RFID Integration

There are many RFID Integration tools available in the market and real good companies are providing them. For example, IBM launches RFID Integration tools. IBM has launched radio frequency identification (RFID) service designed to help companies track their goods from packing to shipping and through their ultimate destination. The new RFID service using these RFID Integration tools includes consulting and implementation services as well as specialized software in order to give companies a phased approach to adopting RFID, officials for IBM said. The offering comes at a time when retailers are moving to adopt the tags in order to track and identify costs-overruns across their distribution systems.

SAP also enables RFID Integration: New technology from SAP AG looks to help makers of consumer packaged goods comply with Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s requirement that its suppliers tag cases and pallets with RFID tags and other RFID Integration tools. SAP is developing a middleware framework to enable companies to RFID Integration data from reader devices with enterprise software infrastructures, whether or not an infrastructure comes from SAP, company officials said.

RFID Integration Revenue Expected to Surpass Product Revenue: IT consulting companies handling the RFID Integration into customers' supply chains are expected to collect more in revenue by 2007 than vendors supplying the hardware and software used in tracking the movement of goods. IT consulting companies in a position to help businesses with the wide-scale changes needed in infrastructure and business processes include Accenture, BearingPoint, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, IBM, and Unisys. These companies, however, "have a long way to go to meet staffing needs that will support an RFID supply chain integration market that will surpass $1 billion by 2006.

IP Offers RFID Integration Services: International Paper plans to turn hands-on experience with RFID technology into a new line of business. International Paper spent two years developing and deploying an RFID system at a warehouse that is part of its mill in Texarkana, Texas. The world’s largest forest products company announced that its smart packaging unit will offer comprehensive RFID Integration services.

The company plans to form alliances with RFID hardware vendors and middleware companies that have software that can filter RFID data from readers and pass it on in a useful format to enterprise systems. To be able to ramp up its RFID services quickly using these RFID Integration tools, the business will likely be spun off, with International Paper retaining an equity stake in the new company.