 | Monday, May 12, 2008
Issue 836 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
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Editor's Note: Today's top story is an RFID compliance deployment by Wilson Sporting Goods, which produces RFID compliance shipping labels by using printer/encoders that support direct connectivity to its SAP and IBM AS/400 enterprise systems. The system architecture helped the company simplify implementation during a time of IT transition.
OTA Training and the Colorado RFID Alliance have partnered to offer training to address what they consider a shortage of qualified RFID professionals in Colorado state. The courses will be held from June 3rd through 6th at Sun Microsystems' APT test lab in Longmont, Colorado.
Lastly, the RFID Experts Group, part of industry association AIM Global, has published a technical report about RFID's role around the world in facilitating recycling. Recall RFID Update last week featured an RFID solution for waste management companies, noting that recycling is helping to drive demand in the US for such solutions (see Firms Want to Take Out the Garbage With RFID). |
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| RFID Tags & Labels | | - Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal! (site) | | - Confidence in RFID - Confidex tags and tickets (site) | | | RTLS & Active RFID | | 
Sponsored by Ekahau | |
| | - Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how! (site) | | | Products & Services | | - PCB Tracking & Visibility Solution from Omnitrol Networks (site) | | - Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers (site) | | | Upcoming Events | | - AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL (site) | | - AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China (site) | | - European Supply Chain & Logistics, 13-15 May, Germany (site) | | - SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China (site) | | | Employment | | - RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting (site) | | | Research & Whitepapers | | - RFID Marketing Strategies Report (site) | |
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SAP & XML Helps Wilson Easily Integrate RFID Labeling
By John Burnell
Developing RFID shipment labeling capabilities in response to customer mandates is often one of the more challenging projects that IT and business managers face in a given year. Amer Sports, parent company for the Wilson Sporting Goods brand, recently found itself in the position of having to develop RFID labeling capabilities at the same time it was upgrading its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, one of the largest IT projects imaginable. Wilson's shipping operations depend on integration to the ERP system, which added to the challenge of RFID system planning. The company met the challenge in an atypical way -- without adding any middleware, integration servers, or other additional hardware or software layers to its systems.
The solution, which Wilson recently announced with Zebra Technologies, was to use its RFID label printer/encoders to process and format data and label requests generated by the enterprise systems.
Wilson's IT backbone features ERP software from SAP running on IBM AS/400 systems. Wilson needed RFID label output capability before its SAP upgrade would be completed, and did not want to integrate with the ERP system during the transition. Instead, Wilson set its AS/400 system to access customer data needed to create shipping labels and communicate it directly for the printer. Wilson chose XML as the interface between its AS/400 system and the Zebra R110Xi RFID printer/encoders it purchased. The printer/encoders have the native ability to process XML, with no translation software or custom interface development required.
Members of Wilson's IT staff created XML-compatible shipping label templates and preloaded them onto each of the four R110Xi printer/encoders purchased. When RFID shipping labels are needed, the AS/400 communicates the print job and relevant customer data to a printer/encoder over a standard network connection. The printer/encoder parses the XML message, extracts the customer information and other variable data, and populates the pre-loaded label template with the information. Then a shipping label is generated that includes information encoded in RFID and printed in text and bar code.
R110Xi printer/encoders can also support Auto ID Infrastructure (AII), which is SAP's proprietary interface for connecting its software to RFID, bar code, sensor, and other data collection systems. AII supports XML, which allows the AS/400 system to integrate with the software and printer/encoders. Once Wilson's SAP migration is complete, it will drive smart label generation through the AII interface, using the same printer/encoders currently used for AS/400 XML-based label output.
Zebra's XML and AII support are not new offerings, and direct-interface options are also available for other brands of hardware, but there have been relatively few publicized examples of these implementations compared to those that have an additional software or hardware layer between the RFID device and enterprise system. Reader manufacturers have bundled RFID software from IBM, Microsoft, and others into their hardware to simplify integration. Several recent product and partnership announcements highlighted this trend (see RFID Journal LIVE a Signpost of RFID Market Maturity).
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| RFID Tags & Labels | Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal!
Ferroxtag is a new family of HF RFID tags suitable for operation on metallic surfaces. Ferroxtag's special ferrite antenna was developed using Ferroxcube's years of experience in ferrite technology. The high performance antenna means longer read range with a smaller tag. Visit www.ferroxtag.com | Confidence in RFID - Confidex tags and tickets
The challenges of various industries lead Confidex to develop a comprehensive offering of special tags and labels. Confidex tags are used in a variety of applications ranging from tracking items in the retail supply chain to automotive manufacturing and petrochemical installations. Confidex designs and manufactures contactless tickets for public transport. Visit www.confidex.fi | | | RTLS & Active RFID | Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how!
Ekahau RTLS (Real-Time Location System) automatically tracks assets and people via your existing Wi-Fi network. Control costs and improve asset management with Ekahau. For more information, visit us at www.ekahau.com. | | | Products & Services | PCB Tracking & Visibility Solution from Omnitrol Networks
Off-the-shelf solution provides automated real-time visibility and complete electronic pedigree for traceability on parts and WIP providing real-time dashboards, alerts and reports for shop-floor management. The pedigree information is automatically programmed into Texas Instruments' RFID tag for access to critical data without the need for connection to a back-end database. Learn more. | Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers
the American Management Association reports. 95% of businesses are victimized by employee theft. Managers are reluctant to ask questions, because trusted employees may feel offended, leaving business owners in a difficult situation. What can you do? Nox: Intelligent Perimeter Defense from Simply RFID provides advanced security and protection for business assets. | | | Upcoming Events | AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL
AWA is organizing the Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008 on September 11-12 in Chicago, IL. The event includes presentations and panel discussions with brand owners, legal authorities, associations, converters and suppliers; also networking sessions, a supplier forum, a social program and more. Find more on the program here. | AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China
AWA presents the Asian Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008, to be held on 4 & 5 December in Hong Kong, China. PABS08 Asia focuses on the threats specific to the Asia Pacific region, various elements of IP Theft, and leading-edge solutions. Find more on the program here. | European Supply Chain & Logistics, 13-15 May, Germany
Bringing together Europe's leading providers of supply chain management to evaluate best practices and to move the supply chain agenda into the boardroom. Also, featuring the AMR Research Strategy Session: What makes a supply chain world class in today's global market? More information here: www.supplychain.eu.com | SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China
As one of the earliest, most specialized and authoritative exhibitions in China, approved and supported directly from State Ministry, the 8th SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008 will present you the impressive up-dated development and market of RFID technology in rising China. To know more, please go to www.scan-china.com. | | | Employment | RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting
Whether your company is looking for the best RFID talent or you have the best RFID talent and are looking for the best RFID employer, RFID Recruiters offers the most focused approach to your objective. To learn how the RFID industry and the RFID job market are evolving, visit www.rfidrecruiters.com | | | Research & Whitepapers | RFID Marketing Strategies Report
Thirty-nine pages of original research on RFID audience perceptions, including 30+ figures of tactics, content & messaging, and recommendations to guide marketing strategy. Also, Top-10 RFID company rankings based on 550+ survey respondents. View the executive summary free, with Top-3 sample rankings. Only $495 Individual License or $795 Corporate License. Available now |
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