RFID Implementation

As compared to the recent past, RFID Implementation solution today isn't nearly as painful as once the root canal surgery was without anesthetic. The good news is that it's on its way to becoming much less painful. While no one will claim that RFID Implementation is going to become easy, it will be far more manageable with a variety of packaged products and services designed specifically for RFID. After companies struggled to implement Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) that could accept data from bar codes, along comes RFID Implementation with a whole new set of issues. Rather than send these companies back to the drawing boards, vendors are offering tools to integrate RFID into modern, as well as legacy, Warehouse Management Systems. RFID Implementation is still in its early stages, and much hard work lies ahead.

RFID is poised to make a major impact on the Supply Chain (SC) world. But it also leaves many executives unsure of exactly how this technology can affect and benefit the way they do business. The promise of a scan-free environment is too attractive to ignore. At the same time, compliance mandates may force you to adopt RFID technology, ready or not. Figuring out where your organization falls on the adoption curve and creating a vision are critical in setting a logical course of action to unravel the RFID mystery for your organization. To be successful, an RFID Implementation must include the right design, configuration, integration, testing and training. Implementation of RFID systems that operate reliably requires expert integration of a variety of processors and sensors that complement the basic RFID suite.

RFID Implementation enabling technologies throughout the supply chain were it makes the most sense to speed up the process and also combines payment function with tracking function. Basically use the paying point throughout the SC to implement RFID. RFID Implementation minimizes time spent through the normal means of inventory processing.  This technology allows the improvement of data quality, items management, asset visibility, and maintenance of materiel.  RFID Implementation will allow the improvement of data quality, items management, asset visibility, and maintenance of materiel.

IBM has developed a new business case methodology to help retailers and consumer packaged goods companies having RFID Implementation. The company has broken RFID Implementation into a three-phase process. Phase I includes consulting and development of the business case for RFID. Phase II is a 12-week pilot. And in Phase III, IBM provides the full rollout of the system. RFID Implementation is essential, but given the host of concerns that still must be worked out, you should plan to proceed with caution.

While the RFID Implementation holds considerable potential, realizing the benefits requires addressing three key challenges head on: 

RFID-forced business process changes: For many industries, RFID Implementation promises nothing short of a fundamental transformation of the cost structure associated with tracking items. But such great promise carries challenges.  Though the benefits are obvious, exactly how they can be achieved--given the existing infrastructure and its manual business processes--remains unclear. Though the technology is fascinating, changing physical assets, people and processes are a daunting task. After all, buildings, people and processes can be tough, and expensive, to change.

Data volumes of a new scale: Data is precious, but be careful what you wish for. With in-store deployment, it is predicted that Wal-Mart will generate more than 7 terabytes of operational RFID data a day. Traditional technology architectures are not prepared to handle this volume. Supply chain traceability, auditing and real-time tracking will drive the need to store much of this operational data, yet traditional databases designed to store transactional data will never handle the load.

The old adage that states "Nobody's operational data store is clean" must now be challenged in order for RFID Implementation to succeed. The very value the technology affords depends on having valid, real time visibility to RFID data. Software architectures require an overhaul to deal with the influx of RFID data. To resolve this, retailers should look to operational databases, which differ from traditional back-end databases, yet are far less understood. However, they will become more commonplace and necessary for the collection, correlation, filtering, and cleansing of RFID data.

Standardization watch: Lastly, RFID standards, both industry and de facto, have yet to mature. Rapid changes can be expected, as exemplified by the recent transformation of the AutoID Center turning into a joint initiative of UCC and EAN. Early adopters of RFID Implementation must choose those elements of the RFID standards that have practical value to their deployments, rather than push the proverbial envelope. Rather than leap ahead of emerging standards, it would be best to plan for the certain changes in business process and data volume that any deployment will generate. The hype around RFID is based on the belief that real-time, automated asset tracking is the only way companies can dramatically improve the efficiency of their operations.