Choosing from among the RFID Journal Awards submissions proved harder than expected.
I have spent the last few weekends reading through submissions for the first ever RFID Journal Awards. It was a real challenge to try to pick three winners from the nearly 50 submissions we received. I wound up creating a spreadsheet with different questions for headings:
• Is it in production or a pilot?
• Are other people doing this?
• How innovative is the deployment?
• How extensive is the deployment?
• Are there measurable benefits today?
• How big are these benefits?
I took the three or four submissions in each category and awarded points based on the answers to these questions. I then totaled them up and chose three winners, as well as second- and third-place companies in each category.
Afterward, I spoke to the other judges, and they agreed it wasn’t easy to choose winners. Bill Hardgrave, head of the RFID Research Center at the University of Arkansas, wanted to have ties, but that would have thrown off the rankings.
The truth is, a lot of companies have been doing some very interesting RFID projects that, to date, have not yet been publicized. Some are delivering tangible benefits today, while others are still being tested. But I think that when we announce the winners, you’ll be a little surprised. We’ll also write about as many of the other submissions as we can during the course of the year, because you’ll benefit from seeing those stories as well.
All in all, I feel the Awards program, though a lot of effort, was a worthwhile endeavor. I’m grateful to our judges, who made it possible:
• Stephen N. David, former CIO and chief business-to-business officer at Procter & Gamble Co.
• Bill Hardgrave, director, RFID Research Center, University of Arkansas
• Gordon S. Holder, vice admiral of the U.S. Navy (retired) and a principal at Booz Allen Hamilton
• Chris Hook, wireless and sensor solutions practice lead at Deloitte Consulting LLP
• Fred Riggins, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management
I’m also thankful to all the companies that submitted. I can’t wait to announce the award winners. Stay tuned.