WalMart RFID Program Proposes Acceleration

WalMart provides update on its RFID program and seeks to influence the market on adoption. ...

... "WalMart has implemented RFID in 1,000 of its 6,500 stores and clubs, covering 200,000 items, manufactured by about 600 participating suppliers, said Myron Burke, strategy manager of WalMart's store innovations and operations group in a keynote speech at the event." ...

Via CNN: WalMart RFID

Quick RFID Kit For Asset Management

New Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) product, called StrongReader, is priced at under $1,000 for asset management applications. ...

... "Priced at under $1,000, StrongReader can be installed and operational within a day, making it a logical choice for organizations seeking a simple, cost-effective solution for tracking physical assets like tools, equipment and laptop computers. RFID technology uses radio frequencies to track the location of physical assets within an organization to help reduce theft, loss and damage. Although RFID technology has been available for several years, many organizations have been slow to adopt it because it has been perceived as an expensive technology that requires significant programming expertise to install correctly. " ...

Via StrongTech: RFID Hardware-Software Package

Texas RFID Tracks Hospital High-Value Assets

The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano in Dallas-Fort Worth uses RFID technology to track high-value assets. The system is designed to be transparent and simple-to-use to drive adoption. ...

... "The system essentially automates the tracking and cataloging of almost all of the hospital's most expensive equipment. " ...

Via Dallas Morning News : Hospital RFID For Asset Management

CLIP RFID Connects Patients and Medical Assets Through Microsoft Biztalk RFID

Aventyn releases V1.2 of CLIP, its Clinical Information Processing Platform. CLIP integrates RFID capability to support hospitals and medical manufacturers to connect patients and medical assets. CLIP v1.2 integrates with Microsoft's BizTalk RFID technology. This creates a health information management solution that enables healthcare industry to link care provider business processes with events in the supply-chain. Aventyn participates in the Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Technology Adoption Program (TAP) to enable new RFID features in this release. ...

... "Enterprise Deployment of Connected Health Information: The availability of CLIP v1.2 provides clinicians and healthcare providers a flexible, yet affordable choice in the secure tracking of critical resources in a healthcare setting based on hospital, medical lab and supplier requirements. CLIP is available as a RFID-enabled hosted platform solution or as an installable packaged solution, seamlessly integrating into most existing IT environments with support for multiple users. A robust, ease-of-use interface offers installation, industry standard Gen2 RFID tag-reader configuration and deployment within hours. The modular CLIP architecture allows for true connected information processing for automated patient administration and medical asset tracking with built-in support for processing Gen2 RFID tagged health cards, patient wristbands and asset labels. " ...

Via Webitpr: CLIP V1.2 With Enhanced Integrated RFID Capability For Hospitals And Medical Suppliers

RFID Barriers to Pharma Adoption: Cost Benefits Standards

Health Industry Insights shares survey findings that identify the top barriers to pharma industry's adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID). 143 life sciences industry leaders point to technology cost, lack of ROI and standards as the barriers. ...

... "The report goes on to spotlight the slower-than-expected RFID adoption with additional survey findings. Results reveal less than one in five (16%) pharmaceutical companies are currently evaluating the benefits of RFID technology, and even fewer (15%) companies adopting RFID in some capacity. Overall, the report indicates average life science company spend on RFID technology is approximately $25,000, although this level is expected to triple to $75,000 over the next 12 months. Additionally, the report discusses read rate results from commercial RFID pilots in the pharmaceutical industry. The report reveals that initiatives utilizing high-frequency (HF) technology for item-level tagging are achieving better read rates than those using ultra-high frequency (UHF). Findings show initiatives using HF are experiencing read rates in the Four to Six Sigma (a well-know management practice used to help companies achieve exceptional performance levels) range, and exceeding Six Sigma in some cases, whereas those using UHF are typically between Three and Four Sigma. " ...

Via Health Industry Insights: Pharmaceutical Industry's Top Roadblocks to RFID Adoption ...

RFID Open-Standards Benefits Container Tracking Per Pilot

Recent active RFID pilot project using Oracle and Savi Technology infrastructure validates the need for common standards to realize benefits in port operations. RFID-enabled seaborne shipping containers provide real-time tracking status in the Asian supply chain tested in the pilot, using EPC Information Services (EPCIS), a draft standard championed by GS1 EPCglobal. The objective of this effort is to enable greater transport visibility across stakeholders, countries and continents. ...

... "The benefits seem clear, but many vendors and end users believe that the prerequisites for greater RFID adoption in this sector are a common nomenclature for RFID data, and a standard framework for the way in which that information is shared via open standards such as EPCIS. The EPCglobal pilot with Savi and Oracle represents a significant step towards the practical realization of a truly useful standard, notes Liard. It is the first real-world demonstration among port operators of the potential created when multiple trading partners and service providers can speak the same language. " ...

Via ABI ResearchContainer Tracking Pilot Highlights the Benefits of RFID Standards in Port Management

RFID Market Briefing

Frost & Sullivan's Auto ID Group analyst, Brendon Ouimette, will present views on the RFID market at its 2007 Quarterly Analyst Briefing to be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. EDT. ...

... "This briefing will benefit industry participants, investment advisors, analysts and potential RFID adopters across many vertical markets. Highlights of the briefing include: levels of adoption, strong growth areas and analysis of qualitative growth factors in the RFID market. " ...

Via PRNewswire: Adoption in RFID Market

RFID Drug Authentication eCustoms

IBM announces solution that provides ability to share and analyze real-time RFID sensor data to enable drug authentication and e-customs for clients in the pharmaceutical value chain. ...

... "The new technology, WebSphere RFID Information Center, is based on a recently completed EPCglobal standard called EPCIS, which provides a standard way to securely communicate the data created by sensors and RFID tags, and tie it to existing business information and trading partners. The growing trend of item-level tagging will create exponential growth in sensor data well beyond that generated from conventional barcode technology. This creates a need for a new way to manage this explosion of data in a manner that does not overwhelm a business and its supply chain partners. In addition to managing the massive amount of data RFID creates, two other barriers to widespread RFID adoption to date have been the lack of standards and data sharing capabilities. RFID Information Center solves all of these issues, clearing the way for wider-spread RFID adoption in various industries.

The IBM WebSphere RFID Information Center has already been successfully deployed for a number of early-adopter IBM clients across several industries, including consumer packaged goods company Unilever, the e-customs project ITAIDE in Europe, and Big Three pharmaceutical distributor AmerisourceBergen. " ...

Via IBM: IBM Enables Drug Authentication, E-Customs With Release of New RFID Technology ...

RFID Passport: Vicinity Read Technology Not Recommended

Smart Card Alliance responds to the State Department's October 17th Federal Register notice, recommending that the U.S. government reconsider using vicinity read RFID technology for its passport card implementation program. The Alliance sees advantages in leveraging contactless smartcard technology for the ePassport. ...

... "In its response to the State Department's notice, the Alliance provides details of its concerns with the passport card decision to use vicinity read RFID technology, and gives recommendations for measures that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State could implement to improve the passport card program.

The Alliance states many advantages to using contactless smart card technology for the passport card program, including the ability to support electronic verification of authenticity to prevent counterfeiting and to use secure, encrypted communications to thwart eavesdropping and replay attacks, and ensure privacy protection for cardholders. A passport card based on contactless smart card technology can also leverage the infrastructure that is being put in place by DHS and the Department of State to support the new ePassport. " ...

Via Smart Card Alliance: Smart Card Alliance Urges U.S. Government to Reconsider Proposed Passport Card With Long Range RFID Technology

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

HighSpeed RFID Read Rates: Pharma Cases

Impinj discusses results of live demonstration of RFID technology in pharmaceutical packaging application with Owens-Illinois (O-I) at the RFID Health Care Industry Adoption Summit in D.C. ...

... "In pharmaceutical manufacturing and fill-line demonstrations, a near-field UHF Gen 2 RFID solution, comprising Impinj's Speedway reader and O-I's item-level embedded RFID tags powered by Impinj's Monza chips, achieved 100% reliability when reading and writing tags at high speed on pharmaceutical bottles. In the first demonstration, the UHF Gen 2 system programmed 96-bit EPC numbers at rates exceeding 600 tags per minute on bottles containing the four most common dose types - liquids, gel caps, solids and powder. In the second demonstration, the system developed by Impinj and O-I flawlessly read 600 tags per minute on cases containing 48 individually tagged bottles and a case-level tag. " ...

Via Impinj: Impinj-Powered UHF Gen 2 RFID Solution Delivers Exceptional Results for Item Tagging of Pharmaceuticals

Sirit RFID: Revenue Increasing

Sirit sees RFID revenue increasing and it is positioned to capitalize on future RFID market growth. ...

... "Radio Frequency Solutions (RFS) related revenue represents 27% or $1.4 million of total revenue, a 180% increase over prior year reported revenue of $0.5 million. Sirit remains one of the few companies with significant, real world RFID experience with over 330,000 RFID readers deployed around the world. As supply chain adoption hovers on the horizon, our solid and profitable AVI business becomes an important differentiator among our peers, noted Anastasia Chodarcewicz, Chief Financial Officer, Sirit Inc. With continued focus on top line growth and bottom line cost controls, we believe that we should achieve a cash flow neutral position by the end of next year. " ...

Via Sirit: Sirit Reports Financial Results for the Third Quarter ...

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 Track Trace System ...

Infosys has successfully implemented SAP RFID solution to enable CHEP's Global Track and Trace System. CHEP will use this system to provide real-time visibility to its customers for their products and to track the shipping assets. CHEP is the global leader in pallet and container pooling services and serves many of the world's largest companies. The company has more than 7,700 employees and operates in 44 countries. CHEP manages over 280 million pallets and containers through a global network of service centers. It identified product and asset visibility as a significant opportunity to leverage RFID technology. The Global Track and Trace System at CHEP enables vendor managed inventory (VMI), yields increased asset control, and optimizes inventory management. ...

... "This project is a significant step forward for global RFID adoption, combining SAP's RFID platform and applications with Infosys' strong thought leadership and robust implementation model for the RFID-enabled enterprise. By delivering innovative, value-added solutions with a low total cost of ownership (TCO), Infosys and SAP aim to help organizations adopt RFID technology to both enhance their existing business models and pursue new ones. " ...

Via Infosys: Infosys Deploys SAP Solutions for RFID for CHEP's Global Track and Trace System

RFID Germany: Printing ...

Printronix sponsors RFID Germany ...

... "RFID Germany is an educational business and technology conference organized to deliver practical answers and realistic information about the implementation of RFID technology in any type of application. Where: Frankfurt Marriott Hotel, Hamburger Allee 2-10, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany. " ...

Via Printronix: Printronix Sponsors RFID Germany to Help Spur Adoption of RFID Printing Technology

RFID Baggage Management ...

Management of airline baggage using RFID technology is slow to achieve broad adoption. ...

... "The research company believes Asian and European airlines will be the first to start tracking bags, with their hard-up US counterparts hanging back from adopting RFID. " ...

Via Silicon.com: What happened to RFID's baggage-tracking boom? ...

Singapore RFID Cooperation ...

Singapore companies collaborate to develope RFID track and trace solutions in order to take advantage of Singapore's role as a trade hub for Southeast Asia. ...

... "The National RFID Centre was launched on Friday, in a bid to boost the adoption of the technology among Singapore companies. " ...

Via Channel News Asia: National RFID Centre set up to boost adoption of technology in industries ...

China RFID Pilot Projects ...

RFID pilot projects planned in China by IPICO and local alliance. ...

... "IPICO Inc. and the China RFID Alliance have announced that IPICOs IP-XTM Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology will be tested in four RFID pilot projects in China. This announcement follows the China RFID Alliance IP-X Forum event held in Beijing this past July, where IPICO presented its IP-X RFID technology to various RFID experts from government, industry and academic institutions. The pilot projects will be deployed in Qingdao, a port city of the Shandong province in China and will include the respective Government bureaus and organizations in Qingdao, as well as Haier. Haier is the world's fourth largest white goods manufacturer and one of China's top 100 electronics and information technology companies. David Ou-yang, Secretary General of China RFID Alliance, indicated that it will support RFID technologies, such as the IP-X technology platform, as well as other advanced technologies in the world that are suitable for key application areas, as defined in the recently published Ministry of Science and Technology White Paper on the adoption of RFID technology in China. " ...

Via IPICO: IPICO's RFID Technology To Be Piloted In China ...

RFID Patent License Collaboration ...

3M joins companies in consortium focused on sharing intellectual property on RFID technology. The RFID Consortium's goals are to promote rapid adoption of RFID by facilitating easier access, by manufacturers and customers alike, to essential RFID patents and to provide patent owners the opportunity to receive fair compensation for those patents. ...

... "The RFID Consortium announced that 3M has signed a definitive term sheet to join the group of companies involved with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to form a patent licensing consortium. Working together, and with other potential patent holders, these companies are dedicated to promoting rapid adoption of RFID by facilitating easier access to essential patents, and to providing patent owners, including 3M, the opportunity to receive fair compensation for those patents. The RFID Consortium today announced that 3M has signed a definitive term sheet to join the group of companies involved with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to form a patent licensing consortium. Working together, and with other potential patent holders, these companies are dedicated to promoting rapid adoption of RFID by facilitating easier access to essential patents, and to providing patent owners, including 3M, the opportunity to receive fair compensation for those patents. " ...

Via 3M: 3M Joins RFID Consortium Efforts

Healthcare RFID Industry Adoption ...

Conference will focus on adoption of RFID in the healthcare industry ...

... "The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and Healthcare Distribution Management Association are pleased to sponsor this comprehensive overview of RFID Operational and Implementation strategies for the pharmaceutical supply chain. Given the high degree of interest by regulatory agencies and the commitment of our industry to transmit pharmaceutical products across a safe and secure supply chain, this conference will focus solely on RFID and how it impacts the pharmaceutical supply chain ... " ...

NACDS 2006 RFID: RFID User Adoption Summit ...

Monza RFID Tag Readers Gen2 Interoperable ...

Impinj's Monza RFID chip and Speedway readers are certified for Generation-2 interoperability. ...

... "Leading Gen 2 RFID solution provider, Impinj, Inc., announced that EPCglobal Inc., the not-for-profit standards organization dedicated to driving global adoption of the Electronic Product Code (EPC) for supply chain excellence, has awarded interoperability marks to Monza tag chips and Speedway readers, certifying that these Impinj products comply with EPCglobal's Gen 2 standard and interoperate with other certified devices. Third-party testing firm MET Laboratories conducted EPCglobal's product interoperability testing as part of an extensive hardware certification and standards compliance program for RFID chips, tags, readers, and printers. MET Laboratories also performed EPCglobal's RFID Gen 2 compliance testing in September 2005, awarding Gen 2 compliance certification marks to Impinj's Monza chip and Speedway reader at that time.

Impinj is the only company to have earned Gen 2 interoperability certification for both tag chips and readers. Monza chips and Speedway readers enable Powered by Impinj solutions available from a variety of RFID vendors and are key components of recent RFID deployments. Impinj has shipped Monza chips in high volume to the industry's leading RFID tag and inlay vendors worldwide since the Fall of 2005. " ...

Via Impinj: Impinj’s Gen 2 RFID Monza Tag Chips and Speedway Readers Earn EPCglobal Interoperability Certification ...