RFID in Oracle Fusion
On May 3rd, 2006, Oracle announced that it will enhance its Sensor Edge Server, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, to provide better out-of-the-box support for integrating Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology with existing IT systems.
RFID tags are small, typically postage stamp-sized, inexpensive radio transmitters that can broadcast an identification number and other information when activated by a reader. This simple concept has the potential to make a big impact in the business world. RFID technology is already used in applications like automatic tollbooth payments, contact-free point-of-sale payment, keyless entry in cars, and lost pet identification. Some experts believe that all manufactured products will eventually carry an RFID tag to improve supply chain and sales floor efficiencies. Companies will be able to pinpoint individual items throughout the supply chain without manual intervention. That kind of capability can lead to tremendous savings in time and resources, while increasing accuracy and efficiency, and reducing shrinkage and inventory buffers - especially for a retailer like Wal-Mart.
In fact, Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense already require several of their vendors to be RFID compliant. Even with Wal-Mart driving it, RFID adoption has been slow -- limited by the cost of upgrading the corporate infrastructure, by the cost of the tags, and by technical limitations. As tag costs continue to shrink and the technology gets better, more companies will feel the pressure to incorporate RFID technology into their business processes. That's where Oracle comes in.
Oracle's Sensor Edge Server will ease the pain of implementation by integrating with existing inventory and supply chain systems. It features support for leading RFID devices and out-of-the-box reporting. Sensor Edge Server also supports the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), so companies can more easily add RFID features to their applications. As Amlan Debnath, Oracle VP of server technologies put it, "We're continuing to look for ways to simplify the process for companies that have been dragged to the table."
For more of the latest information on RFID technology please check out
the sites below:
http://rfidjournal.com
http://www.ala.org/ala/pla/plapubs/technotes/rfidtechnology.htm
http://www.computerworld.com/news/special/pages/0,10911,2305,00.html
