Handheld RFID for Goods Receipt

Gerry Weber International selects Nordic ID handheld RFID to enable its global RFID project where high mobility was part of the requirements. ...

... "The RFID handhelds will be most heavily used in goods receiving and inventory management at about 150 stores. Nowadays it takes us about two days to complete the inventory on a 200-square-foot retail space, says Christian von Grone, CIO at Gerry Weber. After the rollout, this process will take only about ten minutes.

Nordic ID handsets were chosen after a meticulous selection process, including extensive testing of different devices. The fact that the PL3000 Cross Dipole is able to read tags from up to four feet away, even through closed boxes, was the deciding factor in its choice. For Gerry Weber, this is especially important when tagged goods, in individual boxes, are transported in bulk on pallets. " ...

Via Nordic ID: Gerry Weber

GERRY WEBER International RFID Project: "The GERRY WEBER group is the first company in Germany to use RFID as article surveillance technology. A further innovation, are the RFID labels made of fabric, which the company will sew directly into the garments in future. "

Verayo RFID Puf Authentication

Verayo uses challenge techniques to validate signature of chips, which will be used to enable object authenticity. ...

... "Then you put the chip into a radio identification tag (RFID) that can be attached to a retail product as if it were a bar code. When someone buys that product, a reader at the cash register will read the serial number on the tag. " ...

Via VentureBeat: Verayo technology adresses counterfeiting

Checkpoint RFID EAS Improves Metro Retail Loss

Checkpoint Systems collaborates with Metro Group to deliver an EAS solution built on RFID technology. The RFID-based Electronic Article Surveillance system will comply with GS1 EPCglobal EAS Overview and Technical Implementation Guide. ...

... "METRO Group is working with Checkpoint to deliver standards-compliant, RFID-based EAS to both mitigate loss and optimize our merchandise management, said Dr. Gerd Wolfram, Head of CIO-Office, METRO AG. This effort is in line with our stated RFID strategy to use tags for multiple purposes along the supply chain. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Checkpoint and we are convinced that the GS1 enhanced standards-based solutions are bringing benefits for retailers and suppliers. " ...

Via Checkpoint Systems: Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) Built on RFID

Disney Store RFID Creates Interactive Experience

Disney is redesigning its retail store format to improve the customer experience. Technologies, such as RFID, will be deployed to create interactivity for customers. ...

... "Some of the components in the test stores that will open next year include demand-driven miniature theaters, scent-powered marketing, and RFID-tagged merchandise that interacts with other objects in the store when in proximity. " ...

Via Motley Fool: Disney Stores

SIRIT RFID Order Increase

Bay Area Toll Authority has extended its relationship with SIRIT by increasing its order for toll transponders, enabling its FasTrak program. ...

... "The new order calls for Sirit to deliver its traditional sealed Title-21 based toll transponders including packaged tags available at retail locations. BATA expects to begin distribution of transponders under this order in late October 2009. " ...

Via SIRIT: Renewal RFID Transponder Order

RFID in Fashion Application Demonstration

Altierre RFID Dynamic Pricing

Altierre opens Retail Technology Center in San Jose to demonstrate the paperless retail store. ...

... "The system combines wireless technology with digital display and long-range RFID innovations to enable real time dynamic pricing, allowing retailers to change prices on specific products in a matter of seconds while eliminating pricing inaccuracies. " ...

Via MSNBC: Retail Technology

Walgreens RFID in Distribution Channel

Behind the scenes, Walgreens is implementing RFID in its supply chain to create operational efficiencies. ...

... "It is one of the few retailers that is really using RFID for distribution center operations. In 2008, it announced it had integrated RFID with its shipping, warehouse management and material handling operations at its Anderson, South Carolina distribution center. " ...

Via Supply Chain Digest: Walgreens RFID Deployment

Retail RFID Implementation Tracks Clothing Through the European Supply Chain

Alien Technology teams up with Eren Holding to implement a high-volume RFID garment tracking installation in Istanbul, Turkey. The solution will provide end-to-end RFID traceability in the garment supply chain of retail stores (88) with a volume of nearly two million items. Eren Holding manufactures and distributes high-end garments, with brand names such as Lacoste, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Coach and Blank. ...

... "Eren Holding had a need to enhance its supply chain traceability process and reduce inventory control/labor costs, so it approached the Alien integrator, STS for a complete hardware and Oracle based software solution. Eren Holding’s main objective in adopting RFID was to provide 100 percent traceability of the clothing articles, from the manufacturing site to the distribution centers, and, finally, to the retail outlet. " ...

Via Alien Technology: RFID Retailing Installation in Europe with Lacoste, Calvin Klein and Burberry

RFID Activation Fields in Seatlle

Beyond Walmart, RFID technology is being integrated into new processes for efficiency and to drive growth. Personal marketing strategies use RFID to trigger a user experience. Seattle debut of target marketing. ...

... "One example is Seattle's cafes and retail stores that use RFID technology for marketing products and services At the core of this new marketing advertisement system are the so-called activation fields ... " ...

Via CIO India: New RFID Ideas ...

RFID Enables Purchase Decision

Retail service provider and media technology firm collaborate to improve the customer experience while cross-selling related products at the point of the purchase decision using RFID technology. ...

... "Using the latest RFID technology, shoppers can now interact at the Point of Decision, in amongst product, where they are provided with media content specific to their needs at the point at which they are making the decision to purchase. " ...

Via Cambridge UK: customer experience

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

RFID Retail Book Management

Selexyz sees success in inventory management, using RFID to streamline its processes and improving customer service. ...

... "RFID scanners can read each book's RFID tag without employees removing it from the shelf -- and the store can remain open during the inventory process. ... Selexyz also uses the RFID system to check in books as they arrive and track shipments from its distributor, Centraal Boekhuis. ... " ...

Via Computerworld: Managing Book Inventories

NineWest RFID Pilot

Jones Apparel Group launches program to pilot Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in specific Nine West retail locations to determine its impact on item tracking and service, operational efficiency, and inventory. ...

... "The goal of this pilot program will be to study the benefits that item-level RFID provides in the areas of enhanced productivity, customer service and inventory accuracy. The team of companies with whom Jones is partnering on this initiative consists of: Vue Technology, which will provide the RFID software and system management solutions; Motorola's Enterprise Mobility Business, which will provide fixed and handheld RFID readers and antennas; Avery Dennison, which will provide RFID tags and printers; inCode Wireless, which will provide installation and integration services and, along with RFID Sherpas LLC, will perform operational and business case analysis. " ...

Via Jones Apparel Group: Item-Level RFID Pilot in Select Nine West Retail Locations

RFID Inlay Tracking Packed Meat

Avery Dennison RFID will supply AD-222 inlays to the METRO Group for meat tracking pilot program at the Future Store in Toenisvorst, Germany. ...

... "The AD-222 inlay will be used to tag the foam meat packing trays used in METRO's real, Future Store. The meat tagging application will help METRO better manage the flow of its perishable products, cut down on cost and save time on restocking.

The European Avery Dennison RFID team worked to develop a solution, including a feasibility study and the tag design. The RFID tags will be applied to the foam meat packing tray and one of the particular challenges was to meet safety requirements for labeling food. Avery Dennison RFID worked together with Fasson Roll Materials Europe, a division of Avery Dennison, to provide S-2000N food contact compliant adhesive. The RFID tags are readable when stacked in the freezer and meet METRO Group's food labeling safety requirements. " ...

Via Avery Dennison RFID: RFID Inlay Utilized in Meat Tagging Application for Metro Group

RFID Retail Checkout

Freedom Shopping has launched a solution that plugs into existing cash registers and point-of-sale terminals to enable RFID checkout, inventory tracking and security. ...

... "The core of the solution is a software wedge (Freedom-ID) that operates on the point-of-sale (POS) terminal. It communicates with a counter-top RFID reader pad (EasyRead Pad) and/or other readers in the checkout lane. Inventory is monitored with mobile RFID readers and security gates also are RFID-enabled. Data is passed to existing cash registers and POS infrastructure at all points in a SKU format so it can be instantly integrated. Consumer privacy is protected using a variety of technical safeguards. " ...

Via Freedom Shopping: Offering for Retail RFID Checkout & Security

RFID Shrink Management Platform

Checkpoint introduces next-generation of shrink management based on RFID technology. The radio frequency solution is derived from military applications and rotates the RF signal 360 degrees, which increases the detection capability. Alarm management is accomplished through different exit and entrance signal strategies. ...

... "Evolve provides retailers with a feature-rich, highly-scaleable EAS system to help reduce shrink, improve profitability, and enhance the consumer shopping experience while reducing unintended customer hassle created by false alarms. When combined with the benefits of RFID, Evolve will also increase inventory visibility, ensuring that retailers keep products on the shelves and available for purchase by their customers. The new solution features 25% increased detection, differentiated alarm response through two EAS frequencies, integrated customer counting, Smart Alarm Management, Industry standard Ethernet connectivity and easy remote system upgrades. " ...

Via Checkpoint Systems: Shrink Management System

Bookstore RFID Implements Item Level Tracking in SuperStore Format

Byblos implements item-level RFID tracking in its large-format bookstore in Portugal, using solutions from Vue Technology. ...

... "Byblos is using the TrueVUE RFID Platform to help track more than 150,000 items across its 35,000 square foot retail outlet. Every individual item within the new Byblos Amoreiras store is equipped with a UHF RFID tag. The company is using the item-level RFID solution to help maximize store operational efficiencies and on-shelf product availability, as well as provide a better customer experience. The Lisbon store is the first in a series of superstores planned to launch across Europe. " ...

Via Vue Technology: Largest Item-Level Retail RFID Deployment

Retail RFID Item-Level In-Store Tagging

ADT introduces RFID reader that lowers the overall costs of in-store, item-level radio frequency identification (RFID) deployment by reducing reader requirements by up to 90 percent and capital costs by up to 60 percent.

... "ADT and its industry-leading Sensormatic brand of electronic article surveillance (EAS) anti-theft systems have a long history of large-scale, item-level tagging for inventory security. Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH, one of Germany's leading retailers and a user of Sensormatic EAS to secure its merchandise and reduce losses, has now deployed the iREAD platform as part of a major apparel implementation at one of its flagship stores. " ...

Via ADT: Retail RFID Deployment Costs with Sensormatic iREAD Technology

BlackFriday RFID Retail Pilot Locates Stock

Electronic Product Code (EPC) RFID technology will be used on new DVD releases in a pilot test scheduled at select stores around the country. The RFID tags are expected to help retailers locate stock that is in their stores to improve the customer experience. ...

... "The EPC uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to uniquely identify an object. Retailers can use the EPC to ensure that products are kept in stock to meet shopper demand as well as helping shoppers find the right product in the right place inside the store. Over the last few years, the EPC has become a popular way to identify pallets and cases of goods on their way to retail stores. Electronic readers inside the store read the unique serial numbers from EPC labels and relay this information back to store staff. EPC labels do not contain, collect or store any personal information. The EPC label has no power source and can only transmit its unique number when it is less than about 10 feet from a reader that activates the label. The power – or strength – of readers is strictly regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. The actual distance from which an EPC label can be read may be shorter because barriers such as shopping bags and other factors such as the presence of metal materials or nearness of walls or other obstructions weaken a reader’s signal. The labels can be removed after purchase. " ...

Via epcGlobal: SHOPPER BENEFITS (PDF)

WalMart RFID Acceleration to Realize Benefits

Walmart will accelerate its use of RFID technology throughout its stores at the item-level to drive beneifts. ...

... "The world's largest retailer, with US$345 billion in sales last year, is gearing up to roll out the RFID gear to make that prediction a reality in its 4,068 North American stores. " ...

Via Yahoo! News: WalMart RFID

RFID Clipped Tags Discussion

Video shows IBM clipped tag ...

Dillards RFID Pilot Program Will Tag Merchandise Items with Electronic Product Code

Dillards. a national retailer that operates in 29 states, is beginning an item-level Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, tagging pilot in its stores this month, in order to assess the technology's impact on customer service through improved product availability. ...

... "The pilot will consist of certain styles of merchandise being marked with RFID-enabled tags. The RFID/EPC (Electronic Product Code) tags function like an intelligent barcode and contain only the Electronic Product Code unique to each garment. The tags are designed to be removed at the time of purchase. They are not required in the event that the customer wishes to return the garment. No link will be made between the garment information held by the tag and the customer's personal information. These new tags will enable store associates to perform more frequent inventory counts on merchandise, with the ultimate goal of more timely replenishment of out-of-stocks. We believe that the use of RFID technology can enable us to provide an even higher level service to our customers by enhancing our ability to have the right product available at the right time while providing us even more accurate information from our inventory control system. " ...

Via Dillards: RFID Pilot Program

Metro RFID Shopping Experience

Metro pilots RFID in its Future Store initiative. ...

... "In a pilot project in the men's fashion department, some 30,000 products have been fitted with additional RFID labels - known as Smart Chips. " ...

Via Fibre2Fashion: RFID Shopping Experience

Metro RFID Future Store Initiative

Nice video of Metro Group's Future Store Initiative that relies on RFID for supply chain visibility. ...

RFID Hang Tag Tracks Pipe

RFID hang-tags, used in retail, are deployed for tracking lengths of stainless steel pipe. ...

... "The printable RFID hang tag produced for retail clothing provides an adhesive backing that is easily attached to the end of the pipe. Not only does the adhesive backing provide a secure attachment, but it also keeps the tags' antenna away from the metal surface. This has resulted in an effective way to firmly attach the tag, while providing a very high level of read accuracy. " ...

Via Barcoding: Tracking Metal Objects with RFID Tags

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 Fast Moving Consumer Goods

TOSHIBA TEC is working to demonstrate fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) in an integrated Supply Chain Management system, called the RFID EXPRESS POS Project. ...

... "The TOSHIBA TEC set up consisted of a barcode printer at the manufacturing side to print RFID tags and the innovative RFID-driven Express POS terminal in the retail shop. The combination of barcode and RFID technologies allows a gradual integration of RFID into the retail organisation while at the same time protecting their ICT investment. " ...

Via TOSHIBA TEC: TOSHIBA TEC tests Supply Chain Management program for item-level RFID consumer goods

Logistics RFID Cold Chain Requirements

Accellos completes RFID consortium initiative to address emerging RFID requirements of the third-party logistics (3PL) market in the freezer, cooler and dry warehousing environments. ...

... "The purpose of the project was to develop RFID Slap and Ship capability that meets the compliance requirements of specific retailers. The RFID consortium, a best of breed group comprised of manufacturers, operators and system integrators was a unique approach to enhancing the Accellos Enterprise 3PL product, with each member of the RFID consortium having an equal vote in all project related decisions. " ...

Via Accellos: Successful Development of RFID Capabilities within Accellos Enterprise 3PL

Metro RFID Starter Packs

METRO Group will ramp up its use of radio frequency identification (RFID) this year and has approved Intermec RFID starter packs. ...

... "Metro has approved two Intermec RFID starter packs, specially tailored to the needs of the consumer goods industry, which will be offered to its suppliers. The preconfigured application contained in the packs makes it possible to easily fit pallets and boxes with RFID tags. Both RFID starter packs contain an Intermec PM4i RFID-enabled printer and SF51 Bluetooth bar code scanner. In addition, the second expanded option also contains an Intermec RFID portal for full recording of incoming and outgoing goods. The partnership between the two companies has its roots in the use of the Intermec RFID system in the METRO Group Future Store Initiative, the METRO Group RFID Innovation Center and the RFID introduction in November 2004. " ...

Via Intermec: Metro Starter Packs

Staples Active RFID Pilot

Reusable tags are being piloted by Staples to validate effectiveness for item-level tracking. A sampling of its products will be tagged in the pilot with active RFID tags. Early data shows 100% accuracy for the active technology, cutting down on the cycle-counting process for retail inventory. The active tags are reclaimed at the point-of-sale and reused. ...

... "Staples in late May started its trial at one of its Montreal stores, selectively tagging about 2,000 items, representing some 300 SKUs out of the 7,500 SKUs in a typical location ... " ...

Via eWeek: Staples RFID

BestBuy RFID Enables Customer Experience

Best Buy sees RFID technology as an enabler of business benefits in customer-facing business processes. ...

... "For instance, the company has already initiated pilot projects that use RFID technology to help customers more easily find items they are looking for in the stores. " ...

Via PC World: Best Buy RFID

RFID Research in Retail Supply Chain

Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals funds RFID research. ...

... "Hardgrave's research team has already been collaborating with WalMart Stores Inc. in the use of RFID at the pallet and case level, and found that using the tags can reduce out-of-stock inventory by 30 percent. " ...

Via The Morning News: RFID Lab

RFA RFID Technology Provides DVD Theft Protection in Supply Chain

NXP Semiconductors and Kestrel Wireless collaborate to develop an RFA (Radio Frequency Activation) RFID solution to provide DVD theft protection throughout the supply chain. The solution enables the ability to disable DVDs at manufacture and enable at the point of sale, rendering the in-transit goods useless while in the supply chain, which eliminates the motive for theft. ...

... "The first application of NXP and Kestrel's RFA / RFID solution will be integrated into optical media. The solution, however, is applicable to all consumer electronics products, such as MP3 players, electric shavers, toothbrushes, flat screen TVs, ink jet cartridges and flash memory. NXP and Kestrel's network-based RFID solution opens up new opportunities for the distribution of optical media and consumer electronics. It eliminates expensive security devices, restrictive packaging and display cages, enabling a more comfortable shopping experience for consumers. Minimized product packaging creates more environmentally friendly solutions, such as paper instead of plastics. Additionally, the costs and problems of returns for DVDs and other disc-based media are reduced. " ...

Via NXP: NXP and Kestrel Wireless partner to eliminate theft of DVDs in retail

WalMart RFID Technology Expansion Continues Per CIO

Executive Vice President and CIO Rollin Ford describes WalMart's plan to continue implementation of RFID technology in a keynote speech at the RFID Journal Live conference in Orlando, Florida. ...

... "WalMart Stores continues to expand its RFID capability to additional facilities, enabling an additional 400 WalMart stores by the end of this fiscal year, WalMart Executive Vice President and CIO Rollin Ford said in a speech Monday. Ford also discussed the technology's current and future benefits to both business and consumers including broad benefits for improving sustainability. He said current benefits include a 30 percent reduction of out-of-stocks, reduction of excess inventory in the supply chain, and sustainability impacts. Ford also outlined advancements including pallet locators now being used at Sam's Club locations. On a daily basis, more than 24 million people shop our stores. If 100,000 extra trips are avoided by having items in stock, we will save customers $22.8 million a year in gas savings and reduce greenhouse gases by 80,209 metric tons. " ...

Via WalMart: WalMart Continues RFID Technology Expansion

RFID Store Promotion Solution Enables Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark deploys OATSystems' OAT Mobile Tag to enhance in-store promotions through this mobile RFID tagging solution. The OAT solution supports Kimberly-Clark's implementation of RFID-enabled stores in new geographies. ...

... "Like other consumer product companies, Kimberly-Clark invests significantly in in-store product promotions, using as a primary vehicle a manufactured display that features the promoted product. These displays are typically shipped from Kimberly-Clark's contracted manufacturers directly to retailers' stores. All too frequently, operational challenges prevent these displays from reaching the sales floor at the beginning of the promotional period. In fact, industry statistics show that between 15% to 40% of stores fail to move displays to the sales floor on time, missing critical promotional windows and the opportunity to increase sales. Working with OATSystems, Kimberly-Clark has solved this complex operational problem using the latest RFID technology and a mobile tagging solution.

The solution, which incorporates the Mobile Tagging Station from ADASA, enables Kimberly-Clark's third-party contract manufacturers to apply RFID tags to promotional displays. In-store RFID readers read the displays' tags to record when they reach the backroom of the store and again when the displays reach the sales floor. When a display's tag is read, data is sent to Kimberly-Clark and the retailer showing whether the display has reached the sales floor on time. With this innovation, Kimberly-Clark and its retail customers can intervene promptly when displays fail to reach the sales floor on time. This benefits Kimberly-Clark, the retailer and the consumer by ensuring promoted products are where customers expect them to be. " ...

Via OATSystems: Kimberly-Clark Deploys First Mobile RFID Tagging Solution; Uses OATSystems' Mobile Tag

RFID Retail Shopping Experience

Media cart application uses RFID technology to enhance the customer shopping experience. ...

... "The store installs tiny tags on each shelf that emit a radio signal, telling the cart where it is. The cart holds a computer with all the digital ads and product data, which is called up automatically ... " ...

Via WFAA: Shopping Aids

Checkpoint RFID Metro Pilot Implementation Solves Technical Challenges

Checkpoint Systems is involved in pilot of UHF RFID technology at METRO Group's Distribution Centres near Hamm, Germany, under supervision of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) task group 34 (TG34). The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) plays a major role in the global standardization of Information and Communication Technologies. This pilot has been created to improve the read performance of RFID tags in a high-density UHF reading environment and validate the performance of portal dock door solutions. The successful pilot solves UHF RFID challenges and supports Metro's plan to implement RFID more broadly in 2007. The Metro RFID implementation is aimed at enhancing customer service and increasing the efficiency of its supply chain. METRO Group is an international retailing company with 2005 sales of EUR55.7 billion. The company has a headcount of about 250,000 employees and operates more than 2,200 outlets in 30 countries. ...

... "Utilizing equipment from numerous RFID suppliers in Europe and North America, Checkpoint served as a hardware integrator for the trials. In this capacity, Checkpoint helped with the design work for the hardware solution and procurement, configuration and installation of the 36 RFID-enabled dock door portals which were used to validate successful simultaneous operation of multiple dock doors using a 4-channel synchronized approach under the ETSI 302 208 standard. Pallets containing 62 individually tagged cases largely containing RFID unfriendly materials (such as cans, liquids and metal lined items) were simultaneously transported at warehouse speeds through 36 adjacent loading dock doors. Some 4.5 million individual reads were recorded over the course of the trials. Complying with the ETSI listen before talk (LBT) requirements, the tests achieved a 98.5%+ read rate simultaneously from multiple pallets as they were wheeled through the dock doors. " ...

Via Checkpoint Systems: Checkpoint Systems Partners with Metro Group to Successfully Deploy UHF RFID Dock Door Solution: 98.5%+ Read Rate Represents Milestone in European RFID Deployment ...

RFID Supply Chain Visibility

Aberdeen Group reports on RFID in the supply chain and provides insights into the use of radio frequency identification among the multiple participants. Aberdeen is seeing disparity among supply chain partners and sees potential for less collaboration. ...

... "Aberdeen Group reveals that RFID costs a distribution company nearly 30% more than it costs a manufacturer and more than twice what the average retailer spends. It is a rare technology that can address the myriad objectives and constraints of a cross-enterprise RFID initiative. " ...

Via Yahoo! Finance: Achieving Total Supply Chain Visibility with RFID ...

RFID Technology Enables Asia Logistics for Metro Supply Chain

The METRO Group and Savi Networks will collaborate to implement the Advanced Logistics Asia (ALA) project. The project will deploy RFID radio frequency identification technology to monitor the location and security of inventory shipped from Asia to Europe in real-time through the supply chain. ...

... "The ALA project, managed by METRO Group Buying Hong Kong (MGB Hong Kong), will utilize SaviTrak(TM), a web-based, real-time information service that leverages automatic data transmissions from Electronic Product Code (EPC) - compliant passive and active RFID tags, among other wireless devices, on shipments transported throughout the global supply chain. MGB Hong Kong manages METRO Group imports from sourcing to delivery at Distribution Centers in Germany. Under the ALA project, SaviTrak will monitor a variety of retail products while they are transported through a global RFID reader network, stretching from a consolidation center in Hong Kong, through the Port of Hong Kong, to the Port of Rotterdam, the inland Port of Duisburg in Germany and finally to a METRO Group distribution center in Unna, Germany.



Active, battery-powered RFID tags on containers will be utilized to automatically transmit information into the SaviTrak information service. As a six-month pilot, the ALA project is designed to evaluate improvements in the visibility, management and security of inventory while it is transported end-to-end. The project will further evaluate investment returns in reduced lead times and inventory, improved customer service as well as supply chain and financial performance." ...

Via Savi Networks: The METRO Group and Savi Networks Launch Real-Time Information Service on Inventory Shipped From Asia to Europe

RFID Packaging Machinery Applications ...

Applications of RFID technology to packaging machines will be demonstrated at the Pack Expo upcoming. ...

... "RFID PAVILION: The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Pavilion will again highlight solutions that meet the requirements of the entire supply chain. Included in the exhibits will be technologies to upgrade conventional lines into RFID-enabled packaging lines capable of applying multi-pack, case and pallet tags online. Also view the latest advances designed to verify the presence of tags, write to the tags and validate data on the tags.

WHEN: October 29 - November 2, 2006 9 am to 5 pm Sunday through Wednesday 9 am to 2 pm Thursday

WHERE: PACK EXPO International 2006 McCormick Place Convention Center Chicago, Illinois " ...

Via PRNewsWire: Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI): Leveraging the Power of Packaging to Grow Brand Sales ...

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

RFID Enterprise Service Upgrade ...

BEA WebLogic RFID product family is a component of the BEA's service oriented architecture. RFID Enterprise Server 2.0 is available for download. The RFID system's event repository is interoperable with the Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) standards. ...

... "A core component of the BEA WebLogic RFID product family, BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server is designed to help enable central management of RFID data collected at the edge of an enterprise, i.e. inside a retail store, warehouse or data center. With enhanced support for industry standards and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), the 2.0 release of BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server provides a suite of six services that can help manage and coordinate RFID data and edge operations globally. BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server 2.0 complements the BEA WebLogic Edge Server and BEA WebLogic Compliance Express products, and is designed to make it easier to bridge the gaps between people, processes, applications and systems across enterprise and trading partners. BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server 2.0 can provide customers unprecedented visibility into product movement data, and is designed to help enable them to derive business value more quickly from RFID data collected at the edge. " ...

Via BEA Systems: BEA Strengthens RFID Infrastructure Software for Enterprise-Grade Deployments ...

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 ...

Walmart RFID: Gen2 Tag Implementation ...

Walmart will continue its implementation of RFID technology as it expands the number of targeted stores and plans conversion to Generation 2 tags. ...

... "WalMart Stores, Inc. will bring another 500 stores and clubs online with its RFID (radio frequency identification) initiative by the end of this fiscal year, bringing the total number of its retail locations using the technology to more than 1,000. The company has more than 3,900 locations in the United States.

The benefits of RFID, especially with regard to reducing out-of-stocks, as well as reducing excess inventory, have been documented in a 2005 study by the University of Arkansas. Ford noted that all WalMart installations moving forward would only read Gen 2 tags. As the remaining pallets and cases with Gen 1 tags make their way through the distribution network, WalMart will convert all of its systems to only read Gen 2 tags.

As predicted by industry experts, the cost of the technology continues to fall while performance continues to improve. WalMart expects this trend to continue as users adopt the Gen 2 tags, which, as envisioned, are becoming the industry's global standard thanks to significant work by EPCglobal and its members. Ford said that WalMart continues to work with its next 300 largest suppliers, which are expected to begin shipping test cases in October. These suppliers will go live with their shipments in January 2007, bringing to more than 600 the number of supplier companies using RFID technology in concert with WalMart. " ...

Via Walmart Stores: WalMart Continues RFID Expansion

RFID Wawa Brand Card ...

Wawa brand card leverages RFID technology to simplify the retail experience. ...

... "The Wawa brand cards contain radio frequency identification technology, known as RFID, that the store's payment system can read without direct contact. The transaction requires no swipe, no signature and no numbers punched. " ...

Via Virginian-Pilot: Local market slow to embrace RFID tracking technology ...

RFID Retail: Growth Plans: AbsoluteSKY ...

RFID solutions provider expects solid growth prospects for retail RFID applications. ...

... "AbsoluteSKY, Inc., developer of RFID-based inventory tracking systems for specialty retail, provides additional details on its business targets for the next 18 months. Buoyed by strong reaction to its intelliTRACKER product suite, positive channel feedback and continued overall market growth, the Company is projecting initial installations of its product suite with four national retailers within the next few months. Revenues of $25M, with a booking backlog of $60M, are in the Company's forecast for 2007. Professional research firms are projecting continued double-digit growth for retail RFID, with global spending rising to $3 billion by 2010 - a six-fold increase from 2005.



Other researchers post even more aggressive figures, estimating the size of the RFID market in North America alone to be $2.7 billion, and $6.1 billion worldwide! AbsoluteSKY's intelliTRACKER product suite ties together multiple technologies to provide retailers with real-time item-level inventory tracking. Its extensive benefits include the ability to increase inventory turns, virtually eliminate missed sales and gain extensive real-time control over loss prevention." ...

RFID Retail: Growth Plans: AbsoluteSKY Anticipates Fast Growth for its Retail RFID Business ...

RFID Retail: Apparel Payback ...

Laudis demo planned for RFID conference will show payback in the retail apparel industry ...

... "The RFID Journal and AAFA Summit, held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York Aug. 15-16, is the first event of its kind designed to address RFID-related opportunities and issues in the apparel and footwear industry. Laudis and NCR will demonstrate their collaborative end-to-end RFID solution that allows manufacturers to tag apparel at the source, enabling retailers to verify the location or the receipt of garments anywhere within the supply chain. The demonstration (Laudis AAFA Summit booth #3) will feature the Laudis apparel applications and item-level tracking solutions for clothing and footwear. NCR will provide hardware, such as hang tags, flap tags and RFID-reader technology. NCR is also providing Laudis with consulting services and installation support for its end-to-end clothing solution. " ...

Via NCR: NCR and Laudis Systems Demonstrate End-to-End RFID Solution for Apparel Industry ...

Retail RFID applications are discussed ...

Via CIO Magazine: The RFID Imperative - Retail - prepare systems for RFID technology: "Like most CIOs in the retail industry, he believes that widespread RFID adoption is a sure thing and that the technology—which some day will enable him to track every single product, from manufacture to checkout ... "

ABI has researched the market for retail RFID use ...

The RFID Retail Market Market Research Report from ABI Research: "The retail market is possibly the most talked about in the RFID industry. Although Wal-Mart is not the only retailer that has issued an RFID mandate for its suppliers, it is still the most popular subject. This market is expected to be one of the fastest growing RFID verticals. "

T3CI offers RFID-enabled business intelligence capabilities for the retail industry ...

Via T3CI: RFID Analytics and Application Leadership; Experience Delivering Business Value to Major Retail Suppliers Drive Investment Decision: "T3Ci's software and subscription services are designed for leaders of RFID initiatives at major retail suppliers and pharmaceutical companies to deliver business value from their RFID investments. The company's enterprise-class solutions provide RFID data analysis (only for retailers who allow 3rd party analysis of their EPC data), deductions management and authentication/anti-counterfeiting/e-pedigree – the most comprehensive RFID applications vision. "

Unilever RFID: Open Standard Supply Chain Data ...

Unilever collaborates with IBM and T3Ci to test interoperability of the emerging EPCIS RFID data standard. The standard focuses on the efficient use of real-time data among partners in the supply chain. ...

... "The standard is designed to help better enable retailers, manufacturers and organizations throughout the supply chain to overcome information overload and share information to improve business processes. This milestone marks the first step toward delivering interoperability based on the Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) for exchange and query of RFID data. IBM and T3CI are the co-chairs of the EPCglobal EPCIS Working Group. The objective of the Working Group is to create common interfaces among RFID software, allowing organizations to exchange and leverage RFID data independent of the applications in which data is created or stored. For organizations throughout the supply chain, this will deliver greater value by allowing them to inexpensively capture large volumes of detailed data at each stage of the supply chain and share that data among trading partners. While retailers today can provide manufacturers with large amounts of data about RFIDtagged products, until now there has been no simple and standardized way for manufacturers to sort through the volumes of raw data and perform queries to use it to improve product introductions, promotions and distribution of new products.



The new EPCIS standards-based ability to query RFID data will provide organizations with near real-time RFID data from their trading partners, for the first time giving manufacturers access to the precise information they need. Unilever North America, a global manufacturer of foods, home care and personal care products, also announced today its plans to pioneer use of the EPCIS standard to query RFID data provided by retailers. Unilever will conduct a trial using IBM's EPCIS implementation to collect and access information from within the company's manufacturing environment and from trading partners. By leveraging IBM and T3Ci reports and analysis, Unilever is looking to create additional business value in the areas of promotion management, supply chain visibility and metrics, as well as RFID readability. " ...

Unilever RFID: Open Standard Supply Chain Data: Via T3Ci: IBM and T3Ci Successfully Pilot Open Standard to Enable Manufacturers to Leverage RFID Data and Improve Supply Chain Processes: Unilever Among First Manufacturers to Pioneer New Interface to Connect Data Among Trading Partners ...

EPCIS standard ...

Software Action Group: "EPC Information Services (EPCIS) Phase 2: Create one or more normative technical specifications that will facilitate the development of interoperable EPCIS systems. "

Background on Unilever ...

Unilever awards HR outsourcing contract to Accenture: "Unilever's mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Its portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most loved brands including twelve EUR1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories in which the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as: Knorr, Hellmann's, Flora, Bertolli, Dove, Lux, Pond's, Lynx, Sunsilk, Persil, Cif and Domestos. Unilever has around 206 000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generated annual sales of EUR40 billion in 2005. "

Info on T3Ci ...

T3Ci: The RFID Analytics and Applications Company: "T3Ci, the leading RFID analytics and applications company, offers a broad range of RFID software and services, representing the most comprehensive RFID vision in the industry. T3Ci develops software and provides enterprise-class solutions for managers of RFID initiatives who are responsible for delivering business value from their company's RFID investment. T3Ci's enterprise-class solutions include RFID analytics as well as a suite of high-value applications for retail suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, and major retailers. Applications include Out-of-Stock Management, Promotions Execution Management, Deductions Management, and Product Authentication. "

RFID Market Size Estimates ...

Estimation of RFID market size ...

... "Global investment in RFID software, hardware and services in the retail sector is expected to break the half billion dollar mark by 2007, growing from $168 million in 2004 to an estimated $1 billion in 2010. " ...

Via Computer Business Review: RFID: tagged for retail ...

RFID Alternative: Rubee Network Tags ...

IEEE works on the IEEE P1902.1 standard, an improvement on the RuBee visibility network protocol. RuBee is a bidirectional, on-demand, peer-to-peer, radiating, transceiver protocol operating at wavelengths below 450 Khz. The RuBee protocol works in harsh environments with networks of many thousands of tags and has an area range of 10 to 50 feet. ...

... "One of the advantages of long-wavelength technology is that the radio tags can be low in cost, near credit card thin (1.5 mm), and fully programmable using 4 bit processors. Despite their high functionality, RuBee radio tags have a proven battery life of ten years or more using low-cost, coin-size lithium batteries. The RuBee protocol works with both active radio tags and passive tags that have no battery. IEEE P1902.1, IEEE Standard for Long Wavelength Wireless Network Protocol, will provide for asset visibility networking that fills the gap between the non-networked, non-programmable, backscattered, RFID tags widely used for asset tracking and the high-bandwidth radiating protocols for IEEE 802.11 local area networks and IEEE 802.15™ personnel area and data networks. " ...

RFID Alternative: Rubee Network Tags: Via IEEE: IEEE BEGINS WIRELESS, LONG-WAVELENGTH STANDARD FOR HEALTHCARE, RETAIL AND LIVESTOCK VISIBILITY NETWORKS

RFID Framing Chemical Industry ...

CIDX releases position paper on the use of RFID in the chemical industry. ...

... "The Chemical Industry Data Exchange (CIDX), a 20-year-old trade association that serves as the chemical industry's forum for emerging eCommerce technologies, announced the availability of the RFID Framing White Paper, a 46-page document detailing the impact of Radio Frequency ID (RFID) technology on the chemical industry. Written by a CIDX team of technology experts, including representatives from chemical producers and technology solution providers, the White Paper is the industry's first holistic look at the technology that is taking the consumer products and retail sectors by storm. " ...

RFID Framing Chemical Industry: Via CIDX: CIDX(R) Publishes White Paper on Potential Impact of RFID Technology in the Chemical Industry

RFID Privacy Guidelines: Ontario Canada ...

Ontario Commissioner for Information and Privacy releases privacy guidelines for the field of radio frequency identification (RFID). ...

... "RFID tags contain microchips and tiny radio antennas that can be attached to products. They transmit a unique identifying number to an electronic reader, which in turn links to a computer database where information about the item is stored. RFID tags may be read from a distance quickly and easily, making them valuable for managing inventory but pose potential risks to privacy if linked to personal identifiers. RFID tags are the next generation technology from barcodes.

Although RFID technology deployed in the supply chain management process poses little threat to privacy, item-level use of RFID tags in the retail sector, when linked to personally identifiable information, can facilitate the tracking and surveillance of individuals. The goal of these Guidelines is to alleviate concerns about the potential threat to privacy posed by this technology and to enhance openness and transparency about item-level use of RFID systems by retailers. The Guidelines address key privacy issues regarding the use of RFID technology at an item-level in the retail sector, said Commissioner Cavoukian. The Guidelines are based on three overarching principles:

Focus on RFID information systems, not technologies.

Build in privacy and security from the outset – at the design stage.

Maximize individual participation and consent. " ...

RFID Privacy Guidelines: Ontario Canada: Via Canada IPC: Commissioner Cavoukian issues RFID Guidelines and Practical Tips aimed at protecting privacy

Metro RFID: Gen2 Supplier Mandate ...

Metro starts transition to Generation 2 RFID standards with suppliers. ...

... "Germany's Metro Group, a European retail giant, has started using an updated international standard for radio frequency identification (RFID) in some of its stores ... " ...

Metro RFID: Gen2 Supplier Mandate: Via FreshPlaza: Metro's suppliers face deadline on updated RFID standard ...

RFID Gen2 Chip Supply for Alien ...

Tower Semi will manufacture Generation 2 RFID chips for Alien Technology. ...

... "Tower Semiconductor Ltd., a pure-play independent specialty foundry, announced that it is the manufacturing supplier for Alien Technology's internally-designed Gen 2 RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) integrated circuits. These ICs recently achieved the EPCGlobal certification mark. The RFID ICs are produced at Tower's Fab2 in an advanced 0.18-micron manufacturing process. Market analysts forecast the RFID IC's market to grow significantly to between $500 millions and $1 Billion by 2010, mainly due to the Gen 2 impact. RFID tags help enable supply chain efficiency, visibility and security and are being deployed in retail, defense, transportation and health markets. Some of the implementation initiatives are being led by major US retailers. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 13 federal agencies are already using or plan to deploy RFID technology. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), has mandated RFID's use across its suppliers for increased supply chain visibility and improved forecasting. The newly certified Alien Gen 2 RFID chips include some new CMOS devices which were jointly developed with Tower. IC development efforts focused on the low-power requirements for such an RFID tag which draws its power solely from transmitted Radio Frequency energy. " ...

RFID Gen2 Chip Supply for Alien: Via Tower Semiconductor: Tower Semiconductor Manufactures Gen 2 RFID Tags for Alien Technology ...

RFID 3Gen Reader Chipset ...

Anadigm introduces 3rd generation RFID reader chipset, that can be leveraged in high and ultra-high frequency applications and RFID tag types. ...

.... "Anadigm announced the immediate availability of RangeMaster5, the company's third-generation RFID reader 3.3 volt chip set solution that allows system vendors to design and maintain a single combination HF and UHF reader. The Rangemaster5-based system can be customized to read different radio frequency identification (RFID) tag types, with different modulation types and frequencies. RangeMaster5 also fully supports current HF standards as well as the newer standards under study by EPC (Electronic Product Code) Global, Inc. Like previous RangeMaster devices, RangeMaster5 will support UHF protocols- EPC Global Gen 1 and Gen 2 (class 0, 1, 2) as well as ISO18000-6 standards. RangeMaster5 is the third in a family of RFID reader solutions that Anadigm is developing for the rapidly expanding RFID markets. RFID technology is revolutionizing markets as diverse as retail sales - by managing inventory and electronic payments via mobile phones - to medical applications by ensuring that hospital patients receive the correct treatments and medications.

RangeMaster5 is a three-chip set comprised of two dynamically programmable analog signal processors (dpASP) in conjunction with an RFID State Machine. This enables system designers to develop universal RFID readers that can support both HF and UHF, changing between HF and UHF baseband frequencies dynamically, in a few microseconds. RangeMaster5 also features the ability to dynamically change between protocols and frequencies allowing for optimized RFID tag reading. By allowing standardization around a single printed circuit board to support multiple end products and markets, RangeMaster5 simplifies and improves product development. This next generation of RangeMaster not only reduces development time and ownership costs of fixed systems, but also enables portable designs by reducing supply voltage requirements and power consumption. " ...

RFID 3Gen Reader Chipset: Via Anadigm: Anadigm Reveals Third Generation Chipset for Combination HF and UHF RFID Readers ...

Hospital RFID Applications Discussed ...

MIT Forum will discuss RFID applications in the hospital. ...

... "RFID in the Hospital
Monday June 12, 2006
6:30 - 6:45 Networking & Light Snack
6:45 - 7:45 Panel Presentation
7:45 - 8:30 p.m. Q & A
Location:
Stata Center (Bldg. 32)
Room 124, 1st floor
32 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA 02139 MAP

In addition to manufacturing and retail marketing, healthcare is considered the next home for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Although in its early stages, RFID technology has great potential in the hospitals to significantly reduce cost, improve patient safety and deliver medical services. Imagine the hospital of the future where unnecessary expenses will be cut and more patient lives will be saved. " ...

Via MIT EF: RFID SIG ...

RFID Lab Retail Analytics ...

Teradata creates RFID laboratory to focus on analytics in retail applications. ...

... "Teradata, a division of NCR Corporation, has established an advanced analytics lab specifically for retailers and consumer goods companies where information on the most important facets of their operations can be discovered. The lab also analyzes data captured by radio frequency identification (RFID) applications across the supply chain. The new Retail Advanced Business Analytics & RFID Lab is housed at the Teradata Benchmark Center in Rancho Bernardo, Calif. The lab demonstrates to retailers and consumer goods companies how their data can be used in innovative ways to derive incremental business value. Focal points at the lab include deep analytics, predictive modeling, data mining, and RFID data analysis. Analytical results are presented using data visualization technologies. " ...

RFID Lab Retail Analytics: Via Teradata: New Teradata Retail Advanced Business Analytics & RFID Lab Delivers Insight from Enterprise or RFID Data

RFID Shelf Edge Management ...

Vue, Pricer, and IBM collaborate to deliver RFID technology that supports shelf edge management. ...

... "Vue Technology, the leading provider of item level RFID solutions, and Pricer AB, the leading supplier of electronic display and information systems, announced that they have collaborated with IBM to provide retailers with a breakthrough solution for RFID enabled shelf edge management. The new solution leverages real time item level data collected via RFID to expand the use of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) beyond static price and stock displays. The new innovation will be on display in IBM's booth at the Retail Systems 2006 Conference & Exposition, May 22-24. The shelf-edge management solution enables retailers to consistently deliver the right item level inventory information to their store associates and customers; and for suppliers it is an opportunity to ensure that their new products are not sitting in the store back room. Through the integration of Vue Technology's TrueVUE RFID Platform, Pricer's integrated ESL solution, and IBM's Store Integration Framework, retailers can now cost effectively deploy a seamless solution for item-level inventory tracking and shelf-level management. Displaying critical retail store information directly at the shelf edge enhances the overall customer experience while reducing out-of-stocks and increasing sales.

With critical item level retail information now available at the shelf edge, through the integration of RFID and ESL technology via IBM's Store Integration Framework, sales associates can quickly and efficiently identify exact inventory needs and expedite restocking while business operations staff can remotely monitor inventory levels across stores and generate critical inventory alerts. At the same time, the TrueVUE RFID Platform provides visibility for the IT operations staff to remotely monitor and maintain the RFID network. " ...

RFID Shelf Edge Management: Via Vue Technology: Vue Technology and Pricer AB Team with IBM to Deliver Breakthrough in Shelf Edge Management for Retail ...

RFID Adoption Rate Increasing ...

RFID adoption rate is increasing according to new study sponsored by NCR. ...

... "According to the survey RFID: How Far, How Fast? sponsored by NCR Corporation and conducted by Retail Systems Alert Group, the adoption rate of RFID is moving at a modest pace. Many challenges, both technical and cultural, continue to impede the growth of RFID. However, there is reason to believe that growth may be on the way. Highlights of the survey include:

Retailers are lagging far behind manufacturers in adopting RFID. Only 9 percent of retailers who responded to the survey have an RFID-implementation timeline, and the majority of retailers who responded positively estimated their organization's overall revenue to increase to $5 billion or more; 44 percent of manufacturers have developed a timeline. Although fewer retailers reported a timeline for implementation, those retailers that have a timeline reported that they are spending more than in 2005, according to survey results.

According to the survey results, manufacturers are focusing their attention on one to 50 product lines, rather than across a broader range of product lines as was reported in the 2005 survey results. Among those companies that have a timeline for RFID adoption, most respondents (both retailers and manufacturers) report that they have pilot distribution centers up and running. " ...

RFID Adoption Rate Increasing: Via NCR: Adoption Rate of RFID is Moving at Modest Pace, But There is Reason to Believe Growth May Be on the Way, According to New Study

RFID: RealTime Promotion Execution

OatSystems and ADT combine to deliver a real-time promotion execution process, enabled by RFID technology. RFID applied to the execution of promotions, help track the inventory used in promotions in real-time and create immediate feedback for marketers. ...

... "OATSystems, Inc. and ADT, a unit of Tyco Fire & Security, announced a proof of ROI program designed to validate the return on investment from standards-based RFID-enabled promotions and ignite the next phase of RFID deployments. Together with Intel Corporation, the companies will provide RFID hardware, software and services necessary for a 10 store retail deployment to help retailers track promotional products and provide critical information back to suppliers such as Proctor & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark. To help validate the ROI, an independent academic institution of the retailer's choosing will establish the parameters of the study, monitor control stores and deliver a final report on the ROI.

Trade promotion spending by manufacturers is a massive budget item, representing 12%-15% of sales for most companies. Unfortunately, study after study and the day-to-day experiences of manufacturers and retailers show that the returns on trade promotions are far less than satisfactory. Real-time Promotion Execution (RPE) is a new, RFID-centric business process that can help consumer products manufacturers and retailers to dramatically increase promotion effectiveness which may result in increased promotional sales, decreased execution costs, and greater shopper satisfaction. According to Cheryl Perkins, senior vice president and chief innovation officer for Kimberly-Clark, RFID technology can be used as a business tool to help deliver greater value to K-C and its retail customers.

RPE uses RFID-tagged displays and promotion product cases to measure in-store promotion execution by tracking where and when the displays and promotion inventory are in the store. Manufacturers and retailers can track when the items reach the store, when they're moved to the sales floor, and how long they are there - all in near-real time. This information is then integrated across many stores and manipulated with powerful analytic tools. Illustrated by the recently released MIT study on RFID-based promotions, this enables a new business process that is cost-effective and dramatically increases promotion sell-through, correction of poor in-store execution and promotion intelligence, and lowers the cost of promotions management. " ...

Via OATSystems: OATSystems and ADT Announce Promotions-on-Standards Program to Ignite RFID ROI: Leaders Rally Retailers and Suppliers to Validate ROI in Standards-Based Real-time Promotions Execution ...

Java RFID Sensor Community ...

Sun launches community for RFID sensor development using Java as the software foundation. ...

... "RFID (radio frequency identification) and sensor-based applications are being used increasingly in a variety of industries, including manufacturing retail health care, pharmaceuticals, transportation, logistics, aerospace and government. They can dramatically reduce costs for companies, increase operational efficiencies, improve security and accountability of assets, and help ensure the authenticity and integrity of products. However, the complexity of developing and integrating RFID and sensor solutions can slow adoption while developers come up to speed.

The Sun RFID Community has grown out of the experiences of technical collaboration among internal Sun experts and the more than 350 members of Sun's RFID Partner Advantage program. Any developer can access the Sun RFID and Sensor Community by joining Java.Net. Members of the Sun RFID Community can participate in e-mail lists, code-building projects, and community activities. The Sun Java System RFID Software, toolkits and documentation are freely available for download. " ...

Java RFID Sensor Community: Via Sun Microsystems: Sun Launches New RFID and Sensor Community for Java Developers ...

RFID: NCR Symbol Technologies Collaborate ...

NCR and Symbol collaborate to deliver RFID technology solutions based on Generation 2 standards. ...

... "As leaders in the retail market, Symbol and NCR provide deep industry expertise and high-performance solutions that can help retailers capitalize on next generation data capture technology to significantly improve the customer experience by reducing labor costs, accelerating material handling and increasing visibility within the supply chain. Symbol is a leading global provider of enterprise mobility solutions comprised of advanced data capture products, mobile computers, wireless infrastructure, services, and RFID - including high-performance RFID fixed and mobile readers that are compliant with the EPCglobal Generation 2 standard. NCR delivers end-to-end, global RFID solutions that help businesses solve real business problems. The NCR TransitionWorks portfolio of RFID solutions encompasses thoughtware, hardware, tags, services and software, including data warehouse solutions from Teradata, a division of NCR. " ...

RFID: NCR Symbol Technologies Collaborate: Via NCR: NCR and Symbol Technologies Collaborate to Sell Generation 2 RFID Systems ...

RFID Smart Shelf Dispenser ..

TagSys develops new item-level RFID reader-based devices that target improvement of inventory management for the pharmaceutical, retail, library and industry laundry sectors through an RFID-enabled Smart Shelf and Smart Dispenser products. ...

... "The Smart Shelf simulates the 3D tunnel reader approach on a static standard shelf. The Shelf is designed to read any tag that is placed on the surface of the shelf. Previous designs of RFID shelves have required tags to be perpendicular to the antenna. The new Smart Shelf is designed to provide accurate readings regardless of the orientation of the tag. The Smart Shelf is highly sought after by libraries to help manage high volumes of books and other media, the pharmaceutical industry, where RFID tagged bottles can be tracked and monitored, high-end jewelry stores, and retail, where inventory of items like DVDs and CDs can be monitored to ensure availability during peak seasons of demand. The Smart Dispenser provides a volume based approach to reading the items in the dispenser. A typical dispenser could be a drawer or cabinet used to dispense items to authorized individuals. The items can be placed in any order or orientation in the dispenser. The new design reads the items in the dispenser when the drawer is opened and again when it is closed. The items that are removed are identified through the difference between reads. One user example of the Smart Dispenser is the management of hospital garments (scrubs) used by medical staff. To help hospitals manage hygiene and sterilization requirements, the Smart Dispenser can dispense the appropriate attire to the staff, (e.g. size, number of previous washes, etc.), and also monitor inventory and how that inventory is being managed. " ...

RFID Smart Shelf Dispenser: Via TAGSys: TAGSYS Develops Item-Level RFID Smart Shelf And Smart Dispenser For Pharma, Libraries And Retail ...

RFID Reader: Item-Level Retail POS ...

TagSys demonstrates new dual frequency, universal (UHF and HF) item-level RFID reader designed for the point-of-sale (POS) retail market. ...

... "The universal reader integrates HF and UHF reader modules and antennas into a single package. The slim-line, bench top device is optimized for POS applications and measures 460mm x 460mm x 25mm. The reader can read up to five HF and/or UHF tagged items at a time as they are passed directly over the reader. Building on TAGSYS' long standing expertise in delivering Reliable, Accurate and Secure (R.A.S.) systems, the unique approach contains the UHF field to eliminate any external interference, thereby reading only the items being purchased. The demonstration at RFID Journal Live will include multiple HF and UHF tagged products. As the items are read, the information is captured on a screen that notes the item, displays a graphic of the item along with its price and the radio frequency of the tag. " ...

RFID Reader: Item-Level Retail POS: Via TAGSYS RFID: TAGSYS demonstrates dual frequency UHF/HF item-level RFID point of sale reader at RFID Journal LIVE 2006 ...

RFID Tag: Pivacy Clipping ...

Clipping of RFID tag at checkout protects privacy. ...

... "One retail deployment of RFID illustrates a privacy sensitive approach. Marks & Spencer enclosed the RFID device in a tag attached to the product. At the cash register, customers were given the option of clipping off the tag. Despite not having the tag, the return policy remains the same for all customers. " ...

RFID Tag: Pivacy Clipping: Via Berkeley: To Tag or Not to Tag

RFID Distribution Plan: Channel Strategy ...

Impinj shares its channel strategy for RFID distribution, which includes value-added reseller (VAR) partners and original equipment manufacturers (OEM). ...

... "A key component of Impinj's GrandPrix RFID solution, the Speedway reader addresses the two most important RFID performance criteria for retail environments - read reliability and operation in dense reader mode. Impinj's Speedway reader received EPCglobal Gen 2 certification and complies with FCC part 15 regulations as well as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Directive. Manufactured at facilities certified to the ISO 9002:2000 quality standard, all Speedway units undergo extensive testing prior to shipment. " ...

RFID Distribution Plan: Channel Strategy: Via Impinj: Impinj Reveals Worldwide Distribution Strategy for High Performance Speedway Gen 2 Reader ...

Japan RFID Gen2 Readers ...

Partners collaborate to deliver Gen2 RFID readers to the Japanese market. ...

... "Under the agreement, Impinj will adapt its Speedway Gen 2 RFID readers to conform to Japanese radio frequency regulations. NEC TOKIN will develop and market its own brand of RFID reader products based on the Speedway platform for the Japanese market. The agreement also includes a partnership with NEC Corporation, NEC TOKIN's parent company. NEC will offer the Powered by Impinj readers, with NEC's RFID Manager middleware, as part of its systems integration business. The middleware manages the electronic product code (EPC) information streaming from the readers and sends the data on to warehouse and enterprise management systems. The companies' first joint deployment will be an installation at NEC's Personal Products Co., Ltd, the PC manufacturer, in Yonezawa. Impinj's Speedway reader received the EPCglobal Gen 2 standard certification mark and has been successfully installed in large North American retail and distribution environments that require RFID technology to improve supply chain efficiency. Speedway exhibits unprecedented levels of performance and was recently demonstrated to support item-level RFID tracking for pharmaceuticals, apparel, CD/DVDs and many other high value products. " ...

Japan RFID Gen2 Readers: Via Impinj: Impinj, NEC TOKIN and NEC Partner to Deliver High Performance Gen 2 RFID Readers in Japan ...

RFID Analytics Software ...

Xterprise releases analytics software to support RFID technology. ...

... "Xterprise Incorporated, an industry leading Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Enabled Supply Chain solutions provider and the leader in RFID source tagging solutions, has extended its solution offering with the commercial release of AnalytiX. AnalytiX is a data analytics product targeted to assist retail suppliers shipping RFID products to Wal-Mart and other retailers by monitoring and quantifying the benefits of using RFID within retail supply chains. Unlike other RFID analytics offerings in the market, Xterprise’s AnalytiX product provides the most innovative user interface, the richest retail RFID analytics available in the market and the first of its kind monitoring of production source tagging solution performance. The product is fully compatible with WalMart's Retail Link as well as many Enterprise Systems data interfaces such as SAP. Xterprise is currently working with members of the Wal-Mart top100 in pilots and will demonstrate the product at both the EPC Technology Expo/Wal-Mart supplier forum (Dallas, April 25-26) and RFID Journal Live (Las Vegas, May 1-3). " ...

Via Xterprise: Xterprise Announces Most Comprehensive RFID AnalytiX Product in the Market ...

RFID Industry Consolidation: Acquire Technology and Expertise ...

Consolidation in the RFID industry continues, as Sirit acquires technology and expertise. ...

... "Through the acquisition, Sirit launched its line of flexible plug and play RFID readers ideally suited to a number of closed loop applications including contactless/cashless payments, asset management, retail and high value product authentication, and inventory management. Sirit also strengthens its technological capabilities through the addition of a highly skilled engineering team and a broad based intellectual property portfolio. " ...

RFID Industry Consolidation: Acquire Technology and Expertise: Via Sirit: Sirit Inc. Completes Acquisition of TradeWind Technologies LLC ...