| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | identified. This allows product marketing managers to |
| There are as many RFID applications as there are | | | | take corrective action to goose demand through |
| businesses. Some RFID applications have been around | | | | promotional or advertising activity before a 'fire sale' |
| for decades, others are just starting to emerge. | | | | is needed. Thus RFID applications help product |
| RFID, itself, is not a new technology; however, it is | | | | marketing managers maintain their margins. |
| being used in many new and different ways. The | | | | RFID applications are, also, a significant aid in deterring |
| roots of RFID technology can be traced back to | | | | theft in retail environments. Items tagged with RFID |
| World War II when radio waves were used to | | | | devices can trigger alarms when they are removed |
| identify friendly aircrafts, in the 1970s New York Port | | | | from the store without being properly deactivated. |
| Authority introduced an RFID device used for toll | | | | RFID applications have been successfully deployed |
| collection. While RFID applications used earlier are still | | | | for anti-theft purposes for several decades. |
| around today, many more RFID applications have | | | | RFID Applications in Brand Protection |
| emerged since then. | | | | RFID applications can be used to protect brand |
| Today, the largest RFID application aids companies | | | | identity by product marketing managers and to |
| and governments in supply chain management. RFID | | | | protect consumers from counterfeited products. |
| is being used to manage products through production, | | | | RFID applications in anti-counterfeiting are, generally, |
| distribution and retail. Manufacturers can especially | | | | aimed at high-value end consumer products. The |
| benefit from implementing RFID applications in supply | | | | unique identification number on standard RFID tags |
| chains because they can decrease costs associated | | | | can be used to verify the authenticity of the |
| with product tracking and inventory management and | | | | products to which they are attached. These unique |
| increase the accuracy and timeliness of inventory | | | | numbers combined with encryption algorithms can |
| data. Experts say that early adaptors of RFID | | | | create authentication schemes that are extremely |
| applications in supply chains have seen a significant | | | | difficult for counterfeiters to circumvent. |
| increase in revenue. | | | | RFID applications in anti-counterfeiting can be used in |
| RFID Applications in the Distribution Chain | | | | many industries, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, |
| RFID Applications can be used to monitor and | | | | entertainment, retail, IT and many more. It is |
| manage the movement of the finished products | | | | estimated that counterfeiting costs legitimate |
| throughout a supply chain. RFDI tags can be attached | | | | companies nearly $600B worldwide each year. The |
| directly to the items and materials or they can be | | | | payback even modestly successful anti-counterfeiting |
| attached to the containers that carry them. Pallets, | | | | efforts can be very high. RFID applications represent |
| trailers, totes, carts, cargo containers, and reusable | | | | one of the most promising methods for countering |
| transport items can all be tagged. Readers placed | | | | this major problem. |
| throughout a facility can monitor movement and | | | | By placing RFID tags on products at the point of |
| location of inventory, thus providing real time data. | | | | manufacture, manufacturers can trace products |
| This can be within a warehouse, a freight yard or | | | | throughout the supply chain. The pharmaceutical |
| within a retail location. | | | | industry is creating an RFID application that will |
| RFID applications in the supply chain enable more | | | | document the authenticity of their products at retail. |
| frequent and accurate inventory counts RFID | | | | Not only will the products have a unique ID, but |
| applications in the supply chain can also decrease | | | | information about the chain of custody for the |
| costs associated with inventory counting | | | | product will be stored on the RFID tag or in an |
| In addition, RFID applications in fleet management | | | | associated database. If the product is not properly |
| have demonstrated significant ROI. RFID applications | | | | tagged or the tag is not associated with the proper |
| in fleet management enable a more cost-effective | | | | chain of custody - then you know the product is |
| long-range tracking solution, global tracking of | | | | counterfeit. |
| containers and cargo, reliable tracking of capital and | | | | While many anti-counterfeiting efforts are a large |
| inventory assets during transportation and increased | | | | expense that most US companies face, RFID |
| security. By placing RFID tags on long range vehicles, | | | | applications in anti-counterfeiting have a high ROI. By |
| trailers or other mobile assets, companies can gain | | | | placing RFID tags on products at the point of |
| visibility into their business' assets' utilization. | | | | manufacture, not only can products be traced |
| RFID Applications in Retail and Product Marketing | | | | throughout the supply chain, but it can also prevent |
| As in the distribution chain, RFID application in retail | | | | counterfeit products from entering into the supply |
| can greatly aid in reducing the cost of keeping | | | | chain. |
| accurate inventory data. With fewer people and less | | | | Conclusion |
| time, retailers can keep accurate inventories. | | | | RFID application in the supply chain offer solutions |
| Associates can spend more time providing service to | | | | when it is impractical to use other technologies or |
| customers rather than counting product. | | | | manual labor to collect data. RFID applications have |
| RFID Applications in retail can greatly aid in ensuring | | | | many benefits; RFID applications can help in asset |
| proper product mix and availability are maintained for | | | | tracking, inventory and product management and |
| customers. The accuracy of the real time inventory | | | | provide solutions for anti-counterfeiting. Data |
| data that is provided by RFID applications, enables | | | | collected to accomplish all these goals can provide |
| product marketing managers to ensure that hot | | | | suppliers and end users with the tools and information |
| selling items are properly stocked and to ensure | | | | to make management decisions on the fly resulting in |
| replenishment order for these items are placed as | | | | a better ROI. |
| quickly as possible. Slow moving items can be quickly | | | | |