RFID Benefits with IT Integration

Walmart's high profile RFID program has not returned the original business value estimated. However, a disciplined, organized RFID project can deliver tangible benefits. ...

... "recent research has found that accurate, well-thought-out and highly targeted RFID deployments, coupled with IT-driven data integration plans, can deliver substantial benefits. " ...

Via Computerworld: RFID ROI

Walgreen RFID Implementation

Walgreen partners with Blue Vector to implement RFID system that is designed to deliver a paperless shipment loading process. The system automates the process for shipment load confirmation and triggers processing in the warehouse management system. ...

... "Walgreens, the nation's fastest growing drug retailer, has deployed one of the most technically advanced and well-integrated large-scale RFID systems in the industry. The system assists in the goal of 100% shipping accuracy from distribution center to hundreds of stores by scanning in real-time every product loaded into every truck and immediately alerting workers to potential shipping mistakes. " ...

Via Blue Vector: Walgreens Deploys RFID in Next Generation Distribution Centers

Mobile RFID Solution for Oracle by NCR

NCR integrates its radio frequency identification (RFID) software solution, called TransitionWorks for RFID and Mobility, with the Oracle ERP Suite to enable greater visibility into objects involved in supply chain business processes. ...

... "With the solution, Oracle's customers, including NCR, can augment current implementations of the Oracle E-Business Suite with updated, streamlined business processes. For example, if a warehouse forklift driver is directed to pick up a certain order, line items are automatically issued to that order as the RFID-enabled forklift retrieves pallets and moves them to a staging area or trailer. Conveyors can also be equipped with RFID readers, sensors and programmable logic controllers, allowing cases to be identified regardless of orientation and diverted down the correct lane. " ...

Via NCR: NCR Integrates RFID and Mobility Software with the Oracle E-Business Suite

RFID for Work in Process

Omnitrol Networks embeds IBM's WebSphere RFID Information Center software into its Work-In-Process (WIP) appliance, creating an EPC-based track and trace solution for the manufacturing companies. ...

... "The OMNITROL WIP Appliance integrates all the data from the sensors, RFID readers, mobile handheld devices, and other shop floor equipment to improve monitoring of the supply-chain, inventory, manufacturing, shipping and delivery of products. The appliance helps manufacturers reduce costs and time to market by identifying production issues internally and throughout their supply chain. IBM's WebSphere RFID Information Center enhances the OMNITROL WIP appliance by allowing customers to share product movement information with trading partners using solutions that comply with GS1 EPCglobal's EPC Information Services (EPCIS) standard. " ...

Via IBM: Work-In-Process Appliance

RFID Womens Workout

RFID technology is integrated into workout routine and tracks a participant's exercise regimen. ...

... "At each station, a woman flashes an RFID-tagged wristband over a scanner on the machine. The machine reads the woman's workout program and gives the exerciser real-time feedback ... " ...

Via Dallas Morning News: RFID consumer applications

Mobile RFID Handheld Reader Integrates GPS WWAN Barcodes

Intermec introduces the IP30 RFID reader, that adds on mobile RFID read / write capability to Intermec mobile computer family. ...

... "The IP30 posts two RFID industry firsts. It becomes the first handheld RFID system with integrated GPS and WWAN when combined with the Intermec CN3 mobile computer. In addition, when the IP30 is combined with the Intermec CK61ex, it becomes the first handheld RFID system with an integrated near/far bar code imager enabling users to scan both 1D and 2D barcodes from a variety of distances up to 50 feet, conveniently complementing RFID data collection. Both firsts assure investment protection for customers as they build the supply chain of tomorrow. " ...

Via Intermec: New IP30 Handheld RFID Reader for Mobile Computers

Intermec RFID Integrates with Microsoft Biztalk Release

Intermec's line of Radio Frequency Device (RFID) hardware devices supports integration with Microsoft Corp.'s BizTalk Server 2006 R2. When integrated with Intermec passive UHF RFID systems, BizTalk Server 2006 R2 enables communication with RFID devices on the Microsoft Windows platform. ...

... "BizTalk Server 2006 R2, in conjunction with Intermec RFID Hardware solutions will help businesses of all sizes gain significant benefits through the adoption of RFID technology. Since BizTalk Server 2006 R2 is built on the Microsoft .NET Framework architecture, developers are able to build and develop RFID applications using many of Microsoft's tools including Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Visual Studio, and Microsoft Dynamics. " ...

Via Intermec: Intermec Works with Microsoft to Manage and Communicate to RFID Devices

RFID Reader Multi-Format Compatible

NEC develops new RFID reader / writer with broad compatibility features. ...

... "NEC's multiple-format reader/writer, which the company claims to be the world's first, supports the three frequency bands of 13.56 megahertz, 952-954 megahertz and 2.45 gigahertz, it said. The company will develop a special large-scale integration chip for the device, which it plans to start selling before the end of March 2009. " ...

Via Japan Corporate News: NEC Develops Radio Tag Reader / Writer Supporting All Formats

RFID Infrastructure New Release

Reva Systems has released for general availability Version 2.0 of its Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP) and associated Management Console products, that will support plug-and-play support for RFID readers and printers, provide improved graphical user interface, and better integrate with IBM, Microsoft and SAP systems. ...

... "Release 2.0 has been tested and validated in some of Reva's previously announced customer RFID deployments, including METRO Group's retail and distribution environments and Hewlett-Packard's manufacturing and distribution operations. Additional Reva TAP 2.0 customers will be announced at the RFID Journal Apparel & Footwear Summit to be held this month. The Reva TAP is an RFID network infrastructure appliance that delivers accurate, actionable data for enterprise integration frameworks and consuming applications. It provides the RFID solution element that enables Reva's global customers to move from pilot projects to production RFID programs. " ...

Via Reva Systems: Reva Systems TAP Release 2.0

RFID Pharmaceutical Inventory Management

Avery Dennison and RedPrairie will collaborate on pharma RFID solutions. ...

... "A leading pharmaceutical supplier has chosen the Avery Dennison and RedPrairie RFID solution for visibility and inventory management of its extensive pharmaceutical line. The solution consists of Avery Dennison's industry-leading Monarch 9855TM RFID printer/encoder and RFID supplies combined with RedPrairie's world-class enterprise software. The recent RedPrairie and Avery Dennison partnership helps ensure that RedPrairie's customers have reliable RFID printing/encoding capabilities with Monarch brand printers already pre-integrated into RedPrairie software solutions. " ...

Via Red Prairie: Leading pharmaceutical supplier chooses RedPrairie Enterprise Software and Avery Dennison's Monarch brand RFID hardware and supplies

Pharma RFID Integrated ePedigree with ERP

Acsis can reduce the time required to integrate ERP systems, RFID serialization systems and electronic pedigree (ePedigree) solutions through collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and SupplyScape ePedigree software. ...

... "The pharmaceutical supply chain is undergoing dramatic changes as manufacturers, distributors and retailers accelerate various initiatives to protect patient safety, product integrity, supply chain security, company brand and product revenue streams. To help meet this challenge and the related federal and state mandates, Acsis, in conjunction with SupplyScape, is deploying the industry's first scalable end-to-end RFID serialized solution, providing bi-directional integration of ERP systems and ePedigree applications. As part of the solution, Acsis integrates serialization information between the manufacturing shop floor and the ERP system, facilitating serialized Rx Advanced Shipping Notices (RxASN) and ePedigree records. " ...

Via Acsis: ERP, ePedigree and RFID Device Management Solutions for Pharmaceutical Marketplace

California RFID Drug Pedigree

Cardinal Health will integrate radio frequency identification (RFID) technology by Fall 2007 in its Sacramento, Calif. pharmaceutical distribution center. ...

... "Cardinal Health operates dozens of pharmaceutical distribution centers nationwide. The company will start implementing RFID technology in its Sacramento, Calif. distribution center, as a means to receive and produce the electronic drug pedigrees needed to meet the requirements of the California legislation. " ...

Via Cardinal Health: Cardinal Health Announces Plan to Deploy RFID Technology in California

RFID Filtration: Millipore Integrates Smart Technology

Millipore is collaborating with Tack Smart Filter Technology BV to integrate RFID technology in its filters and filtration apparatuses for biopharmaceutical applications and will use Tagsys RFID technology for tags and reader components. ...

... "By using RFID technology in filtration products, Millipore's customers can increase their speed by quickly and reliably retrieving critical information, such as when and how the product was manufactured. Additionally, when the filters are coupled with sensors, RFID can deliver real-time information about product performance and identify which fluids are present during the manufacturing process. This information will help customers to ensure regulatory compliance and make recording and conveying manufacturing data faster and more reliable. Unlike previous labeling methods such as barcodes, RFID enables customers to automatically document product and process information, eliminates the risk of losing critical information, and provides the ability to rewrite their own information into embedded RFID tags. " ...

Via Millipore: Company to Embed RFID Technology in Filtration Products Used for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing

Integrated RFID: UID and Workflow

EPCSolutions introduces an integrated solution that enables DoD suppliers to manage all aspects of UID creation, registration, validation and UID labeling requirements. The data is seamlessly integrated into RFID labeling and Wide Area Workflow (WAWF). ...

... "The integrated solution provides MIL-STD-129P compliant RFID labels and MIL-STD-130M compliant UID marks/labels. The solution also provides a combined RFID/UID WAWF remittance and material handling document to the DoD, as well as hard copy generation of the DD250. The solution supports all major brands of RFID and bar code printers, as well as, several popular direct part mark etching devices. " ...

Via ePCSolutions: DoD RFID, UID and WAWF Integrated Solution Now Available ...

RFID Reader Module: Small Form Factor

WJ Communications introduces a low cost, small form factor Gen2 UHF RFID module, the WJM3000, which is based on its WJC200 reader chipset. The WJM3000 is the size of a compact flash card and uses almost 60% fewer discreet components, compared to currently available modules on the market. This RFID module will exceed industry benchmarks for fast inventory time and longer read and write range with worldwide Generation-2 RFID tags. ...

... "Utilizing WJ's RF expertise and leadership in wireless infrastructure and radio frequency identification (RFID) readers, WJ has developed the WJM family of UHF RFID Reader Module products to enable OEMs to offer RFID functionality in mobile devices while maintaining key parameters such as low cost, light weight and extended battery life. The data connectors provide an easy snap on PCB or a cable connection allowing for easy integration.

The main applications for WJM3000 include: RFID enabled Mobile Devices, RFID Enabled Handheld Readers, RFID Enabled Fork Lift Readers, and RFID Portal Reader. " ...

Via WJ Communications: WJ Communications Revolutionize the UHF Gen2 RFID Reader Module Market ...

RFID Adaptive Supply Chain Networks

SAP upgrades its transportation management functionality, as part of the mySAP Supply Chain Management (mySAP SCM) modules to support adapting business processes to optimize revenue across global trade operations. The upgraded software will support ocean shipping management and transportation planning through increased visibility and control of shipments globally. Transportation management costs will be reduced by making the business process more flexible and dynamic using real world aware practices, such as RFID technology. RFID technology integration into the adaptive supply chain will occur through SAP's NetWeaver platform. SAP reports that its existing transportation management software is used by more than 2,200 companies worldwide. This upgrade positions SAP as a strong competitor in the supply chain logistics software market. ...

... "Powered by the SAP NetWeaver platform and leveraging emerging technologies and real world aware practices - using technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, smart cards and sensors - mySAP SCM transforms traditional, linear supply chains into adaptive supply chain networks to meet the challenges of rapidly changing market dynamics. These adaptive supply chain networks allow all participants, including suppliers and logistics providers, to sense changes in demand and supply conditions as they occur and to share the critical knowledge needed to respond intelligently. The result is an adaptive supply chain network that is not only demand-driven but can also leverage its assets to influence demand where appropriate. mySAP SCM offers a dynamic synchronization of demand-driven planning, logistics and network execution based on real-time information that provides the capability to synchronize supply with demand by balancing push and pull network planning processes and to replenish and produce based on actual demand; sense and respond with an adaptive supply chain network in which distribution, transportation and logistics are driven and integrated into real-time planning processes; and enable network wide visibility, collaboration and analytics across the extended supply chain. " ...

Via SAP: SAP Helps Companies Meet the Challenges and Reduce the Costs of Global Trade ...

RFID Reader: European Channel Strategy

SkyeTek uses the VAR approach as its channel strategy to Spain and Portugal. ...

... "SkyeTek, Inc., the leading provider of embedded RFID reader technology, announced the addition of a value added reseller (VAR) that will provide the company with a specialized sales, systems integration, and support presence in Spain and Portugal, one of the largest European markets for RFID. NextPoint Solutions will carry SkyeTek's M1, M2, and M9 HF and UHF reader modules. These reader modules are based on SkyeTek's simple common architecture and powerful ReaderWare software. " ...

Via SkyeTek: SkyeTek Signs Value Added Reseller to Serve Growing RFID Reader Markets in Europe

RFID Implementation: ROI More Predictable

Research report looks at the increased predictability of RFID implementations and the overall return-on-investment, or ROI. ...

... "the once hidden costs associated with sometimes dramatic organizational changes brought about by (or necessary to) a successful RFID implementation can now be anticipated and managed. As a result, enterprises are enjoying shorter design and pilot phases, scalable solutions, smoother rollout, and less challenging integration tasks. " ...

Via Aberdeen Group: Link

Upcoming Conference will focus on the return on RFID investments ...

5th Annual Global RFID ROI Summit London - The RFID Conference (Radio Frequency Identification) for industry experts: "The Global RFID-ROI Summit 2007, 29 & 30 January 2007, ExCeL Conference Centre - London: the event focuses on achieving real business value from successful RFID implementation. "

RFID implementation must be integrated into business processes in order to realize the full benefits ...

Via Sun Micro: RFID ROI Requires More Than Slap and Ship Deployment: "To really realize ROI from RFID, companies need to see this technology as a way to collect valuable business intelligence that can help them cut costs and increase profits, says Manish Bhuptani, director of market development at Sun Microsystems. "

Companies that drive business change increase the ROI from RFID implementations ...

Via Teradata: The Analytic Value of RFID (PDF): "Companies that take a more functional approach to RFID implementations will often be disappointed, but those companies that see and leverage RFID adoption as an opportunity to drive system-level changes will unlock the ROI in RFID. "

Adoption of RFID technology will ultimately deliver the full benefits of the RFID project. Leading indicators of RFID adoption should be monitored. ...

Deloitte & Touche LLP on RFID: "The high costs of RFID deployment make it hard to see an immediate return on investment. Businesses should not rush in without first knowing the best RFID adoption strategy and how they intend to measure its performance. "

RFID Out-of-Box Solution: SMB Market

Intermec partners to create an out-of-box RFID compliance experience for suppliers to the retail industry and the Department of Defense. This is especially critical for small and medium sized businesses (SMB market) as this RFID kit enabled them to accelerate their RFID compliance efforts. The kits include everything required to meet RFID compliance mandates, generate and apply Generation-2 RFID tags, and verify tag information. This is a time-saver as it enables an SMB customer to accelerate to the integration testing phase. ...

... "To generate a label, customer order information and the customer-stipulated label format is transmitted by the Intermec portable terminal to the PM4i printer's on-board encoder, which translates the information and prints it into an RFID-readable tag, barcode or human readable label. The printer's embedded reader then scans and verifies the tag's information before it is placed on a carton or pallet. The Intermec 751, operating with an attached IP4 portable reader, or the IF5 fixed RFID reader then re-verifies the order information and confirms shipment. The Informs kit comes with stand-alone PC-based compliance software that includes all standard retail and DOD-compliant label formats, so users have easy and immediate access to compliant label formats. The software can act as a stand-alone shipping application and interoperates with all ERP software for complete system integration. A key component of the system, EPC Solutions' Tag Manager software contains GTIN and SSCC smart labels information and allows users to immediately begin shipping cases and pallets with standards-compliant, up-to-date labeling. " ...

Via Intermec: Intermec and Informs Deliver Affordable, Streamlined RFID Compliance Kit

SAP Cisco RFID Investment

SAP and Cisco invest in Reva Systems through investment, industry collaboration, and strategic relationships. ...

... "Reva Systems, an emerging leader among radio frequency identification (RFID) network infrastructure providers, announced $13.5M in second-round venture funding that includes a capital contribution and technology standards collaboration with Cisco Systems, Inc.; a capital investment and strategic relationship with SAP Ventures, a division of SAP AG (NYSE: SAP); and follow-on investments from Reva's original venture backers and individual investors, including North Bridge Venture Partners and Charles River Ventures. Today's announcement brings Reva's total funding to $20M including the original Series A financing in April, 2004. The investments will fund Reva's growth in a time of intensifying global RFID market expansion. The company is well-positioned with a robust RFID appliance to satisfy network management and scalability challenges that the RFID community now recognizes as the key to widespread RFID deployment.



Reva's approach and its product development are aligned with Cisco's expectation of the proliferation of RFID and the resulting demand for innovative solutions and network management to support RFID deployments. Reva is leading industry standards committees to help define network-to-reader protocols and other standards that will streamline RFID network integration, and its approach is becoming the practical model for managing readers and collecting data across any RFID implementation." ...

Via Reva Systems: Reva Secures Investments from Cisco Systems and SAP Ventures: Funding accelerates RFID network integration effort ...

RFID Retail Solutions POS

Tally partners to RFID-enable the retail shopping experience. It will leverage the strengths of AVAAN for integration of RFID technology into the point-of-sale process. This positions Tally in the high-growth segments of the retail industry. ...

... "Tally announced its alliance with AVAANA, an Innovation and Integration Services Company focused on the high growth RFID market. The Tally-AVAANA alliance is to RFID-enable Tally Products and establishes AVAANA as Tally's Preferred RFID partner. AVAANA will be providing the RFID enablement for the TallyShoper Retail POS (Point-Of-Sale) of India's largest product software company. This targets the high-growth Retail industry. This will also be deployed in an upcoming industry RFID pilot. RFID is a data collection technology that provides suppliers, retailers, manufacturers and distributors with up-to-the-minute supply chain visibility, from inventory and logistics to freshness dates. RFID is powerful because it provides a unique identifying serial number to each and every item, unlike bar codes that typically have a unique number for a set of similar items. " ...

Via Tally Solutions: TALLY and AVAANA sign MOU for RFID As Tally's Preferred RFID Partner, AVAANA's RFID technology enables Shoper for Retail industry ...