At RFID Journal LIVE! 2025, we’re bringing together the best minds in the industry to explore the fascinating intersection of RFID technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and the limitless possibilities of Intelligence.
Today’s conference starting hours, all Western time, are 8:45–11:55 a.m. The expo hall will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Below is the agenda for today, Wednesday, May 7.
GS1 US Solution Partner Appreciation Breakfast and Discussion (Solution Providers Only)
- Time: 7:30 AM – 9:00 a.m.
- Location: Vendome B
This session is for solution providers only. GS1 US will facilitate a roundtable discussion on key topics related to RFID and 2D enablement. This will include topics such as encoding process quality control, new use cases, and RFID alignment with 2D barcodes. Registration is required. Reach out to GS1 US at [email protected] to register
Track: Utilizing Cutting-Edge Solutions in Healthcare, Food and Pharma
Session Title: Revolutionizing Agri Food Systems with RFID
- Time: 8:45 a.m.
- Location: Versailles 4
- Speaker: Ultan McCarthy, Lecturer, South East Technological University (SETU)
Description: In the modern era of supply chain management for the agriculture, food and biologic sectors, RFID technology plays a transformative role in improving transparency and traceability. Focusing on agriculture, food and the broader biologic sectors, this session will provide attendees an overview of how they have benefitted from adopting RFID technology at some point across their value chain. Gain an understanding of the key decisions prior to adoption, as well as how organizations are deploying the technology today.
Track: Beyond the Pilot: Real World Implementations and Outcomes in Manufacturing
Session Title: Applying AI to pRTLS
- Time: 8:45 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 1
- Speakers: Kevin Berisso, Ph.D., Director, AutoID Lab University of Memphis; Ray Lee, Founder, Resix Robotics
Description: pRTLS solutions continue to gain traction but can also introduce new types of uncertainty. Hear how the University of Memphis AutoID Lab has teamed up with AI startup, Resix Robotics, to help improve the determination of motion in pRTLS data. The session will discuss the challenges encountered during testing, what has been learned to date, and how the information gleaned will be used in the future.
Track: Tell Me More: Innovative Use Cases in Retail
Session Title: Expert Panel: Adapting to the Tech-Enabled Future of Retail
- Time: 8:45 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 2
- Speakers: Dr. Bill Hardgrave, President, University of Memphis; Jonathan Aitken, VP Global On Product Technology, PVH; Steve LeClerc, Director, NA Distribution, Brooks Running; Gina Maddaloni, Manager, Retail Growth Initiatives, Carter’s; Hans Peter Scheidt, Delivery Lead TECH, Merchandise Visibility / RFID / EPCIS, C&A
Description: Retailers and brand owners have proven that Item-Level RFID technology brings a significant improvement to daily operations, supply chains and enhanced customer experience. But social media and ubiquitous connectivity are driving new shopping habits and ramping up consumer expectations. Join our panel of experts as they discuss the technologies that are enabling change, and how they are using RFID and other technologies to evolve and revolutionize their operations.
Track Name: Digital Product Passport: Gateway to Sustainability, Transparency
Session Title: Digital Product Passport: How to Build it and Drive New Revenue Using NFC
- Time: 8:45 a.m.
- Location: Versailles 1
- Speaker: Jim Barlow, RFID/NFC Technical Marketing, STMicroelectronics
Description: Digital Product Passports (DPPs) collect and share comprehensive data about a product, spanning its entire value chain. By doing so, DPPs empower all stakeholders, including brands and consumers, to gain a deeper insight into the product information, and reach sustainability goals. In this session, learn how DPPs provide an unprecedented level of transparency, enabling brands to build trust and stand out, especially among cautious consumers. Gain an understanding of how the DPP facilitates upstream and downstream communications. Also, hear how customers benefit from increased transparency (upstream), while brands can interact with customers anytime, anywhere (downstream).
Track: Beyond the Pilot: Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience: What’s AI And ML Got to Do with It?
Session Title: RFID Journal Special Achievement Winner Session: Making the ROI Pivot: Putting People First
- Time: 8:45 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 4
- Speakers: Dr. Antonio Rizzi, Full Professor, Industrial Logistics and Supply Chain Management, University of Parma
Description: Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) has emerged as a crucial framework for businesses looking to minimize risks, enhance reputation, and foster trust among employees and stakeholders. P-ROI (the return on people) supports ESG concepts and completes the RFID sustainability circle (economic ROI, environmental ROI and people ROI). Dr. Antonio Rizzi, Full Professor, Industrial Logistics and Supply Chain Management, University of Parma, will share recent research measuring the social impact of RFID deployments. Learn how RFID makes people more productive, empowered, motivated and fulfilled in their daily jobs.
Track: Digital Product Passport: Gateway to Sustainability, Transparency
Session Title: Reimagine NFC: Low-cost, low-carbon, flexible ICs at scale
- Time: 9:35 a.m.
- Location: Versailles 1
- Speaker: James Davey, SVP Sales, Business Development & Product Management, Pragmatic Semiconductor
Description: As Digital Product Passports move from concept to regulatory requirement,
demand for scalable, cost-effective, item-level intelligence is growing. Pragmatic NFC Connect redefines the parameters of NFC connectivity, delivering industry-standard endpoint capability in an ultra-thin, flexible form factor with a uniquely low carbon footprint. This session explores how inlay manufacturers, label convertors and service bureaus can empower brands to effortlessly integrate NFC functionality into products or packaging – even on curved surfaces – delivering smarter, more connected experiences and deeper levels of consumer engagement, sustainably and at scale.
Track: Beyond the Pilot: Real World Implementations and Outcomes in Manufacturing
Session Title: Gartner Overview: Retail’s RFID Evolution – Preparing for an AI-ready Future
- Time: 9:35 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 1
- Speaker: Sandeep Unni, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Description: RFID has come a long way in retail since the first industry mandate two decades ago. While it has reached a level of maturity benefitting numerous retailers at scale, skepticism remains. Learn about industry trends and real-world implementations of innovative use cases for inspiration. Prepare your organization for the AI era by understanding the critical nature of AI-ready RFID data to unlock actionable insights, improve operational visibility, and increase profitability.
Track: Utilizing Cutting-Edge Solutions in Healthcare, Food and Pharma
Session Title: Fireside Chat: Leveraging RAIN RFID for Managing High-Dollar Inventory for Infusion and Oncology Clinics
- Time: 9:35 a.m.
- Location: Versailles 4
- Speaker: TJ Bozada, Product Manager, Bluesight; Tyler Wilson, Clinical Pharmacist, Sentara Hospital.; Aileen Ryan, President, RAIN Alliance
Description: Managing high-cost medications in infusion and oncology clinics presents unique challenges, from inventory visibility and cost control to regulatory compliance and waste reduction. In this insightful fireside chat, executives from Bluesight and Sentara Health will discuss innovative RAIN RFID driven solutions that help healthcare providers track, optimize, and secure their most valuable pharmaceutical assets.
Key takeaways include:
- How automation and RFID technology improve inventory accuracy and drug utilization
- Strategies to reduce waste and prevent diversion of high-dollar medications
- Real-world insights from Sentara Health on managing high value inventory
- The future of data-driven medication management in specialty care settings
Track: Tell Me More: Innovative Use Cases in Retail
Session Title: Total Value for Retail: Let’s Talk About the “ID” of “RFID”
- Time: 9:35 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 2
- Speaker: Randy Dunn, Director, Customer Success, Zebra Technologies
Description: A lot of time has been spent talking about the benefits of “RF” – long range, non-line of sight data capture. Join us to talk about what you can find out from the “ID” – item traceability to follow items through their full lifecycle, including outbound, inbound, and returns. When you start tracing items through a process, you can begin to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the process and where you need more capability and more importantly, where you can stop doing things because of an outdated data capture. This session promises to offer valuable insights into how different industries can piggyback on advancements made in the retail space, enhancing their own operational strategies and positioning themselves for future success.
Track: Beyond the Pilot: Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience: What’s AI And ML Got to Do with It?
Session Title: Tracking Solid Waste with IoT and AI
- Time: 9:35 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 4
- Speaker: Orhun Aydin, Assistant Professor, School of Science and Engineering, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, St. Louis University
Description: Saint Louis University (SLU) researchers are using IoT devices powered by LoRaWAN and Wi-Fi technology in the alleyways of St. Louis, to identify, track and transmit sensor data about the volume and type of household recycling and waste that are thrown into bins. Solar-powered devices send sensor readings via the IoT system, including optical data from inside the recycling bins. The lab where the solution was built is known as Artificial Intelligence in Coupled Human-Environment Systems for Sustainability and Resilience Laboratory (AI-CHESS). That AI functionality can help identify objects in bins to determine what has been thrown away, as well as when it was placed in the bins. Learn how the data from the sensors over time is intended to help the city understand trends among neighborhoods, sociodemographic characteristics, and the effective ways of outreach and recycling education that led to long lasting behavioral change.
Track: Beyond the Pilot: Real World Implementations and Outcomes in Manufacturing
Session Title: RFID Journal Awards Finalist Session: Cummins Powers Sustainability with RFID-enabled RTIs
- Time: 10:25 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 1
- Speaker: Chuck Braidich, Director- Global Returnable Packaging Program, Global Logistics, Cummins, Inc.
Description: Global engine and power supply company, Cummins, is committed to reducing the total amount of packaging waste resulting from manufacturing operations. By employing RFID-based Returnable Transport Items (RTIs) for components and products, the firm can automatically track those plastic containers and totes as they move around the country to be loaded, transported and then emptied and re-used. Cummins also invested in providing the technology to its suppliers at no cost. The use of RFID by those suppliers was critical to gaining the supply chain visibility the company needed. Learn how RFID reduces labor costs by eliminating the need for barcode scanning or visual identification of each item, as well as providing operational benefits. Hear how Cummins is optimizing the fleet sizes based on the ability to identify where the bottlenecks are, and how long it takes assets to get from supplier to a Cummins facility, or supplier to logistics facility.
Track Name: Digital Product Passport: Gateway to Sustainability, Transparency
Session Title: RAIN: Reinforcing the Power of Digital Product Passports and Enabling Sustainable Chains
- Time: 10:25 a.m.
- Location: Versailles 1
- Speaker: Dr. Susanne Guth-Orlowski, DPP Specialist, RAIN Alliance; Jonathan Aitken, VP Global On Product Technology, PVH; Melissa Auge, Marketing and Business Development North America, REGOM US; Alireza Yasan, Director Of Business Development, Qualcomm; Megan Brewster, VP Advanced Technology, Impinj
Description: Digital product passports (DPP) are an essential component in the quest to produce more sustainable products for a circular economy. To meet regularity requirements (beginning in 2027/28 and mandatory by 2030 in all 27 EU member nations) companies are increasingly turning to RAIN technology. RAIN (UHF RFID) is a wireless technology that connects trillions of everyday items to the internet, enabling businesses and consumers to identify, locate, authenticate, and engage each item. In this session learn how the DPP requirements will impact the retail sector. Also hear the latest sustainability use cases for supply chains. Gain an understanding of how integrating RAIN RFID functionality in mobile device chipsets will help fulfil DPP requirements as well as enabling workers and consumers use their phones or other devices to engage with RFID tagged products or assets.
Track: Utilizing Cutting-Edge Solutions in Healthcare, Food and Pharma
Session Title: RFID for Perishable Goods: Resources for Food and Healthcare
- Time: 10:25 a.m.
- Location: Versailles 4
- Speaker: Jonathan Gregory, Director, Global Standards, GS1 US; Craig Alan Repec, Senior Manager, Supply Chain Visibility, EPCIS & RFID, GS1 Global Office
Description: From reducing waste to protecting consumers and patients, there are tremendous opportunities to better manage perishable goods, be it in food, pharma, or even health and beauty. This session will explore the significant ROI afforded by standards-based RFID implementations and will showcase practical tools to help accelerate adoption.
Track: Tell Me More: Innovative Use Cases in Retail
Session Title: Carucci Shoes Steps into RFID to Automate Inventory Management
- Time: 10:25 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 2
- Speaker: Janice Hu, Operations Director, Carrucci Shoes, King Windsor Group
Description: Men’s shoe company, Carrucci Shoes, is deploying an inventory management system to automate the receiving, as well as the shipping, of its goods. In 2023 when the firm received an RFID technology mandate from the retailers that sell its products, it chose to leverage the RFID tags into every boxed pair of shoes it makes, enabling the firm to achieve the inventory accuracy needed to support online purchasing from its website and creating additional internal benefits. Founded nearly 20 years ago in Los Angeles, Carrucci makes men’s dress and casual shoes, and its products are sold at department stores as well as boutiques around the world. Learn how the system has resulted in a low cancellation rate for its ecommerce sales, and high accuracy in order fulfillments to retailers.
Track: Beyond the Pilot: Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience: What’s AI And ML Got to Do with It?
Session Title: Enea Operator Powers Up Logistics and Expands Self-Service Warehouses
- Time: 10:25 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 4
- Speakers: Krzysztof Frontczak, Measuring System Coordinator, Enea Operator; Lukasz Kasperski, Measuring System Coordinator, Enea Operator
Description: Based on their successful deployment of RFID technology, Enea Operator is forging ahead and adding five new self-service warehouse facilities. The firm is one of the largest Distribution System Operators (DSO) in Poland, providing energy to more than 2.5 million customers. The fully automated warehouses enable operation twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the use of RFID. Learn how Enea Operator is also utilizing digital solutions, including the unique use of virtual reality (VR glasses) to create interactive training videos, enabling the ability to conduct a virtual tour inside the container without the need for physical transport.
Track Name: Digital Product Passport: Gateway to Sustainability, Transparency
Session Title: From Raw Material to Recycling – How AIDC Powers Digital Product Passports
- Time: 11:15 a.m.
- Location: Versailles 1
- Speaker: Pierre Muller, RFID Business Unit Manager, EM Microelectronic; Joe Hoerl, Principal Consultant – IoT, RFIDKNOW; Wayne Oldham, Innovation and Sustainable Technology Director, 4id Solutions; Bethan Taylor, Global Sustainability Manager, Checkpoint Systems
Description: Digital Product Passports promise to revolutionize sustainability, but their success depends on accurate, automated data collection. In this session, learn from AIM’s panel of experts how RFID and smart labels enable end-to-end product lifecycle tracking, from raw material sourcing to recycling and reuse. Discover how these and IoT technologies ensure reliable data entry into DPPs, supporting compliance, reducing waste, and enabling brands to provide consumers with verifiable sustainability claims. Gain insights into real-world implementations and learn best practices for integrating these technologies into your digital product passport strategy.”
Track: Beyond the Pilot: Real World Implementations and Outcomes in Manufacturing
Session Title: Developing an RFID Strategy for Manufacturing
- Time: 11:15 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 1
- Speaker: Doug Harvel, Senior IT Distribution Analyst/Consultant, RFID Consulting
Description: RFID can deliver a great deal of benefits to manufacturers in many different areas, but without coherent strategies, companies often wind up deploying the technology on a piecemeal basis, only to find that it fails to meet their longer-term needs. In this session, industry veteran Doug Harvel will explain how to create a long-term strategy that can enable businesses to choose technologies that will best meet their ongoing needs across a wide variety of applications, as well as how to prioritize projects in the near term.
Track: Utilizing Cutting-Edge Solutions in Healthcare, Food and Pharma
Session Title: From Pilot to Practice: RFID’s Role in Pharma Supply Chains
- Time: 11:15 a.m.
- Location: Versailles 4
- Speaker: Bahar Aliakbarian, Senior R&D Director, Associate Professor, Axia Institute- Michigan State University; John Hatfield, Executive Director, Axia Institute- Michigan State University
Description: RFID technology offers far more than just traceability in the pharmaceutical supply chain—it enables real-time monitoring, rapid exception identification, and proactive issue resolution as products move between locations. In this session, Dr. Bahar Aliakbarian, Senior R&D Director, and John Hatfield, Executive Director, of Michigan State University’s Axia Institute, will explore the transformative impact of RFID implementation in the pharmaceutical industry. They will discuss the critical role of stakeholder engagement in successful RFID adoption and share key insights from Axia’s real-world pharma end-to-end RFID pilot project. Attendees will learn valuable lessons gained from the decision-making process, uncovering essential factors that drive successful technological deployment across different organizations.
Track: Tell Me More: Innovative Use Cases in Retail
Session Title: Retail Loss Prevention: Outsmarting Theft and Fraud
- Time: 11:15 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 2
- Speaker: Mark Roberti, Founder of RFID Journal and President of RFID Professional Institute; John-Pierre (JP) Kamel, Managing Director; RFID Sherpas; Alexandre Ribeiro, RFID Expert and Board Member, Abrappe-Brazilian Association for Loss Prevention
Description: Even before COVID-19 gripped the world, minimizing losses due to theft, fraud, and operational errors was always top of mind with retailers. Today, more than ever, retailers are turning to technology to combat fraudulent activity and organized crime, reduce inventory shrinkage, protect their brands and prevent inefficiencies in the supply chain process. Mark Roberti, Founder of RFID Journal and President of the RFID Professional Institute, will moderate a panel of experienced retail executives from the U.S., U. K. and Brazil in a discussion focused on proactive strategies to protect the bottom line while maintaining a secure, safe environment for shoppers and employees.
Track: Beyond the Pilot: Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience: What’s AI And ML Got to Do with It?
Session Title: Maximizing Value of GS1 Gen2v3 Adoption for RAIN Deployments: Unlocking a Force to Increase Accuracy and Speed
- Time: 11:15 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 4
- Speakers: Claude Tételin, Director AIDC, GS1 Global Office; Bud Courville, RFID Project Manager, EM Microelectronic; Thomas J. Frederick, CEO, Clairvoyant Technology; Markus Pistauer, CEO, CISC Semiconductor
Description Gen2v3, the latest release of GS1’s EPC air interface standard, has been enhanced to meet the obstacles encountered by users when several RAIN readers are deployed in a single area with multiple applications running simultaneously. Gen2v3 addresses this issue by improving tag data collection in multi-reader deployments, as well as speeding up the inventory process and enabling inventory accuracy by eliminating tag clutter and ensuring that only the intended tags are read. Claude Tételin, Director AIDC, GS1 Global Office, will demonstrate how Gen2V3 can be used to inventory only the tags that have passed their expiration date, enabling the removal of out-of-date products from the shelves.
Track: Tell Me More: Innovative Use Cases in Retail
Session Title: Are You Ready for the Future of Smart Retail? Enter AI-powered Real-Time Tracking and Insights
- Time: 11:55 a.m.
- Location: Champagne 2
- Speakers: Peter Oram, CEO, PervasID; Sabesan Sithamparanathan OBE, Founder & President, PervasID and Fellow, Cambridge University Girton College
Description: PervasID introduces TrackMaster 3X to the world, a next-generation, AI-driven RFID solution that redefines inventory management for modern retailers. With over 99% accuracy and real-time product location tracking within 1 meter (3 feet), this hands-free system covers up to 4,500 square feet with a single reader, delivering unmatched efficiency and control across the sales floor and stock room.
In 2024, retail shrink reached 1.6% – a staggering $110 billion in losses – while 40% of fashion shoppers expressed frustration over stock availability. TrackMaster 3X directly addresses these challenges, eliminating manual scanning and ensuring inventory is always in the right place at the right time. The result: fewer losses, higher efficiency, and an observed sales uplift of 5–10%.
Fully compatible with click-and-collect services, the system accelerates and enhances order fulfilment. Retailers gain access to real-time, high-fidelity inventory data, reducing markdowns by ensuring products are sold at full price and minimizing the need for last-minute discounting. TrackMaster 3X also empowers retailers to optimize store layouts using detailed, location-based sales insights. By analyzing how product placement impacts performance, businesses can strategically position high-margin items in high-traffic zones, maximizing visibility, conversion, and profitability.
In this session, learn how TrackMaster 3X offers a scalable, future-proof platform that boosts inventory accuracy, improves customer experience, and drives profitability, setting a new standard for smart retail with data-driven operations.
Industry Roundtable Luncheon (Invitation Only)
- Time: 12:30 p.m.
- Location: Vendome B
Speakers: Patrick Javick, Sr. Director of Partnerships, GS1 US; Stephanie Ramos, Innovation Manager, GS1 US; Teresa Williams, Director, Strategic Partnerships, GS1 US
Description: This invitation-only luncheon is hosted by GS1 US and Auburn University’s RFID Lab and is restricted to end users of the technology. Solution providers, vendors, and press are not permitted to attend.