1. A data collection system comprising: at least one portable data collection terminal having an RFID reader/writer device; and a computer spaced apart from said hand held portable data collection terminal, said computer being configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) prompting an operator of said data collection system to enter configuration data for reconfiguring said portable data collection terminal, said computer further being configured to build a data package based on configuration data entered by said operator via said GUI; wherein said computer is configured to encode said data package into an RFID tag by transferring an RFID encoding command to said portable data collection terminal over a physical communication link.