The RFID Journal LIVE! 2025 culminated with the 19th annual RFID Journal Awards, as Powercast took home the award for Best New Product.
This award is given to the company that exhibits the best new RFID, IoT, NFC, or related technology product or service introduced after April 11, 2024. Powercast received the award for it wirelessly powered, battery-free RAIN RFID Sensor Tags for data centers. The other finalists were Chainway, Checkpoint, Pragmatic, Tageos, and Zebra, all evaluated onsite by a team of three judges, led by founder and former RFID Journal.com editor, Mark Roberti.
“It’s exciting to see wireless power take off in the RFID space,” said Eric Biel, Powercast’s Director of Strategic Partnerships. “The potential for wireless power in this space is very exciting. Wireless power won in Vegas but it is not staying in Vegas.”
Roberti noted that all of the finalists had innovative products, but the judges were unanimous in selecting Powercast’s energy harvesting, passive light, temperature and humidity sensor as it will open up new applications in health care, pharma, and the food supply chain, as well as managing data center assets.
“Instead of an expensive active tag with a battery that needs to be replaced every few years, companies can now use a low-cost passive sensor, which requires no maintenance,” he said. “And unlike other passive sensors, the Powercast product can write sensor data to the tag’s memory, so companies can find out if a product was out side of temperature requirements at some point. We think this passive sensor will have many applications across several different industries.”
International Event
This year’s entrants submitted to RFID Journal, the leading source of news and in-depth information regarding RFID IoT, NFC, AI and other technologies, featured a wide range of projects. From the complex and large-scale to smaller implementations, the entries demonstrated how RFID and IoT solutions have become the technology of choice for companies with the need to increase visibility in their supply chain, gain operational efficiencies and enhance customer satisfaction.
The finalists hail from all around the world—including Italy, Brazil, Costa Rica, Germany, Turkey, Spain, U.S, U.K., and Canada—that submitted in seven categories.
For the Best Manufacturing or IIoT Implementation, Cummins was the winner. An engine and power supply company, Cummins was recognized for reducing the total amount of packaging waste resulting from manufacturing operations by employing RFID-based Returnable Transport Items (RTIs) for components and products. The two other finalists were Cepheid and Kannegiesser.
C&A took home the award for Best Retail Implementation as the international private-label fashion retailer implemented RFID across all 1,220+ C&A stores in 17 countries as well as in C&A’s Distribution Centers (DC’s). The implementation has enabled the firm to optimize and align customer experience, standardize and simplify processes, provide customer benefits due to increased stock-data accuracy, and ensure merchandise availability and visibility. The two other finalists were Arctic Spa and Carters.
Maersk, Logistics & Services USA, a logistics and supply chain company, was honored in the Best Supply Chain/Logistics Implementation. Maersk uses an RFID-based drone solution in one of their high-volume, fast-paced warehouses to ensure accurate inventory capabilities, allowing the operational teams to focus on more strategic initiatives, resulting in greater efficiency and service excellence. The two other finalists were Shifflet Brothers Enterprises and Brooks running shoes.
U.S. Marine Corps Honored
In the Best RFID Implementation (Other Industry) category, the United States Marine Corps came out on top for its development of the Marine Corps Platform Integration Center (MCPIC). The MCPIC is a system that provides asset visibility by enabling equipment inventory tracking through tagging of mission-critical equipment, shortening inventory times from weeks to hours and gaining greater inventory accuracy that saves millions of labor dollars. The two other finalists were Idaho National Lab and Selmark.
UPS was recognized for the Best RFID/IoT/AI Implementation. The global shipping, receiving and supply chain management company was honored for its continued deployment of tomorrow’s technology today by enabling UPS Internet Of Things and expanding their use of cutting-edge technologies like digital twins, data analytics, IoT/RFID and generative AI to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. The two other finalists were ESAN and Sniper Action Photo Ltd.
In the Best Healthcare or Food Implementation category, Sentara Health, a not-for-profit healthcare organization, was the winner for its use of RFID at Norfolk General Hospital, a 500-bed facility within a 12-hospital network. Their implementation tracked hazardous compounded medications in their hazardous sterile compounding rooms, as well as compounded medications essential for cardiac procedures, which are fast-moving with a short shelf-life. Their programs resulted in reducing waste, improving patient care, and enhancing staff satisfaction. The two other finalists were Friato and Brigham Young University.
Recognizing Dr. Rizzi
A Special Achievement Award was bestowed on Dr. Antonio Rizzi, a full professor of logistics and supply chain management in the University of Parma’s Industrial Engineering Department. Dr. Rizzi is a world-renowned advocate of auto id technologies and data sharing technologies (such as RFID and IoT) for supply chain management and retail industries. He has generously given his time and has spoken at numerous conferences, including RFID Journal LIVE! for over 19 years.
Dr Rizzi is the founder of the University’s RFID Lab, a world leading research center promoting research, training and services to stakeholders, such as technology providers and end users. Under his leadership, the Lab pioneered research in the Italian RFID arena and has been widely recognized as a worldwide center of excellence.
Next Year
It was announced that RFID Journal LIVE! 2026 will return to Las Veags next, from May 19-21 at the Rio.