Savi Technology Unveils Dod Supply Chain RFID Solution Featuring Industry-Leading Components From Symbol And Zebra
Called Savi RFID-ACT (Assured Compliance Today), the multipackage offering, demonstrated here at the DoD RFID Industry Summit (Booth #514), builds on the real-world expertise of the three companies in designing a flexible "tag and ship" solution for passive RFID that's simple, quick and reliable to implement. Value-added components can be integrated to help suppliers go beyond compliance and realize investment returns within their own supply chains.
Savi RFID-ACT with Symbol and Zebra components can be implemented and integrated into the customer's information system within a matter of hours, enabling users to almost immediately begin complying with the DoD's new RFID policy, which requires about 40,000 suppliers to affix EPC-compliant passive RFID labels to all outbound shipments at the pallet and carton levels.
RFID-ACT also meets DoD's requirements to automatically transmit a corresponding advance ship notice (ASN) to help military logistics personnel better prepare for incoming goods, whether they're repair parts, jet engines, clothing, equipment, tentage, food, toothpaste or bullets.
RFID ACT automates and synchronizes the flow of information with physical shipments. The combined solution enables suppliers to instantly translate product data into EPC-compliant passive RFID data with DoD UID requirements, print the appropriate EPC passive RFID labels, validate that the shipment matches the purchase order, and then immediately transmit an ASN to the recipient in the required format. Designed to be flexible, open and forward-looking, Savi RFID-ACT with Symbol and Zebra components assures rapid compliance with current and future government mandates; minimal costs for initial early-entry requirements; ease of purchase, implementation and integration; and expandable and extensible configurations to meet the user's growing needs.
First announced last September, the Savi RFID-ACT solution builds on the strengths of three core industry-leading products Savi SmartChain® Site Manager middleware platform; Symbol's EPC-compliant passive RFID labels and readers; and, Zebra's EPC-compliant smart label printer/encoders. This powerful combination offers a number of enhanced features, including creation of new shipment records, Web-based user interface to support multiple shipping stations and for identifying the status of shipments, dynamic administrator functions, and, both visual and auditory alerts for shipment validations or errors ("RFID Verification Portal"), and support tools for manual key entry, among others.
"The seamless integration of Symbol's, Zebra's and Savi's proven products into this plug-and-play solution justifies the statement that, "the sum of the parts is greater than the whole," said David Stephens, Savi's Senior Vice President, Public Sector. "For DoD suppliers, this is the simplest, most reliable and cost-effective solution on the market to meet and go beyond minimum compliance requirements for passive RFID. Because the solution is built on an open technology platform that can capture data from any automatic identification and data collection device, it can be configured with other components to maximize investment returns for users now and going forward."
"We have worked closely with Savi and Zebra on a number of projects over the years, and we believe that this offering is a useful tool for suppliers to comply with new RFID mandates from the U.S. Department of Defense," said Piyush Sodha, vice president and general manager of Symbol?s RFID Division.
"As a leading provider of on-demand printing solutions, including for EPC-compliant labels, we're excited to be an integral part of this multitiered offering with two companies "Savi and Symbol" that have deep RFID-related background with both military and commercial projects," said Bob Cornick, vice president and general manager of RFID for Zebra Technologies. The RFID-ACT solution is flexible and modular in architecture, and comes in four different solution packages, depending on the level of software and hardware functionality desired. The solutions include services for implementation, testing and training. The DoD RFID policy requires the deployment of passive RFID for shipments involving cases and pallets, and active RFID (battery-powered) for air pallets, containers and certain large equipment that is transported. Savi is a recognized leader in active RFID solutions, and also has had nearly a decade of experience working with passive RFID implementations. RFID-ACT is aimed primarily at passive RFID requirements for suppliers of products the DoD classifies as packaged operational rations (Class I); clothing, individual equipment and tools (Class II); personal demand items (Class VI); and, weapon system repair parts and components (Class IX). The centerpiece of this unique solution is the Savi SmartChain® Site Manager, a proven middleware platform that automatically collects data feeds from RFID readers, validates outgoing shipments with purchase orders and electronically generates an ASN to the recipient in the EDI 856 format required by the DoD. The Savi SmartChain Site Manager is RFID-agnostic, capable of capturing and translating data from all types of passive (including EPC Gen 2 when available) and active RFID devices, in addition to other AIDC technologies. Site Manager can link with the Savi SmartChain platform to provide a wider network for real-time, in-transit visibility within and between supply chains. Savi RFID-ACT with Symbol and Zebra components includes several innovative value-added features, including:
- The Savi SmartChain Shipping Application, which eases integration of data from existing systems and managing, printing, and translating bar code or manually input data into passive RFID labels with DoD-compliant ASNs using the 856 format.
- SmartChain Shipping Application User Interface, which controls the "nesting" of items to carton, to pallets, to shipment containers, the latter of which may have an active RFID tag for tracking. This module ensures that the right products and conveyances transporting them are properly "nested" with each other.
- RFID Verification Portal, which includes passive RFID readers from Symbol and motion sensors mounted on stands about the size of dock doors to stimulate reads. When linked with the Savi SmartChain Site Manager Shipping Module, the RFID Verification Portal can immediately verify that the right products are associated with the right shipment. When shipments pass through the Portal, sound or light alarms can be triggered, either verifying the correct shipment or alerting that an error has been detected.
About Symbol Technologies
Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility Company, is a recognized worldwide leader in enterprise mobility, delivering products and solutions that capture, move and manage information in real time to and from the point of business activity. Symbol enterprise mobility solutions integrate advanced data capture products, radio frequency identification technology, mobile computing platforms, wireless infrastructure, mobility software and world-class services programs under the Symbol Enterprise Mobility Services brand. Symbol enterprise mobility products and solutions are proven to increase workforce productivity, reduce operating costs, drive operational efficiencies and realize competitive advantages for the world's leading companies. More information is available at www.symbol.com.
About Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: ZBRA) delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security applications in 90 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra-brand thermal bar code, "smart" label, receipt, and card printers, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs, and better customer service. The company has sold nearly four million printers, including RFID printer/encoders and wireless mobile solutions, and also offers software, connectivity solutions and printing supplies. Information about Zebra bar code and RFID products can be found at http://www.zebra.com.
About Savi Technology
With over 15 years of global logistics infrastructure experience, Savi is the proven leader in real-time supply chain asset management and security. The company's broad customer service base includes the U.S. Department of Defense, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, NATO, major shippers, manufacturers, and retailers, as well as numerous international ports, terminal operators, carriers, asset owners and third party logistics providers. Founded in 1989, Savi Technology is privately held, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., and offices in Washington D.C., London, Singapore, South Africa and Australia. For additional information, visit Savi on the web at www.savi.com.