This article was originally published by RFID Update.
July 13, 2005—Chicago’s Click Commerce, whose company focus is on the exterprise (demand chain, supply chain, and service chain), recently announced the formation of a new division called Strategy 18 to offer RFID strategic consulting. Leveraging the company’s expertise in supply chain management solutions to meet what it characterizes as “the growing influence of RFID technology on the supply chain and warehouse management systems,” the division will focus specifically on RFID as a long-term strategic direction for the entire company. Strategy 18 was even named for the “R” in RFID, the 18th letter in the alphabet.
RFID Update spoke with Johan Sauer, Click Commerce Vice President and Managing Director who is heading up the new division. He described the company’s “goal in life” as building solutions to complex problems found across the demand, supply, and service chains, noting that RFID technology represents just such an opportunity. In discussing some of the keys to offering successful RFID integrations services, Sauer said, “a combination of both technical competence and domain experience is required.” The former is obviously necessary to install and troubleshoot what is still a finicky and relatively immature technology. But the domain expertise in demand, supply, and service chains is also critical, although oftentimes overlooked. Understanding and being able to create new processes and reengineer existing ones is a key to RFID’s potential, said Sauer.
Founded in 1996, Click Commerce is considered an innovator of the “extranet” concept. The last year has seen the company enjoy strong growth and execute two acquisitions (Optum and Xelus), to which Wall Street has reacted very favorably, more than quadrupling CKCM stock value.
