Jul 17, 2022Ed. Note: This article was previously posted at IoP Journal.
If the terms "radio frequency identification" (RFID) and "Internet of Things" (IoT) are now well-known concepts in the business world, much of that is owed to a man named Mark Roberti, the journalist who founded and edited—until this month, and for more than 20 years—what has become the largest provider of content and events in the sector: RFID Journal. After his long, successful trajectory, Mark has retired and leaves behind a valuable legacy of knowledge, success stories, learnings and relationships, which have helped to create and nurture a mature RFID ecosystem. Mark told me about his departure from RFID Journal in an interview with IoP Journal. Click here to watch.
I met Mark Roberti in 2011, when he came to Brazil looking for an editor for what would become the RFID Journal Brasil website and the RFID Journal LIVE! Brasil event, which lasted until 2019 and 2016, respectively. In 2019, RFID Journal Brasil evolved into IoP Journal—The Internet of Packaging, to address successful business cases with other technologies that add to RFID, such as QR codes and digital printing.
Edson Perin
Mark and I got together at an event to launch a special printed edition of RFID Journal for the Brazilian audience, which quickly proved unfeasible due to costs and the trend of migrating journalistic content to the online world. Plus, the main RFID Journal website went 100 percent digital the following year.
During our first conversations, we had great empathy, with similar views on how to practice journalism and with great expectations about the importance and evolution of RFID. So Mark hired me, and in November 2011 we launched the RFID Journal Brasil website. The following year, we launched the conference and exhibition for Brazilian and Latin American markets. The website and the events were very important to bringing the Brazilian ecosystem closer, and Mark entrusted me with the roles of editor, master of ceremonies, panel mediator and speaker.
In the United States, at my debut at the RFID Journal LIVE! 2012 conference in Orlando, I was surprised by the general behavior of the public toward Mark Roberti. Many people, especially college students, wanted to take pictures with him, treating him like a pop star. Gradually, I understood the importance of RFID Journal and its ability to attract the business and research public to what would transform the Internet of Humans into the Internet of Things.
Throughout the years, I cultivated with Mark a relationship of extreme professionalism, admiration and, also, a deep friendship. When I heard about his departure from RFID Journal, I was quite upset and sad. After all, we never like to see the phases of our lives come to an end, which is inevitable. And I especially don't like to be away from my friends, even if it's for retirement.
Mark Roberti discussed his departure from RFID Journal in an interview with IoP Journal.
So, I would like to take advantage of this editorial, dedicated to the retirement of my friend Mark, to thank this great professional for the years I was able to help him in this endeavor to spread RFID and IoT technologies to improve the way companies in all sectors do business. It was thanks to RFID Journal and the support of my friend Mark Roberti and his entire team, especially Debbie Hughes, that I became an international speaker on RFID and IoT, which put me on the global stage as a reference on these technologies in Brazil and the world abroad.
In these years of working with Mark, I was not only able to get to know the technologies and their uses in different companies and industries, but, mainly, to meet professionals who work in the RFID and IoT markets, including smart packaging, all over the world. I am very grateful to my great friend Mark, and I wish him the maximum peace of mind and benefits that recognition for the excellent work he has done in his professional career can bring. "We are together, friend! You can always count on me!"
Mark Roberti said this via email: "It has been an honor and privilege to serve the RFID industry for the past 20 years. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to support companies around the world that are looking to successfully deploy RFID and work with vendors of solutions creating amazing RFID products. The industry is set to grow dramatically over the next five years, and I'm looking forward to watching that happen."
Edson Perin is the editor of IoP Journal Brasil and the founder of Netpress Editora.
