RFID in Action 2006/7

The adoption of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is increasing significantly, and the time is right to understand what has been done so lessons and paybacks can be learnt.

 

In this second RFID in Action report we describe how RFID is being used to tackle many problems in society, from anti-counterfeiting in healthcare to customer service and costs in retailing, consumer goods and the air industry. Drawing on the 2,300 case studies of RFID in action in the IDTechEx RFID Knowledgebase, which now extends to 85 countries, we show how the Electronic Product Code is now used in manufacturing in Brazil, consumer goods in Colombia, fresh food in Japan, air baggage in China and aircraft parts in the UK for example. Frozen goods in Spain, apparel in Taiwan - it is all here. Some are trials, some are rollouts. There are competitive opportunities and even legal pressures to make it happen. We describe the tagging of Jewellery in Dubai, an RFID enabled trial of a new drug in the USA using smart packages that monitor what pill was taken when, drugs to the home in the USA, plastic bins of food in Sweden, individual books in Dutch bookstores, individual items in US stores and watch making in Switzerland - all either using or candidates for the EPC.

 

Our profile of transport cards in Australia illustrates how RFID combines security with convenience for users. Other security-based cases do the same as we describe for trials of passports in Singapore involving the US, New Zealand and elsewhere. The Smart and Secure Tradelanes Initiative, putting RFID on intermodal containers, is described. It is driven by the US and involves ports and partners worldwide. Here active tags are involved for real time signalling of tampering and for long range identification. We also analyse how active RFID is used for security in a shopping mall in Canada. Indeed, active RFID is newly important in healthcare, manufacturing and in many other applicational sectors. The subject is covered by the popular annual IDTechEx conferences in the US and UK specifically on Active RFID that commenced in 2005 to reflect the new trend. In security, the largest project of all, indeed the largest RFID project of any type ever, is the $6 billion China National ID Card that we feature here. Here again, security is combined with convenience for the user. RFID Case Studies featured in this report are taken from the IDTechEx RFID Knowledgebase www.rfidbase.com.

 

There are common themes to all this. The RFID business is taking off for different reasons in different applicational sectors. After all, it is an enabling technology and that means it will soon be seen in most of the countries, industries and organisations of the world. The Electronic Product Code will facilitate a large proportion of this truly global phenomenon. There are exciting times ahead and the human race will benefit hugely.

 

Buy this report for colleagues and clients - large discounts available for bulk purchases - contact Margaret Bateman at for details.

 

 

 

 

 

IDTechEx is a knowledge-based consultancy company providing research and analysis on RFID, printed and organic electronics and smart packaging. We give independent marketing, technical and business advice and services on these subjects in three forms - consulting, publications and conferences. See www.idtechex.com to learn more.