Imagine a world where every product carries a unique digital "passport" that can be tracked in real-time throughout its journey. This vision is becoming reality through Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, with the Electronic Product Code (EPC) serving as its core identifier. EPC brings intelligence and interoperability to RFID systems, revolutionizing supply chain management.

The Electronic Product Code (EPC) is a universal identifier designed to provide unique digital identities for physical objects worldwide. Developed by MIT's Auto-ID Center and now maintained by standards organization GS1, EPC represents a significant advancement over traditional barcodes.

While barcodes can only identify product categories, EPC distinguishes between individual items. For example, where a barcode might identify "a 500ml bottle of Coca-Cola," an EPC can uniquely identify one specific bottle among millions.

• Providing global uniqueness for individual items
• Enabling item-level tracking throughout supply chains
• Bridging physical products with digital systems
• Delivering real-time visibility and traceability
• Ensuring cross-company and international interoperability

While barcodes transformed retail and logistics in the 1970s, they have limitations:

• Require line-of-sight scanning
• Only identify product types, not individual items
• Cannot be updated or read remotely

EPC and RFID overcome these constraints by:

• Enabling wireless, non-line-of-sight scanning
• Uniquely identifying individual items
• Supporting real-time data collection and automation

EPC follows a standardized format encoded in RFID tags to ensure uniqueness and scalability. The general structure includes:

EPC = Header | Filter Value | Partition | GS1 Company Prefix | Item Reference | Serial Number

Header: 8 bits
Filter: 3 bits
Partition: 3 bits
Company Prefix: 20-40 bits
Item Reference: 24-4 bits
Serial Number: 38 bits

GS1 has defined various EPC encoding schemes to address different business requirements:

EPC is stored in the EPC memory bank (MB01) of UHF Gen2 RFID tags. A typical UHF RFID tag contains four memory banks:

• Reserved Memory: Stores access and kill passwords
• EPC Memory: Contains the EPC code
• TID Memory: Stores the tag's unique hardware identifier
• User Memory: Optional space for additional data

The EPC system supports a complete digital ecosystem called the EPCglobal Network, which includes:

EPCIS (EPC Information Service): Captures and shares event data related to RFID tags, answering:

• What: The EPC
• When: Time of the event
• Where: Location
• Why: Business process (e.g., shipping, receiving)

ONS (Object Naming Service): Similar to DNS for the internet, ONS resolves EPCs to network addresses containing object information.

ALE (Application Layer Events): Filters and reports tag reads to reduce raw data and increase business relevance.

• Item-level traceability: Track individual items throughout supply chains
• Global interoperability: Ensures compatibility across systems and organizations
• Automation and efficiency: Enables automatic scanning, reducing errors and delays
• Visibility and transparency: Creates digital twins of physical objects
• Anti-counterfeiting: Helps verify product authenticity
• Advanced analytics: Supports better demand forecasting and business intelligence

Retail: Improved inventory accuracy, faster checkout, reduced stockouts

Pharmaceuticals: Compliance with serialization requirements, ensuring patient safety

Automotive: Tracking parts on production lines, warranty verification

Logistics: Tracking pallets and cartons, improved inbound/outbound operations

Healthcare: Tracking medical equipment, identifying surgical instruments

• IoT integration: EPC will serve as foundational identifiers in IoT ecosystems
• Blockchain compatibility: EPC will enable immutable tracking in blockchain solutions
• Enhanced security: Secure EPC encoding will prevent tampering in critical industries
• Smart packaging: EPC-enabled labels will support consumer engagement and compliance

The Electronic Product Code represents a transformative advancement in supply chain technology. By enabling unique identification of individual items, EPC powers intelligent, scalable RFID systems that deliver unprecedented visibility and efficiency across global supply networks. As digital and physical worlds continue to converge through IoT and artificial intelligence, EPC will remain essential as the universal digital identity for physical objects.