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Editor's Note: Today's top story is a recap of the recent RFID Update webinar on RFID and data synchronization.
Avery Dennison has teamed with OTA Training to offer $500 scholarships toward RFID education at Avery's testing and training center near Atlanta, Georgia. Students will enroll in the OTA Training class, A System's Approach to RFID Implementation. Those interested in the scholarship and training can contact Avery Dennison directly at rfidscholarship@averydennison.com. More details here.
Lastly, Copenhagen-based RFIDsec yesterday announced a pro-privacy solution whereby retail RFID tags can be disabled upon check-out without being completely "killed", which is the traditional, irreversible way of disabling a tag. By instead switching a tag to "silent mode", as RFIDsec's solution does, it can still be used by the retailer in case the consumer returns the tagged product. |
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Next Level of RFID Compliance: Data Synchronization
On June 7th, RFID Update hosted a webinar entitled The Next Level of RFID Compliance: RFID Data Synchronization in which data synchronization was defined and explained, and the presenters' data synchronization offering was demonstrated live. Presenters included Gary Page, the US business development manager for Domino Integrated Solutions; Dwain Farley, CEO of Enterprise Information Systems, Domino's systems integration company; and Kevin Kail, president and CEO of epcSolutions, producer of the RFIDTagManager application and Domino's key software partner. A recording of the webinar is available for free download here.
In a nutshell, data synchronization is the practice of having product data be identical -- synchronized -- across all trading partners' systems. That data includes product attributes like net weight, description, and effective date, and it is crucial that the data not only be consistent between trading partners but also that it be standardized to allow for inter-partner exchange and exporting to various formats like EDI and XML. EIS's Dwain Farley explained that data synchronization means "clean, internal product data that adheres to a standard that I can take and pass to my trading partners, and that those trading partners (distributors, retailers, and so on) can download this data and use it for electronic catalogues, order guides, promotions, invoicing, whatever the case may be."
Why is data synchronization so important? Because currently much of the data that flows through the supply chain is "dirty", or not synchronized, costing stakeholders billions of dollars annually to correct or otherwise accommodate resulting errors. Specifically, a whopping $40 billion is lost each year due to bad data. Other nasty statistics include:- 30% of item data in retail catalogs is incorrect
- Each error brings with it a cost of $60 to $80
- Fixing those errors is a laborious manual process, taking on average 25 minutes of manpower per SKU per year
- 60% of all invoices have errors
- Invoice error reconciliation can cost between $40 and $400
Clearly, these inefficiencies are ripe for a technological solution. "Standardizing and automating this process is absolutely essential, and that's what data synchronization is all about," said Farley.
Enter RFID. By encoding a unique identifier known as a Global Trade Identification Number, or GTIN, on the RFID tag of each case and pallet, and associating that GTIN with a database record in a centralized repository, information about the tagged product remains consistent as it passes through the hands of all trading partners in the supply chain. This allows for a framework by which the trading partners can uniformly interpret the RFID data and expect that it is accurate and updated. Without such a standardized data synchronization framework, the RFID tag data carries far less utility for each trading partner. As Farley put it, "Without data synchronization, RFID is just data; it's not information."
It is for this reason that Domino, EIS, and epcSolutions believe data synchronization represents the next phase of RFID compliance. Now that many suppliers have RFID infrastructure in place and are actively tagging product, it is time to put the resulting data to good use in the form of supply chain-wide synchronization. They cited Wal-Mart, which has told its Next 300 suppliers (those whose mandate deadline is this coming January) that not only will they need to be RFID compliant, but that they will also need to eventually implement data synchronization.
About 15 minutes of the webinar was devoted to a demonstration of epcSolutions' RFIDTagManager product which Domino deploys for its clients. Members of the epcSolutions team took webinar attendees through the process of entering a new product, obtaining GTINs, creating case and pallet codes, printing tags encoded with the GTINs, validating the printed tags with a handheld RFID reader, and generating an ASN and EDI document from the new data.
The webinar was an excellent 40-minute introduction to the concept of data synchronization, how it represents the next phase of RFID compliance, and what tools exist to implement it.
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| Upcoming Events | Emerging RFID Technology & Applications | Aug. 4 | Nebraska
Don't miss the Emerging RFID Technology & Applications 2006 Conference & Exhibition, Aug. 4 in Bellevue, Nebraska, near Omaha. Featuring cutting-edge talks by RFID leaders, including Denton Clark of Lockheed Martin, plus software and hardware exhibits. Cost is only $49 or $25. For more information and to register: www.bellevue.edu/rfidnebraska | RFID for Pharmaceuticals, August 1-2, Philadelphia
RFID for Pharmaceuticals will feature keynotes from Pfizer and Purdue Pharma and case studies from companies that have reaped benefits from RFID. For more information go to www.aliconferences.com or call 888-362-7400. Register before June 30 and save $400. | IDGA presents Military Logistics Summit 2006
At the Military Logistics Summit hundreds of senior-level attendees will converge to share case studies, view new and emerging technologies, network with their peers, define challenges and benchmark progress with military logistics experts. Registration Information: To register attendees can call 1-800-882-8684 or 1-973-256-0211, email info@idga.org, or visit the website | | | Products & Services | RFIDSupplyChain.com: Save on RFID Tags, RFID Readers & More
Looking to comply with RFID mandates or implement RFID in your business processes? RFIDSupplyChain.com -- a leader in RFID hardware, software, services and solutions -- provides the latest RFID tags, readers, antennas, smart labels, printers and portals from Alien, Symbol, Intermec, Omron, Printronix, Zebra and BlueBean. Purchase RFID Technology Solutions | SimplyRFID Pro-Tags: Instant DOD.
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The RFID Block reader is powered by a simple USB connection, works with EPC Class1 Gen1 or Gen2 tags and makes it easy for your business to meet mandates or simply investigate the potential of RFID. Developers will also find the RFID Block a useful tool for application testing. Visit: www.ensyc.com | AWID -- Gen 2 Certified
AWID is a founding member of EPCglobal; a founding member of the RFID IP Patent Pool & participates in the Intermec RFID Rapid Start licensing program. AWID has been a trusted name in RFID technology since 1997. In 2004 and 2005, over 100,000 AWID readers were put into production systems. http://gen2.awid.com | MTI Wireless Edge: high-quality low-cost panel antennas
* Covering all applicable frequency bands for Passive and Active RFID * Various mechanical configurations for Indoor and Outdoor applications * Single or Dual Polarities * Linear or circular polarities * High robustness and endurance * Field proven in harsh environments * Enhancing system performance * Solutions tailored to customer needs: www.mtiwe.com | RFID/Wi-Fi Handheld Interference Analysis
Bumblebee is a calibrated spectrum analyzer measuring Wi-Fi & RFID frequencies 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz from one handheld unit. Features include 3 waveform traces, peak hold, peak search, spectrogram, histogram and packet/interference triggers. BumbleBee supports direction finding antennas for pinpointing interference sources, hackers and adjacent networks. www.bvsystems.com | | | Research & White Papers | 2006 RFID Marketing Strategies Report from RFID Update
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Need to absorb RFID systems fast? Enroll in the Alien RFID Academy. In a two day seminar we'll share our practical expertise in RFID Tags, Antennas, Readers, Frequencies, Systems, and Protocols. The Alien RFID Academy is a hands-on immersion into the workings, uses, and challenges of RFID technology. Click here to register for dates in June and July. | | | 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 | | | RFID Tags & Labels | Lowry Smart Trac Labels: Depend on 100% Good Labels
Lowry provides a comprehensive range of UHF and HF labels. With innovation and investment in the RFID marketplace, Lowry offers more than label conversion. Lowry's RFID Lab assists with inlay selection and label materials to deliver optimum performance. Rely on Lowry's experience and quality commitment. 1.800.733.0210 x 312 or visit www.lowrycomputer.com | CCL Label - Your Global Partner for Labeling & Packaging
CCL Label is North America's leading full-service provider of pharmaceutical and healthcare labeling and packaging solutions. CCL incorporates the latest RFID technologies into it's labels to provide our customers with labels that are smarter with broader applications. CCL Label puts the Power Behind Your Brand. 609.433.3700 ext.127 or visit www.ccllabel.com | MPI Label Systems: A Full-Service RFID Provider
Leader in providing RFID labels to CPG, DoD, and Pharmaceutical industries. Labels and tags are inspected prior to shipping to ensure 100% readability. We offer stock programs, various inlays, custom materials and adhesives. MPI also offers full line of RFID equipment (printers, readers, and automatic applicators). Call 1-800-837-2134 (RFID sales) www.mpilabels.com | RxTrackNSecure cGMP printed RFID Labels, 100% Readability
New Jersey Packaging offers a full range of pre-printed, die-cut pressure sensitive cGMP compliant labels incorporating RFID tags. Featuring 100% readability, the RFID tags are delivered ready to use for a wide range of individual item, case, and pallet applications. Complete implementation support available. E-mail RxTrackNSecure@newjerseypackaging.com, call (973) 808-8107, or visit: www.newjerseypackaging.com | Repacorp Smart Labels: 100% readability guaranteed!
Repacorp offers RFID enabled pressure sensitive labels and tags. Our RFID labels are available in a wide range of sizes and 100% tested prior to shipment. Best of all, our inlay insertion process is flexible, frequency-neutral, and is compatible with most EPC/ISO compliant transponders. Certified Alien Converter. 1-800-323-4415 or visit www.repacorp.com |
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RFID Update is the RFID industry daily. Launched in early 2004 to provide timely analysis of RFID industry news, RFID Update publishes editorial briefings every weekday for the growing ranks of top level executives involved in the deployment of RFID. Each issue delivers the breaking news and analysis most pertinent to successful RFID implementations, allowing readers to understand global RFID developments as they happen.
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