RFID Solution: New RFID Solution Makes Styling And Fashion Attractive
While radio frequency identification (RFID) may not yet be regarded as a plug-and-play technology, in certain industries such as clothing and textiles, it is fast approaching, thanks to the efforts of the Graz, Austria-based technology consulting and software company RF-iT Solutions. "Even though RFID is regarded as a key technology of the 21st century, rapid market penetration is only to be expected once solutions emerge that are both technically feasible and at the same time economically attractive," Dominik Berger, managing director of RF-iT Solutions, asserts. In order to accomplish this, technology needs to be transferred from the "ivory towers" of research, to have real and positive effects on businesses. This would facilitate production and movement of goods, thus making goods more readily available at the point of sale. The advantages for consumers could not be clearer: whether you are looking for jeans, a dress or a swimsuit, RFID makes shopping more attractive by ensuring a stock of all models in all sizes and colours, hence reducing shoppers' frustration. This is possible with intelligent RFID tags, which carry detailed information about textile merchandise and accompany each piece the whole way along the logistics chain.
Textile industry is relying on optimization potential offered by RFID
The textile market offers an attractive potential for RFID solutions. Major drivers for RFID processes in this industry include trade regulations, global markets, broadly distributed supplier networks and growing complexity. RFID technology unleashes potential for rationalization along the entire logistics chain, allowing accelerated detection and recording at every at every stock transfer point as well as automatic picking of goods and invoicing. The goal therefore is to equip the entire logistics chain with RFID, from goods dispatch at the manufacturing site to the store check-out. The earlier in the logistics chain that the tag is incorporated, the greater the cost advantage. A second goal aims at combining RFID technology with conventional theft-protection techniques in a single tag.
Unique cooperation of experts provides a global solution for the textile supply chain
"The easier it is to integrate RFID components in existing processes, the greater the resulting success," Berger noted recently at a joint press conference with RF-iT's project partners, Telekom Austria and the German Fashion consulting specialist GCS-Consulting. The partners have gathered their complementary capabilities to offer a new scheme for the RFID industry. Never before in the history of RFID has such a cooperation of experts proposed a global RFID solution that serves as an operator model for the complete process chain, comprising major retail stores and suppliers. "With this common platform we have succeeded in implementing a technical system for hardware, software and middleware that is both simple and international," Berger was pleased to announce. An important building block for this success was provided by RF-iT Solutions with its Auto-ID operating environment You-R OPEN, a software platform which represents the link between new RFID processes and the existing IT infrastructure. Thanks to this solution, RF-iT Solutions is recognized throughout Europe as one of the leading companies in the textile industry.
You-R OPEN – flexible and clearly structured
Various RFID readers as well as other Auto-ID devices, such as barcode readers, can be managed with ease using You-R OPEN. A remote reader/device management system operates through a network of central control points. In addition to basic functions, the platform offers a variety of IT tools for every project phase, from development and implementation on to maintenance. Ready-made "building blocks" can generally be employed. For specific requirements, integrators are able to manage and expand functionalities themselves. This is possible thanks to the fully integrated .net C# developer environment for programming in the You-R OPEN OPerating ENvironment.
SOURCE: RF-iT Solutions