Jul 22, 2020Today, RFID Journal announced that RFID Journal LIVE! 2020 will be relaunched as a virtual event. The conference and exhibition, now being held online, will be called RFID Journal Virtually LIVE! 2020.
Maintaining the health and safety of every member of the RFID community is paramount to the RFID Journal team, and to its parent company, Emerald Expositions. RFID Journal had previously postponed LIVE! from Apr. 28-30 to Sept. 9-11 (see RFID Journal LIVE! Postponed Until September 2020). Now, amid growing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and following extensive discussions with industry professionals regarding the viability of the postponement dates, the company has chosen to formally cancel the face-to-face event.
This cancellation is due to the pandemic's ongoing progression, including the latest government data, measures and guidelines regarding the phased reopening plans in the United States; the current restrictions on congregating and large gatherings imposed by states and other government and public health authorities; the inability of RFID Journal's international community to attend due to travel restrictions and bans; and the various company-imposed travel restrictions on employees, which are affecting attendees and participating companies.
"RFID Journal LIVE! is an important annual event for the RFID industry, in which buyers, sellers, researchers, academics and others come together from around the world to meet, share ideas and do business," says Mark Roberti, RFID Journal's founder and editor of. "We're disappointed that we will not be able to hold a face-to-face event this year, but we want to keep the industry moving forward by holding a highly interactive virtual event, with great conference sessions, exhibits and networking opportunities."
Virtually LIVE! 2020 will be an engaging and an immersive virtual experience geared toward the entire RFID community. Two days of live-cast sessions will feature case studies in key industries—retail and apparel, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense and aerospace—as well as sessions on how to build out an RFID infrastructure, how to integrate RFID with blockchain and other solutions, and more.
Attendees will be able to visit exhibitors in their virtual booths, read materials, learn about product offerings and chat live with exhibitors. RFID Journal is currently confirming dates for the fall event and will share additional information soon. "Nothing can replace the value of a face-to-face gathering, but RFID Journal Virtually LIVE! will come close," Roberti says. "If you are looking to research RFID solutions and find answers to your business problems, this online event will go a long way toward meeting your needs."
LIVE! is expected to return as a physical event on Apr. 27-29, 2021, at Arizona's Phoenix Convention Center. In the meantime, RFID Journal is working with the venue and hotels to ensure that the conference will be productive, safe and healthy for exhibitors and attendees alike. "As always, we appreciate the ongoing support of our readers, event attendees, advertisers and sponsors," Roberti says. "I'm grateful for your understanding and patience as we navigate these challenging times."
