
EMV is often more expensive to implement than RFID, but offers a higher level of security. However, it does not offer as much flexibility as RFID because when items are scanned using an EMV device, there will only be one type of record created for each item. This means that if a company wants to track multiple attributes about an item such as its origin or expiration date (as opposed to just its price), they would need separate systems for each attribute. Additionally, it can take longer than RFID systems since there are multiple steps involved in getting approval from the bank before any transaction can take place (more on this later).
It is a tough question to answer. Both EMV and RFID are used widely across the globe. It’s important to note that both of these technologies have their advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, I believe that EMV technology has more benefits than RFID technology due to its compatibility with legacy credit cards and mobile payment systems such as Apple Pay or Android Pay.
