Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

rfidwatch

RFID's signal getting stronger

What lies ahead for RFID technology? According to some of the visionaries who spoke at the September RFID World conference in Boston, all signs point to a bright future. Though they acknowledged that there are still obstacles (like privacy concerns and costs) to overcome, conference speakers agreed that these will fade over time. Privacy concerns, for example, are likely to diminish as consumers learn more about the technology and how they can benefit from it.

As for the long-held perception that RFID is too pricy, especially for small to mid-sized firms, Patrick Sweeney, president of ODIN technologies, noted that the March introduction of Intel's R1000 Gen 2 reader chip should result in a 40- to 60-percent drop in the price of RFID readers over the next six months. Last month, in fact, ThingMagic unveiled its tiny M5e-Compact reader, which uses the Intel chip. The chip integrates multiple components into an integrated RFID circuit and enables digital signal processing and analog data processing on the same tag.


Sweeney predicts that many companies will have more RFID readers than computer servers in the not-too-distant future and that most enterprises will employ more RFID readers than telephones by the year 2027.

Another trend noted by Sweeney is the growing number of wearable RFID devices emerging in the European market. "RFID technology, combined with ergonomics, will become very important in the future," he said.

Sweeney also reported that adoption of the technology has been brisk and that "companies that wait too long will be put in the penalty box."There will be a limited window of opportunity to gain a competitive advantage from the technology, he warned. Sooner or later, there will be massive adoption and companies will no longer be able to look to RFID for a competitive edge.

Also at RFID World, Jeff Schaengold, RFID product manager for Siemens Energy & Automation, told attendees how combining RFID, sensor networks, and packaging advancements will help make the food supply chain safer going forward.

"Intelligent smart packaging will be huge for the food industry," he said. Schaengold predicted that within two years, packaging will be created that will turn a specific color if E. coli or some other contaminant is detected inside the package. Through use of RFID technology, boxes of spoiled lettuce, for example, could be identified by their serial numbers and easily recalled. "The packaging of the future will be interactive," he said. "That authentication and product safety will be a real consumer value."

The Latest

More Stories

autonomous tugger vehicle

Cyngn delivers autonomous tuggers to wheel maker COATS

Autonomous forklift maker Cyngn is deploying its DriveMod Tugger model at COATS Company, the largest full-line wheel service equipment manufacturer in North America, the companies said today.

The deal was announced the same week that California-based Cyngn said it had raised $33 million in funding through a stock sale.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

photo of self driving forklift
Lift Trucks, Personnel & Burden Carriers

Cyngn gains $33 million for its self-driving forklifts

photo of a cargo ship cruising

Project44 tallies supply chain impacts of a turbulent 2024

Following a year in which global logistics networks were buffeted by labor strikes, natural disasters, regional political violence, and economic turbulence, the supply chain visibility provider Project44 has compiled the impact of each of those events in a new study.

The “2024 Year in Review” report lists the various transportation delays, freight volume restrictions, and infrastructure repair costs of a long string of events. Those disruptions include labor strikes at Canadian ports and postal sites, the U.S. East and Gulf coast port strike; hurricanes Helene, Francine, and Milton; the Francis Scott key Bridge collapse in Baltimore Harbor; the CrowdStrike cyber attack; and Red Sea missile attacks on passing cargo ships.

Keep ReadingShow less
diagram of transportation modes

Shippeo gains $30 million backing for its transportation visibility platform

The French transportation visibility provider Shippeo today said it has raised $30 million in financial backing, saying the money will support its accelerated expansion across North America and APAC, while driving enhancements to its “Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platform” product.

The funding round was led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s growth fund, with participation from existing investors: Battery Ventures, Partech, NGP Capital, Bpifrance Digital Venture, LFX Venture Partners, Shift4Good and Yamaha Motor Ventures. With this round, Shippeo’s total funding exceeds $140 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
grocery supply chain workers

ReposiTrak and Upshop link platforms to enable food traceability

ReposiTrak, a global food traceability network operator, will partner with Upshop, a provider of store operations technology for food retailers, to create an end-to-end grocery traceability solution that reaches from the supply chain to the retail store, the firms said today.

The partnership creates a data connection between suppliers and the retail store. It works by integrating Salt Lake City-based ReposiTrak’s network of thousands of suppliers and their traceability shipment data with Austin, Texas-based Upshop’s network of more than 450 retailers and their retail stores.

Keep ReadingShow less
photo of smart AI grocery cart

Instacart rolls its smart carts into grocery retailers across North America

Online grocery technology provider Instacart is rolling out its “Caper Cart” AI-powered smart shopping trollies to a wide range of grocer networks across North America through partnerships with two point-of-sale (POS) providers, the San Francisco company said Monday.

Instacart announced the deals with DUMAC Business Systems, a POS solutions provider for independent grocery and convenience stores, and TRUNO Retail Technology Solutions, a provider that powers over 13,000 retail locations.

Keep ReadingShow less