Don't Ignore the Benefits of RFID

RFID is delivering benefits across many industries today. In fact, so many apparel and footwear manufacturers and retailers are achieving real business benefits from RFID that we've devoted an entire event to it. The RFID Journal—AAFA Apparel & Footwear Summit features case studies from Dillard's, New Balance, Esquel, Lemmi Fashion, Falabella, Nick Tentis and others. They will share how they are improving manufacturing, supply-chain and in-store operations.

The benefits, of course, are not limited to companies in North America. In many areas, European companies are ahead of their U.S. counterparts in using RFID to drive business value. Early adopters in a wide range of industries across Europe are also realizing benefits from RFID. RFID Journal LIVE! Europe 2007 has case studies from Airbus, Container Centralen, DHL, Metro, Rolls-Royce, Sony, Vicaima, Volvo and others.

Perhaps one reason companies are reluctant to explore the benefits of RFID is because they believe it's an all-or-nothing technology—that is, you have to deploy it either throughout your operations, or not at all. Nothing could be further from the truth. The success stories being presented at our fall events almost always involve target applications with limited investments. Once these applications deliver value, the reader infrastructure can often be used to add additional benefits at little or no incremental cost.

With so much evidence that RFID can benefit companies of almost any size, and in any industry, it's hard to comprehend why some executives are still reluctant to educate themselves about the technology.

Mark Roberti is the founder and editor of RFID Journal. If you would like to comment on this article, click on the link below.