News

Zebra Technologies has published a user guide to help UK companies that are considering implementing RFID technology throughout their supply chain.

Riding the RFID Wave gives tips on how to take full advantage of RFID in areas such as tracking stock in real time, improving inventory management and combating counterfeiting through pro-duct authentication.

It has been compiled using Zebra’s experience from working with Wal-Mart in the US and three of the retailing giant’s suppliers.

Clive Fearn, Zebra’s manager of RFID technology in the UK, said: “If there is one supply chain topic we are constantly asked to attend to, from end-users to packaging companies, it is RFID.”

While enthusiastic about the technology, Fearn said there is a high level of hype surrounding RFID. He argued that there is less information about how companies should consider using RFID and he advised caution. In many cases, he said, firms can still make do with established barcode technology.

Zebra’s guide contains advice such as thoroughly researching the options open to companies before investing in RFID, including finding the most suitable suppliers; taking a step-by-step approach by starting with a manageable trial run on a small number of products; and carrying out testing as the trial grows in scale.

Zebra has been working on RFID technology for nearly 10 years. The firm manufactures printing products and software, including bar code and RFID printers and encoders.

In January, the UK RFID in Packaging Work Group, co-founded by Packaging Federation chief executive Ian Dent and GS1’s EPCglobal business manager David Lyon, also published a guide to RFID in packaging.

Both guides are available via www.zebra.com and www.packagingfedn.co.uk.