Savi Technology Deploys New Mobile RFID Infrastructure Kit For Real-Time Visibility Of Military Supplies

Savi Technology, Inc., a leading provider of RFID supply chain solutions, today announced the release of a new compact, highly mobile RFID solution that directly supports the war fighter deployed in the Area of Operations, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Called the Portable Deployment Kit (PDK), the full solution-in-a-case enables for the first time military logisticians to leverage RFID to track critical military supplies in near real-time into the "last tactical mile" of operations.

The PDK is a self-contained carrying case that delivers a full "mobile RFID solution" that addresses the long-time military challenge of supply chain visibility directly into the Area of Operations, referred to as "the last tactical mile," where there is no RFID fixed reader infrastructure. The United States Marine Corps Systems Command is the first customer and has placed an initial order for 100 units to be deployed in Southwest Asia.

To meet the military's exacting requirements for "last mile" visibility, rapid force deployments, flexibility and mobility, Savi Technology engineers worked in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for more than a year to design, develop, test and deploy the PDK. It went through rigorous testing in Kuwait and Iraq during which Savi learned valuable lessons regarding war fighter needs. Savi's PDK is a breakthrough "mobile chokepoint solution" that integrates several Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) technologies, including bar codes, 2D bar codes, active RFID and GPS location and satellite communications -- all in a single carrying case.

"The PDK is the result of collaborative efforts between Savi Technology and the DoD's PM J-AIT office to address the challenge of getting supply chain visibility in austere environments," said Lt. Col. Beth Rowley, Product Manager, Joint-Automatic Identification Technology (PM-J-AIT) office, which oversees RFID procurement contracts for the DoD and operates the RF-ITV system. "The PDK brings a needed additional resource to everyone involved in rapidly adjusting to and meeting the military's often-changing logistics requirements."

The PDK provides a number of breakthrough benefits, which:

• Enables logisticians to rapidly locate, order and transport the right supply chain asset -- whether it's bullets or boots -- to the right area of operation at the right time without a fixed RFID infrastructure;
• Provides satellite communications to the DoD's In-Transit Visibility (ITV) network, which is the world's largest active RFID cargo tracking system that Savi helped to build;
• Provides a complete solution in a light weight single carrying case that can be transported by a single individual and powered by a vehicle, such as a Humvee.

"The PDK is a fully operational solution right out of the box that can be easily transported at a moment's notice to meet the military's need to locate supplies at any time and anywhere," said David Stephens, Savi's Senior Vice President, Public Sector. "It's also much more than just a mobile choke-point solution for supplies equipped with active RFID devices. It is also a nested visibility solution that can leverage a wide range of Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) technologies that are used to keep track of supplies."

Stephens also emphasized that while the PDK was initially built for military applications, it can also be used more broadly in other government sectors and commercial enterprises for near real-time tracking and management of a wide range of supply chain assets and shipments in remote locations where there is no fixed infrastructure, such as for the chemicals, oil and gas industry.

The PDK is fully configurable and operational right out of the box -- no additional software configuration is required on-site. RFID and AIDC data is collected by the mobile reader, communicated to and processed by the Savi SmartChain(R) Site Manager in the kit, and then transmitted to the DoD's ITV network server via an Iridium Modem with GPS to provide exact location (latitude and longitude). ITV is the world's largest active RFID cargo tracking system that Savi helped to build that extends across more than 1,500 locations. Tags can also be read and modified onsite with the Savi handheld Mobile Reader.

The kit also includes a Zebra printer for Military Shipment Labels to support Unit Move changes. The Savi PDK can also operate unmanned for remote operations.

About Savi Technology
With over 15 years of experience, Savi is a leading provider of active RFID solutions for the management and security of supply chain assets, shipments and consignments. Savi's integrated RFID hardware and software solutions drive business value, such as reducing supply chain assets, inventory and operational costs. The company tailors its solutions to the defense, commercial supply chain asset management and global supply chain visibility and security markets. Savi's solutions are designed to meet the supply chain needs of defense and government organizations, global shippers, manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers as well as service providers such as terminal operators and asset owners. Founded in 1989, Savi Technology is privately held, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., and offices in Washington D.C., London, Singapore, Johannesburg, and Melbourne. For more information, visit www.savi.com.