| In the age of the consumer-led supply chain, the | | | | 150 meters." |
| industry-wide implementation of track and trace | | | | Stämmer believes that a drop in the cost of RFID |
| technology is the next logical step. Logistics | | | | transponders in the near future should encourage |
| companies want to know where their fleet is at any | | | | companies to adopt the technology as part of their |
| given time, and consumers want to be able to follow | | | | standard tracking system. "The industry will |
| the journey their goods take. Today, that technology | | | | understand the integration into their ERP system or |
| covers RFID, GPS and EPOS, all of which aim to | | | | their warehouse management system, and they will |
| increase the efficiency of the supply chain throughout | | | | adopt it," he adds. |
| the life cycle. | | | | Hardy agrees: "If you can get sufficient people |
| Albis Technologies, which develops and markets | | | | interested and the cost of the technology drops |
| electronic systems for the industry sector, has | | | | significantly from where it is now, RFID will be |
| identified several ways in which companies can | | | | revolutionary because RFID is a lot more intelligent." |
| benefit from adopting this technology: reduced | | | | GAPS IN THE MARKET |
| search time, automated real-time inventory, | | | | In Hardy's view, the benefit of these systems is |
| prevention of loss, improved quality, cost and usage | | | | clear cut. "People can now see, no matter how many |
| monitoring, and condition monitoring. | | | | different partners, no matter how complex or |
| "The cutting edge technology that exists nowadays | | | | convoluted the logistics, people can see where the |
| and the advances that we are making, all do one | | | | product is and understand the supply chain." |
| thing, which is the cornerstone to supply chain | | | | At Albis Technologies, the next step is advanced |
| management – they all provide transparency," | | | | RTLS technology which enables tags within a zone to |
| explains Tony Hardy, Managing Director, Daylight | | | | be identified with greater precision. Meanwhile, its |
| Supply Chain Services. He adds that by understanding | | | | ruggedized tag is designed to withstand the most |
| the supply chain and what's happening within it, | | | | extreme environment and climate changes. Its new |
| companies can re-engineer that same chain. | | | | ATEX EX certified products use active RFID and are |
| RFID SYSTEMS | | | | harmless in explosive gas or dust zones. This might all |
| One of the systems providing unrivalled transparency | | | | sound quite excessive and certainly these products |
| in the chain is RFID technology – both passive | | | | are geared towards niche markets. However, that's |
| and active. Active RFID is some of the newest | | | | just it – there is now a market for these |
| technology in the sector which is why it is one of the | | | | technologies where only a few years ago there was |
| most valuable systems, according to Zeno | | | | not. |
| Stämmer, Vice President, ZOMOFI, Albis | | | | "Asset tracking is rapidly becoming a critical feature |
| Technologies. He is seeing instances whereby | | | | for the optimization and control of logistics and for |
| companies are supporting the entire supply chain with | | | | the added security of valuable inventory," says |
| RFID. | | | | Stämmer. |
| Radio-Frequency Identification System comprises | | | | But Hardy is adamant that there is more work to be |
| three parts: a scanning antenna, a transceiver and a | | | | done to meet the supply chain needs of consumers |
| transponder (the RFID tag). The scanning antenna | | | | and companies alike. "We're seeing gaps in the |
| not only provides the means by which it can | | | | marketplace that are, as yet, unfilled," he adds. "I |
| communicate with the transponder but it also | | | | look at how people are managing their supply chains |
| provides the RFID tag with the energy required to | | | | and the world is crying out for better, more |
| do so. A key part of this technology is that by | | | | sophisticated solutions; better visibility, better |
| avoiding the need to be powered by batteries, the | | | | transparency, better ERP systems, better best in |
| tag can operate for long periods of time. | | | | breed systems." |
| Active RFID uses its own power source, thereby | | | | With the emergence of even more precise tracking |
| extending the distance at which it can receive signal. | | | | systems, and the increased demand for such |
| The difference when it comes to passive RFID is | | | | technology, it seems the industry has acknowledged |
| that these tags do not require a source of power. | | | | the need to provide transparency. Consumers needs |
| As such, they have a limitless life span. "You can put | | | | are being met and now it's down to the technology |
| out the readers at certain points," explains | | | | companies themselves, like Albis Technologies, to |
| Stämmer, "and the transponders can be localized | | | | stay one step ahead and ensure that track and trace |
| over a range of 50, 100 and | | | | systems are continually brought to market. |