Library RFID Cost Data

Anecdotal data on RFID cost in library application. ...

... "The price for the RFID system, purchased from New Jersey-based Checkpoint Systems, was $643,000, of which the library initially paid $143,000 in 2004 and funded the rest through a loan at about $111,400 per year, according to an October 18 2005 staff report by Budget Manager Beverli Marshall. " ...

Via Berkeley Daily Planet: RFID Costs For Library

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 ...

Syclo Agentry RFID Middleware ...

Syclo Agentry RFID Middleware: Via Syclo: Syclo Joins Symbol's PartnerSelect ISV Partner Program: Long-time partner Syclo selected for Symbol's Partner Advisory Council; Syclo and Symbol deliver mobile solutions to more than 100 customers and thousands of mobile workers ...

Syclo collaborates with Symbol to deliver RFID solutions to mobile workforce ...

... "Syclo’s Agentry mobile platform, the basis for all of its products, enables organizations to build out their mobile programs using the same platform. Recognized as best-in-class middleware, Agentry can be used to rapidly deploy custom mobile applications that work in and out of wireless coverage, run on multiple handheld devices and support the latest in device peripherals, including RFID, GPS, GIS and more. " ...

Syclo is a leading developer of mobile solutions that streamline workflow and maximize productivity. Building on its flagship development platform Agentry, Syclo offers fully configurable mobile applications that run on a variety of devices and support real-time wireless or offline computing. Syclo's SMART Suite, the most widely deployed solution for enterprise asset management, includes pre-packaged and pre-integrated applications for maintenance and field service teams. Syclo and its partners utilize Agentry to design, develop and integrate customized solutions on-time and within budget. Over 500 Global 1000 corporations across industries have deployed Syclo's solutions.

RFID Pilots Evaluations Implementations Increasing ...

RFID Pilots Evaluations Implementations Increasing: AMR Research: AMR Research Survey Finds 69% of Respondents Plan to Evaluate, Pilot, or Implement RFID in 2005

AMR Research takes pulse of the RFID market through report on pilots, evaluations, and implementations ...

... "In the wake of retail and government mandates, AMR Research released a report today assessing the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) market from 2005 - 2007. 69% of respondents surveyed are planning to evaluate, pilot, or implement RFID in 2005 with the average budget for RFID at more than $548K increasing to $771K by 2007. " ...

AMR Research provides world class research and actionable advice for executives tasked with delivering enhanced business process performance and cost savings with the aid of technology. Five thousand leaders in the Global 1000 put their trust in AMR Research’s integrity, depth of industry expertise, and passion for customer service to support their most critical business initiatives, including supply chain transformation, new product introduction, customer profitability, compliance and governance, and IT benefit realization.

Low Cost RFID Compliance

Low Cost RFID Compliance: HighJump Software Extends Offering With Introduction of Low-Cost RFID Compliance Solution to Meet Retail and Department of Defense Requirements

... "HighJump has helped numerous organizations meet RFID compliance initiatives of major retailers, the U.S. Department of Defense and others. Based on this experience and the discovery of unique ways to drive cost out of projects, HighJump developed Compliance Advantage Select. By combining a faster implementation methodology with a focused set of the most common workflows, this offering helps companies meet their RFID requirements quickly and within budget. With a total price starting at $70,000, HighJump's Compliance Advantage Select features everything needed for full electronic product code (EPC) compliance, including: software, RFID reader and printer hardware, implementation services, product testing and training. " ...

HighJump Software, a 3M company, is the global leader in providing highly adaptable, best-of-breed supply chain execution solutions that streamline manufacturing and distribution from the point of source through consumption. HighJump's tightly integrated solutions empower operational excellence in the warehouse and optimize the flow of inventory throughout the supply chain by facilitating collaboration with customers, suppliers and trading partners. These comprehensive solutions combine robust, standard functionality; a best practices-based implementation methodology; and a uniquely adaptable architecture that facilitates fast, cost-effective system modifications. The result: the industry's lowest total cost of ownership for more than 700 satisfied customers worldwide. As an independent subsidiary in the 3M family of companies, HighJump leads the SCE software industry in financial strength and delivers on an unmatched commitment to innovation and quality. HighJump leverages these advantages to continually expand its solution footprint and empower operational excellence for domestic and multinational customers.

RFID Mobile Enterprise Solutions ...

Syclo Announces the Release of Agentry version 3.7: Agentry mobile platform adds support for BlackBerry and also includes compatibility with IBM's DB2 Everyplace database for mobile devices ...

Syclo enterprise solutions offer mobile device integration with peripherals, such as RFID ...

... "With Agentry, 80 percent of the application is already built allowing the designer to concentrate on the business solution, while the underlying Agentry components handle the technical details. Out of box integration with more than 25 different peripherals such as bar code scanners, wireless printers, GPS, GIS, and RFID. " ...

Syclo is a leading developer of mobile solutions that streamline workflow and maximize productivity. Building on its flagship development platform Agentry, Syclo offers fully configurable mobile applications that run on a variety of devices and support real-time wireless or offline computing. Syclo's SMART Suite, the most widely deployed solution for enterprise asset management, includes pre-packaged and pre-integrated applications for maintenance and field service teams. Syclo and its partners utilize Agentry to design, develop and integrate customized solutions on-time and within budget. Over 500 Global 1000 corporations across industries have deployed Syclo's solutions.

RFID Logistics Materiel Readiness ...

Logistics and Materiel Readiness, Home page

... "The Office of Management and Budget released a proposed rule regarding the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) adding policy pertaining to package marking with passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on April 21, 2005 and updated it on April 27, 2005. The proposed change require contractors to affix passive RFID tags at the case and palletized unit load levels when shipping packaged operational rations, clothing, individual equipment, tools, personal demand items, or weapon system repair parts, to the Defense Distribution Depot in Susquehanna, PA, or the Defense Distribution Depot in San Joaquin, CA. " ...

Scalable Affordable RFID Solutions ...

Scalable Affordable RFID Solutions: Catalyst’s New, Affordable RFID Solutions Enable Companies to Quickly Comply with Mandates Set by Retailers and the Department of Defense ...

Catalyst International introduces standards-based RFID solution kits that scale to the customer engagement and support compliance with RFID programs, from industry leaders such as Walmart and the DOD ...

... Catalyst International, a global provider of supply chain execution (SCE) solutions, has introduced a full complement of scalable RFID QuickStart kits that enable users to quickly comply with RFID standards mandated by major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target, as well as the U.S. Department of Defense. The new kits, which include bundled software, hardware and implementation services, let customers implement RFID according to their specific needs, budget and timetable. ...

Catalyst International delivers software and solutions that enable companies to optimize the performance of their enterprise supply chains. Catalyst is the only resource that combines 26 years of industry leadership in warehouse and logistics software development with an in-depth understanding of ERP systems. Catalyst has provided successful SCE solutions for customers around the world, including Boeing, Brown Forman, Reebok, Office Max, Panasonic, Rayovac, Subaru, and The Home Depot. It is headquartered in Milwaukee, WI and has offices or representatives in the UK, Italy, Mexico and South America.

RFID Investment Highlights

FY 2006 Technology Administration Budget Highlights

... "Interoperability and security for emerging scientific systems (+$2 million). Sophisticated scientific information systems are critical to the continued competitive advantage of the United States. The systems that underlie the nation's research advances in science and engineering the cyberinfrastructure are rapidly expanding in all directions. Individual information devices from radio-frequency ID (RFID) tags to smart dust to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are becoming ever smaller, more capable, and more ubiquitous. " ...

Zebra RFID: Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) Visits Zebra Technologies to Recognize ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... Durbin to Acknowledge Zebra's Role in Helping to Secure $3.5 Million in Defense Appropriations for RFID and to Address the Benefits RFID Technology Brings to ...

... Today U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) will hold a press conference at Zebra Technologies' (Nasdaq: ZBRA) corporate headquarters in Vernon Hills, Ill., to acknowledge Zebra's leadership role in radio frequency identification (RFID) and to address the benefits RFID technology can bring to the Department of Defense (DoD). The Senator's visit to Zebra is in conjunction with the $3.5 million in defense appropriations for RFID projects, which the Senator was instrumental in securing for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 federal budget. ...

Zebra Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: ZBRA) delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security applications in 100 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra-brand thermal bar code, smart label, receipt, and card printers, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs, and better customer service. The company has sold nearly four million printers, including RFID printer/encoders and wireless mobile solutions, as well as software, connectivity solutions and printing supplies.

RFID Compliance Services: AGI Worldwide completes RFID compliance initiative at American Port Services’ Norfolk distribution facility ...

AGI Worldwide, a leading Supply Chain Services and Solutions company based in Alpharetta, GA, announced the successful RFID pilot and implementation at American Port Services (APS), a leading East Coast Third Party Logistics provider (3PL). AGI was hired to assist APS in meeting and exceeding a major retailer’s RFID compliance mandates in their distribution centers in order to offer RFID compliance services to their customers.

AGI provided project management, vendor management, integration and testing services, as well as warehouse management process changes (software and procedures). “We were starting to fall behind our deadlines - an easy thing to happen considering we had 7 different vendors involved, including Alien, Printronix, International Paper, HighJump, Loftware and GlobeRanger,” stated John Edwards, Assistant Director of Operations for APS. “Kevin Wilson, RFID specialist with AGI, took over the project. He and the AGI staff brought the project back under control, and helped us successfully meet our October 1 RFID pilot deadline for one of our key clients who is a top supplier for a major retailer,” stated Edwards.

“We are very pleased at the success of this RFID project. Most RFID projects you read about seem to take longer than expected, and go over budget, due to the somewhat changing and untested state of RFID, as well as the involvement of multiple vendors. We were able to pull all the participating vendors together, fill in existing project gaps, and execute efficiently coming in on time.” stated Kevin Wilson, Vice President and RFID specialist for AGI. “APS now has a solid RFID infrastructure fully integrated with their warehouse and yard management software, enabling them to accommodate future RFID compliance initiatives they have planned with other major retailers,” stated Wilson.

About AGI Worldwide
AGI Worldwide is a leading provider of Supply Chain Execution (SCE) solutions and services. They provide clients with a full range of consulting and technology implementation services helping to improve operational and logistics performance. AGI has extensive experience in a wide range of services, including strategic planning, solution design and development, integration, software selection and implementation, and process re-design and improvement. Industries of expertise for AGI include Third Party Logistics (3PL), consumer product goods, distribution, manufacturing and retail.

About American Port Services
American Port Services (APS) specializes in developing and operating high volume distribution centers and cross-docking facilities. With over 1,500 trained associates, 600 doors, four million square feet of warehouse space and the most advanced warehouse management systems available, APS is the leading logistics company for the Southeast, covering the major ports. Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk and Houston are the sites of our distribution facilities, offering cross-docking, drayage and inland transportation.

Contact:
Kevin Wilson
Vice President
AGI Worldwide
www.agiworldwide.com
678-319-9443 x.201
kw@agiworldwide.com

DOD RFID Policy ...

... "Radio Frequency Identification will be a mandatory DoD requirement on solicitations issued on or after October I, 2004 for delivery of materiel on or after January I, 2005 in accordance with the .supplier implementation plan at Attachment 3. Contracts with DoD shall require that passive RFID tags be applied to the case, pallet and item packaging for unique identification (UID) items in accordance with Attachment 3. The Defense Logistics Board (DLB) will review the internal implementation plan, benefits, compliance requirements, and requisite budget requirements annually based on an assessment of the implementation to date. This review will include an updated analysis of implementation success as well as provide guidance for expansion of RFID capabilities into additional applications and supply chain functional processes. A DLE decision memorandum will provide funding guidance for DoD Component implementation. In order for the DoD Components to meet the requirements of this policy, we have developed a Department-wide RFID Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to outline the transformational role of RFID technology in DoD logistics and to articulate the specific uses of both active and passive RFID throughout the DoD supply chain." ...

RFID Logistics Tool: Ship2Save deploys its ‘Ready-Set-Mandate’ RFID toolkit

From LBS (Location-Based Service) Zone (press release), MD ... September 08th, 2004 - Montreal, Quebec - Ship2Save has completed work on its Ready-Set-Mandate RFID toolkit. The toolkit is powered ...

... Ship2Save has completed work on its Ready-Set-Mandate RFID toolkit. The toolkit is powered by Ship2Save’s renowned Operation Management System and comes with a set of RFID hardware components and other accessories. Ready-Set-Mandate is designed to help suppliers of various retail chains meet various RFID directives currently circulating through the industry. ...

Ship2Save is one of the industry leaders in cost effective RFID Solutions and is a founding member of the Canadian Microsoft RFID Council, a member of the Microsoft Global RFID Council, and a member of Texas Instruments Tag-It Team. Ship2Save’s unique product lines, flexible and proficient software, business development models, and distinctive deployment services, offer customers cost effective and high quality solutions for their logistic needs.

Axentia delivers ERP solutions that work. Based on Microsoft Business Solutions, Axentia's ERP implementations are engineered to your exact business requirements. Axentia serves a number of industries working with companies that have unique and difficult business conditions that require flexible software and a bullet-proof approach to implementation. Axentia is powered by Microsoft's Navision and Axapta. In fact, with over a dozen awards, Axentia is recognized by Microsoft as one of the most successful business partners in their history. Most importantly, Axentia is successful because its customers are successful. At over 96%, Axentia's customer satisfaction level is built on delivering projects that are on time and on budget. Axentia's success is unmatched in the ERP industry.

SAP RFID: Acsis Announces Partnership With SAP AG ...

From TMCnet  ... Under the terms of the agreement, Acsis will collaborate with SAP to provide complete end-to-end RFID solutions by integrating Acsis Data-Link(TM) device ...

Acsis is a solution provider. Acsis has a variety of technologies that can be implemented depending on the requirements of your business, budget and IT environment. These range from the value added services we provide with SAPConsole, to our proven "DataPass" middleware offering, to the next generation of data collection using SAP's Web Application Server. Acsis works with you to determine the best solution and then use the appropriate tools and technologies to insure your goals are met.

Using Maine RFID Technology to Strengthen Food Safety By U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe

Its clinical name is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) – but we know it by its more common name, "mad cow disease." The discovery of the disease in a Holstein cow at a farm in Washington state caused concern among consumers, and major panic among producers, as more than 40 nations banned American beef from their stores, and cattle prices tumbled.

But the case has also illustrated a major shortcoming in our food safety system. Since the disease was believed to be transmitted to the infected cow in its feed, and symptoms take years to appear, officials needed to track down other cattle in that Holstein’s herd, cattle that would have been likely to eat the same feed – and may have been exposed to the disease.

Even now, though, federal agencies have not located all 81 cows in that herd. Even though officials reassure us that the risk to humans is minimal in this case, there is no question that by improving our ability to track livestock, we can enhance the security of our animals, our farms, and our food supply – and a company from the town of Raymond, Maine, could lead the way.

EmbedTech Industries is a small business with a unique specialty. The entrepreneurs there have developed a way to securely and inexpensively encase radio frequency identification (RFID) chips in plastic. The chips are then secure, protected from damage or sabotage, and readable with a scanner similar to a barcode reader. The technology has a vast number of possibilities, but its potential use to track livestock is in some ways, most intriguing. The concept is simple – by attaching an RFID-embedded ear tag to a calf, you create a system that can measure much more than just who owns an animal. The RFID chips are computer chips, a portable, recordable and scannable medium on which to record not just ownership, but full histories, such as vaccinations, growth measurements, and other critical information.

The promise this technology holds is why I have joined a bipartisan group of senators as a co-sponsor of the Animal Health Protection Act, which would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to use technology like that developed by EmbedTech to electronically track the nation’s livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture already has the authority to implement a livestock tracking system – but it has lacked the funding and the technology. The bill provides $25 million to establish the system, technology that would have made tracking the 81 head of cattle in the current BSE case faster and more accurate, and could accomplish much more.

Our bill could be just the beginning. Since its introduction, President Bush has announced the inclusion of $60 million in the fiscal 2005 budget to fund a national cattle identification system, along with increased surveillance, and research and development into mad cow disease. By strengthening our ability to track and identify livestock, we can inspire confidence in our farm communities, protecting the farmers, as well as the farms. In Maine, that means 395 dairy farms and more than 2,000 jobs.

And those are just the jobs we have now. RFID chips are tiny, but their economic promise is immense for Maine. As a state, we are positioned to capture a share of this high-tech growth industry through companies like EmbedTech, as well as chipmakers, label makers and more. In short, we could create a winning environment for Maine farmers, consumers and workers. The electronic animal identification system could provide an affordable means of protecting the nation’s food supply, inspiring confidence in consumers and potentially, creating a growth manufacturing sector in the Maine economy.