Emerging Economies in Asia and Latin America Hold Promise for Mass RFID Tagging Opportunities

Palo Alto, Calif. — June 27, 2006 — The radio frequency identification (RFID) market has witnessed higher interest levels as compared to similar technologies such as barcodes and wireless networks. The initial hype surrounding the technology is on the decline since 2005 with industry participants adopting a more realistic perspective on the potential benefits of RFID. There is an increased focus on integrating RFID technology to work with existing business process and applications.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (www.autoid.frost.com), World RFID in Retail and Supply Chain Applications – A Supplier Perspective, estimates market revenues to reach $ 2,893.8 (million) in 2012.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis of the World RFID in Retail and Supply Chain Applications – A Supplier Perspective then send an e-mail to Tori Foster - Corporate Communications at tori.foster@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state and country. We will send you the information via email upon receipt of the above information.

“The true benefits of RFID technology in the retail supply chain is likely to materialize only in the face of collaborative efforts by all the trading partners. Isolation of RFID projects along the retail value chain would result in information being owned separately by manufacturers, suppliers and retailers with little or no value proposition in sight,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Priyanka Gouthaman. “Potential benefits to suppliers including accurate demand forecasts and capacity planning strategies are directly dependant on information received from the retailer’s end. An information gap at any point of the supply chain would minimize the optimal gains from RFID adoption.”

The technology presents immediately visible returns to retailers in terms of improved inventory management and demand planning that would result in higher turnover. The value proposition from RFID still remains unclear among most suppliers who are therefore hesitant to invest in full deployments.

“Large retailers such as Walmart enjoy considerable clout over their suppliers on account of their trading volumes,” says Gouthaman. “Most suppliers are therefore adopting RFID technology with a narrow focus of maintaining retailer relations. The ‘slap and ship’ approach being considered by most suppliers is impeding market growth within the RFID industry.”

RFID vendors need to establish the potential benefits of the technology and the positive return on investment (ROI) that would accrue to retail suppliers. Industry participants would therefore need to collaborate among themselves to offer integrated solutions that have had a proven rate of success among the early adopters. Overcoming market apprehensions would prove easier in the face of existing case studies of suppliers who have deployed the technology.

The retail supply chain is increasingly becoming globalized in nature. Manufacturing, assembling, distribution and the ultimate point of sale are no longer confined within a single country or region. The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is gaining significant importance as the manufacturing hub of the world. While most retail mandates are currently confined to specific geographic regions, it is expected that the technology would be employed across global supply chains in the long term.

World RFID in Retail and Supply Chain Applications – A Supplier Perspective is part of the AutoID and Security subscription service, which also includes research in the following markets: North American RFID Markets for Automotive, Aerospace and Industrial Manufacturing, World Retail RFID Markets – A Retailer Perspective, World RFID in Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Applications, World RFID Middleware Markets and World RFID Based Applications Markets. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company’s industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com.

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Tori Foster

Corporate Communications – North America

Frost & Sullivan

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