Zebra Technologies offers tips as Gen 2 technologies begin hitting the market
Vernon Hills, IL January 16, 2006 With the first EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 radio frequency identification (RFID) products reaching the market, Gen 2 is rising to become the leading RFID protocol for supply chain and compliance initiatives.
With that in mind, Zebra Technologies, a provider of bar code and RFID solutions, is offering the following Gen 2 "do's" and "don'ts" to help companies avoid potential implementation pitfalls.
Do go straight to Gen 2 if you are starting RFID pilots now.
Gen 2 protocols offer significant performance enhancements over the first generation of EPCglobal UHF protocols, according to Zebra, including superior tag throughput, improved accuracy and compliance with global spectrum regulations. Many new vendors have committed to supporting EPC Generation 2, allowing users to leverage standards-based interoperability among tags, interrogators, printer/encoders, etc., as well as aggressive pricing spawned by competition.
Don't overlook your RFID basics communication of data is still key to success.
Gen 2, while a major milestone in RFID technology improvements, does not mean that users can bypass the learning curve associated with an RFID pilot. They will still need to understand the physical requirements of laying out an RFID environment to minimize RF interference from hardware and to optimize read rates.
Ideally, users should identify where RFID data are generated, transmitted and utilized so that business process and operational improvements such as better real-time visibility of products and inventories in the supply chain can be achieved. Issues such as training personnel and establishing metrics and milestones to determine progress also will need to be addressed.
Do thorough research and testing of Gen 2 products to ensure compatibility and feature support.
Gen 2 is a flexible standard that can be implemented in different ways by different vendors. With dozens of variations of Gen 2-compliant tags and hundreds more likely on the horizon, chips may vary in memory size, programming speed and other characteristics.
In addition, different antenna designs can perform better or worse when distance or orientation to interrogators is changed. Also consider that the amount of power the printer/encoder requires to write data to the RFID chip is a complex function of the inlay's chip type, antenna design and antenna size. Users may need to use different tag designs to provide optimal read performance on a variety of items. Each set of tags may require different encoding power levels, making it important for printer/encoder settings to be easily changed by the user without extensive IT support or reprogramming. Test Gen 2 media thoroughly to ensure the tags selected truly support your application.
Do plan to support a multi-protocol environment.
The arrival of Gen 2 does not signal the retirement or obsolescence of other RFID protocols. Gen 1 tags will likely be used through 2007 until existing supplies are exhausted. And today's RFID technologies will evolve into future generations in the coming years.
In addition, different protocol standards can be used for different applications, just as numerous bar code symbologies are used today. Organizations should build their RFID infrastructure with multi-protocol printer/encoders and interrogators. Multi-protocol equipment provides investment protection and simplifies upgrades because it can simultaneously support different RFID standards and tag types.
Don't buy a short-term solution.
A flexible, configurable and upgradeable RFID infrastructure is required to support Gen 2 and beyond, as well as allow users to reap the business benefits of improved operations. Features like multi-protocol support, software-defined radios and adjustable power settings provide long-term investment protection and lower the total cost of ownership of your RFID infrastructure as it matures and evolves.
When evaluating RFID investments, determine if the products: 1) meet your current needs for protocols, options and features; 2) include simultaneous support for multiple RFID protocols; and 3) offer a low-cost, clear, easy and efficient upgrade path that can sustain operations with minimal disruption.
Zebra has prepared white papers on Gen 2, including "Gen 2 Implications for Smart Label Printing" and "Managing the EPC Generation Gap: An Overview of EPC Standard Migration from Generation 1 to Generation 2 Tags," available through Zebra's Web site.
Additional Articles of Interest
Supply chain executives can drive profitability ahead if they closely align their supply chain strategies to five universal business plan challenges. Read more in "Collaborate to Innovate," in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Consumers spent nearly $28 billion on the "Black Friday" after Thanksgiving 2005, up 21.9 percent over 2004's results. Great news for retailers, but a potential nightmare for supply chain executives trying to get the right product on the right shelf at the right time. The lesson: Now is the time to plan for the next peak shipping season. Read more in the "Seasons' Peakings," the Executive Memo column in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
With its customers increasingly requiring new levels of connectivity, C&H Sugar deploys a 21st century IT infrastructure. Read more in "B2B Integration Spells Sweet Success," Best Practices article in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Vernon Hills, IL January 16, 2006 With the first EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 radio frequency identification (RFID) products reaching the market, Gen 2 is rising to become the leading RFID protocol for supply chain and compliance initiatives.
With that in mind, Zebra Technologies, a provider of bar code and RFID solutions, is offering the following Gen 2 "do's" and "don'ts" to help companies avoid potential implementation pitfalls.
Do go straight to Gen 2 if you are starting RFID pilots now.
Gen 2 protocols offer significant performance enhancements over the first generation of EPCglobal UHF protocols, according to Zebra, including superior tag throughput, improved accuracy and compliance with global spectrum regulations. Many new vendors have committed to supporting EPC Generation 2, allowing users to leverage standards-based interoperability among tags, interrogators, printer/encoders, etc., as well as aggressive pricing spawned by competition.
Don't overlook your RFID basics communication of data is still key to success.
Gen 2, while a major milestone in RFID technology improvements, does not mean that users can bypass the learning curve associated with an RFID pilot. They will still need to understand the physical requirements of laying out an RFID environment to minimize RF interference from hardware and to optimize read rates.
Ideally, users should identify where RFID data are generated, transmitted and utilized so that business process and operational improvements such as better real-time visibility of products and inventories in the supply chain can be achieved. Issues such as training personnel and establishing metrics and milestones to determine progress also will need to be addressed.
Do thorough research and testing of Gen 2 products to ensure compatibility and feature support.
Gen 2 is a flexible standard that can be implemented in different ways by different vendors. With dozens of variations of Gen 2-compliant tags and hundreds more likely on the horizon, chips may vary in memory size, programming speed and other characteristics.
In addition, different antenna designs can perform better or worse when distance or orientation to interrogators is changed. Also consider that the amount of power the printer/encoder requires to write data to the RFID chip is a complex function of the inlay's chip type, antenna design and antenna size. Users may need to use different tag designs to provide optimal read performance on a variety of items. Each set of tags may require different encoding power levels, making it important for printer/encoder settings to be easily changed by the user without extensive IT support or reprogramming. Test Gen 2 media thoroughly to ensure the tags selected truly support your application.
Do plan to support a multi-protocol environment.
The arrival of Gen 2 does not signal the retirement or obsolescence of other RFID protocols. Gen 1 tags will likely be used through 2007 until existing supplies are exhausted. And today's RFID technologies will evolve into future generations in the coming years.
In addition, different protocol standards can be used for different applications, just as numerous bar code symbologies are used today. Organizations should build their RFID infrastructure with multi-protocol printer/encoders and interrogators. Multi-protocol equipment provides investment protection and simplifies upgrades because it can simultaneously support different RFID standards and tag types.
Don't buy a short-term solution.
A flexible, configurable and upgradeable RFID infrastructure is required to support Gen 2 and beyond, as well as allow users to reap the business benefits of improved operations. Features like multi-protocol support, software-defined radios and adjustable power settings provide long-term investment protection and lower the total cost of ownership of your RFID infrastructure as it matures and evolves.
When evaluating RFID investments, determine if the products: 1) meet your current needs for protocols, options and features; 2) include simultaneous support for multiple RFID protocols; and 3) offer a low-cost, clear, easy and efficient upgrade path that can sustain operations with minimal disruption.
Zebra has prepared white papers on Gen 2, including "Gen 2 Implications for Smart Label Printing" and "Managing the EPC Generation Gap: An Overview of EPC Standard Migration from Generation 1 to Generation 2 Tags," available through Zebra's Web site.
Additional Articles of Interest
Supply chain executives can drive profitability ahead if they closely align their supply chain strategies to five universal business plan challenges. Read more in "Collaborate to Innovate," in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Consumers spent nearly $28 billion on the "Black Friday" after Thanksgiving 2005, up 21.9 percent over 2004's results. Great news for retailers, but a potential nightmare for supply chain executives trying to get the right product on the right shelf at the right time. The lesson: Now is the time to plan for the next peak shipping season. Read more in the "Seasons' Peakings," the Executive Memo column in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
With its customers increasingly requiring new levels of connectivity, C&H Sugar deploys a 21st century IT infrastructure. Read more in "B2B Integration Spells Sweet Success," Best Practices article in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
- More articles about Zebra Technologies.
