Wifi Revolution

An online end-user survey recently completed by ABI Research (News - Alert) has found that RFID is being used or evaluated for a growing number of applications across a wide range of vertical industry sectors.

 

According to ABI Research Director Michael Liard, "virtually every economic sector and industry where data needs to be collected or objects need to be tracked holds the potential for RFID applications."

 

End-user respondents cite "the use and evaluation of RFID technology across multiple application segments," ranging from security-based applications to supply chain management to multiple flavors of asset tracking and more, the study says:

 

"Organizations of all kinds are increasingly using and evaluating RFID systems to improve the tracking of objects, assets, goods, and materials within the four walls, in yards and campuses, open loop environments, and beyond."

 

Liard says end-users are "looking for a total product. This requirement is leading large percentages of users to secure their systems direct from RFID manufacturers as well as from systems integrators that can provide all product components via a partner network." 

 

The study found that respondents feel "these vendors and integrators have a deeper understanding of RFID technology, as well as vertical and/or application market specialization."

 

In August, the Computing Technology Industry Association published a study showing that information technology channel companies say their customers are "showing more interest in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology."

The worldwide survey of 155 IT companies found that 46 percent of their customers have implemented one or more RFID solutions, either as pilot projects or production deployments. This is an increase from a 2007 survey, when IT companies reported 34 percent of their customers had initiated RFID projects.

The most popular RFID deployments now used by customers are asset tracking, cited by 32 percent of IT companies surveyed; personal identification (28 percent); supply chain (25 percent); retail marketing (15 percent); and closed-loop manufacturing (9 percent), according to the CompTIA (News - Alert) survey.

Customers come from a cross section of industries, including services, government, finance, healthcare, retail, communications, and manufacturing.

"RFID offers adopters of the technology a number of benefits, from improvements in manufacturing, inventory and distribution processes, to reduced costs for product theft, spoilage or obsolescence," said Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA.

 

 

 

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