Companies worldwide are still hungry for information about radio frequency identification (RFID), concerned about its costs and anxious about meeting the necessary mandate requirements and deadlines, according to a global webcast featuring representatives from more than 300 companies and 45 countries. The webcast, organised by RFID solution provider Zebra Technologies, revealed some of the top concerns, challenges and questions that companies say they are facing when it comes to RFID and Electronic Product Code (EPC) compatibility.
Nine key issues were highlighted in the webcast:
* Cost - Realising cost benefits and understanding the value proposition of RFID is key. There is a lack of clear information available on the costs associated with implementation, RFID tags, and upgrading the technology as it advances.
* Tag quality - Tag strength, readability, resilience, data capacity, size, type and failure rate are all areas of concern that companies say they wish to learn more about.
* Data management - Companies indicate that they are still confused about the need to manage large amounts of data that may be generated from an RFID implementation and how such data will affect their current systems.
* Implementation - Top challenges for companies remain selecting RFID system components and understanding how they integrate with existing information systems, as well as best practice for selecting partners for pilot testing.
* Bar code vs RFID - Companies say they need more information on where and when to use RFID in the supply chain in place of bar coding.
* Standards - There is a concerning lack of definition on EPC standards and how they will evolve globally.
* Meeting customer requirements - As the EPC compliance date draws closer, companies are questioning if they can meet the mandated deadlines of their customers.
* Overcoming obsolescence - Companies are unsure whether the technology they put into place today will serve them down the road as EPC and ISO standards for RFID evolve and new products are introduced.
* Global rollout - Global businesses reveal they are unclear on if, and when, they can implement an EPC labelling system globally and what impact it will have.
Rod Rodericks, managing director of Zebra UK, says, "From the questions and comments we received, it is evident that companies involved in pilot programs that support the Wal-Mart and Target initiatives for the most part understand the technology and what they must do to comply. It is the many hundreds of companies that will soon follow suit that are looking for answers and struggling to understand the value of RFID.
"Interestingly, representatives from many of the top pharmaceutical companies attended the Webcast, suggesting that the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries may be gearing up for a major shift to RFID as well. This follows the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement governing the use of bar codes in the USA to ensure patient safety. We predict the 'early adopters' and market-leading companies possibly leap-frogging the new rule and selecting RFID to realise significant cost reductions in their supply chains."
For information on Zebra's RFID solutions or to replay the webinar, 'Introduction to RFID and EPC-Streamlining Your Supply Chain: Solutions for End Users', visit http://www.rfid.zebra.com
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