With the RFID compliance deadline 90 days away, provider Xterprise touts solution as simple way to meet basic requirements
Dallas — October 18, 2004 — With Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s radio frequency identification (RFID) compliance deadline just 90 days away, many of the retail giant's suppliers face certain non-compliance, says Dean Frew, founder and president of Dallas-based Xterprise Inc., an RFID supply chain solution provider.
According to Frew, Xterprise Inc. began in late 2002 to cultivate a new approach to RFID supply-chain implementations, which included RFID technologies and a view of how to deliver a compliance path minus the multi-million dollar process.
"This most active segment in the marketplace — retail suppliers — need a sane and rationale voice to help articulate what RFID compliance is really all about," he said. "Compliance is more than throwing millions of dollars into technology and recommended re-engineering efforts. It can be a simple process that can deliver sustainable [return on investment (ROI)] as shipment volumes increase. We've been working with many of the Wal-Mart suppliers to help design and deploy their RFID solutions."
Today, Xterprise Inc. launched XARM, a combination of hardware, software and services that Frew said can be designed and deployed in as little as 90 days. XARM includes RFID engineering services, solution design and project planning, RFID-enhanced process flows, RFID hardware and software installation, legacy system integration, material handling installation, training, field testing and support.
"This is about putting tags on boxes — period — and then tracking them through the supply chain," Frew said. "That's why we take a practical approach to RFID. Xterprise has determined what steps must be taken to get an effective system in place. And we've crystallized those steps into our XARM solution."
Xterprise Inc. operates from its Dallas headquarters, located just north of the Dallas North Tollway and Arapaho Road. It also operates a Dallas-area distribution center where XARM is labeling packaged goods with RFID labels. Xterprise said it is working with some of the nation's largest firms to develop solutions for RFID labeling of packaged liquids, refrigerated products, consumer packaged goods and hard goods.
With RFID, small tags are attached to products, pallets or assets. These tags receive and then re-transmit radio waves, which can be picked up by an RFID reader. Using the tags, computer systems track detailed product information, as well as when the product is shipped and received at the store. Wal-Mart, Target Corp. and Albertson's have asked suppliers to affix RFID tags to the cases and pallets of goods they ship to distribution centers around Dallas-Fort Worth-area distribution centers by as early as Jan. 1, 2005.
