LogicaCMG: RFID on the Threshold of European Breakthrough

From TMCnet ... 2005. The research highlights when and how RFID will be used on a large scale. ... both complex and labour intensive. RFID is set to eliminate these concerns. ...

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a proven, cheap and reliable technology for wireless information exchange. RFID has been around a long time. The current technology and cost price make RFID readily available. Examples in applications are Supply Chain, marketing and security.

Advantages of this technology are flexibility, reliability, cost reduction, quality, communication speed and enabling technology for new business applications.

The most important features of RFID are:

Wireless
No line of sight-required (contrary to barcodes)
Stand alone
Compact and flexible
User-friendly and straightforward
Various uses
Reusable and disposable
Rewrite-able
Multi-read
Passive and active, such as temperature measuring

RFID technology in a nutshell
RFID technologie is based on a system consisting of a "tag" and a read/write device. The "tag" consists of a chip and an antenna and is very small. The tags come in a large variety of appearances such as a hard case, labels, plastic, glass, large or small. The amount of information that can be stored on a tag as well as the rewrite range can vary. There are active and passive tags. The active tags initiate transmitting the stored information themselves, the passive ones transmit information when asked.

The read/write device consists of an antenna, a controller and a PC-unit. The antennas can vary from small read units to man high gates. They can be wireless or integrated. PC-units can vary from hand-held size to PC or IC model.

There are a lot of RFID technologies each with its own use in the field. Depending on the use a compilation of devices can be made for the most effective and efficient solution.

RFID is a form of AutoID. Other forms are smartcard, biometrics and barcode.

LogicaCMG's RFID Competence Center: The LogicaCMG RFID Competence Center offers working experience and lessons learned, in the area of business cases, business modeling, integration with existing systems, technological development and choices.

The LogicaCMG RFID Competence Center:

has knowledge of and experience with various current technologies

has contact with well known players in the market

is involved in initiatives of standardization

has experience in creating business cases in the field of RFID

offers live demonstrations

All these activities help our clients to make the right choices. This will result in a proper solution for improved business and exploration of new opportunities.

LogicaCMG is a major international force in IT services and wireless telecoms. It provides management and IT consultancy, systems integration and outsourcing services to clients across diverse markets including telecoms, financial services, energy and utilities, industry, distribution and transport and the public sector. Formed in December 2002, through the merger of Logica and CMG, the company employs around 20,000 staff in offices across 34 countries and has nearly 40 years of experience in IT services. Headquartered in Europe, LogicaCMG is listed on both the London and Amsterdam stock exchanges (LSE: LOG; Euronext: LOG).