[Late] Comments on EPC Connection 2008

Wow, time flies when you're having fun! It has already been three weeks since we were in Chicago for RFID Journal's EPC Connection 2008. I wanted to post comments for those who were not able to make it this year.

First, the conference was much smaller than last year in the number of exhibits. At first it was almost shocking. But, in talking with folks it sounds like the shift was intentional. It caused you to focus more on the presentations and the work that is being done in the industry, rather than the latest gizmo demonstration. As much as I enjoy gizmo demonstrations, I also get a great satisfaction seeing people apply the EPCglobal standards and see benefits. It reinforces what I always pitch as the best reasons for standards: driving toward the best solutions, and interoperability. With the variety of industries and processes in which RFID is being used it is refreshing to see the flexibility of the Gen 2 standard and how it can be made to work in so many different solutions. It's exciting to see how people are using RFID to solve problems.

Another interesting point I noticed is that it is becoming less and less about RFID, per se. While RFID is still talked about as a technology and is underlying to the stories we hear from those in industry who have put it to work, it is clear that RFID has arrived as a technology. People are focusing not on the technical aspects but on the applications and processes. As it should be, it's becoming more about the data and how we integrate and use it.

We keep hearing that "next year" will be the big year for RFID to take off. Maybe it already has. Or, maybe when it does we won't notice as much because we will have taken it for granted. After all, who's impressed anymore with PC's or the internet? It's about getting stuff done. And that is what is so cool about EPC Connection: hearing how people are using the EPCglobal standards and getting stuff done.

RFID and Innovation

Recently, Chris Wassel and I spent a couple days at the Collaboration 2008 Conference sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.  The conference focused on bringing together members of industry, the economic development agencies, and those involved with entrepreneurship and innovation.  Our goal was to meet folks from across the state and share with them our mission of helping businesses become more efficient in their processes with RFID.  There were two points made about the current business climate that I would like to share with you and one about education.

First, in today’s global economy, the willingness to innovate to remain competitive is crucial.  It used to be that proximity to markets decided who got the work.  If some one needed work done, they looked around the region to find a provider of that product or service who could do it at an agreeable price.  Today, that company may be in China or India and may be shipping the product across the ocean, or providing the service over the internet.  In order to compete, companies are finding that they can only compete if they innovate and improve their process to be able to compete on price or quality, or both. Those who refuse to innovate will not be able to rely on the fact that they are close by.

The second business point is the use of Information Technology.  It used to be that IT was either a back room where “the computer” was located, or more recently IT was focused on converting business processes to being done on PC’s and then supporting those PC’s.  Now IT is more about ubiquitous information and how to best use it.  As I looked around the conference, I saw that about a quarter of the people were constantly checking their Blackberries and reading emails.  This used to be something you had to wait to do at your desk in an office.  Businesses must make good use of their data and make it portable.

Lastly, the point about education, or maybe it’s more of a challenge.  How do we teach kids about being entrepreneurs?  How do we teach them about investing time, money, and a part of themselves to grow an idea into a business?  Young people typically are more open to risk than older.  Look at skateboarding for example!  But how do we connect them with the working world to get them thinking about the math, science, and business ideas that they will be using in their future while making it fun and interesting at the same time so they can take out some of the sting to risk?

How does this tie in to RFID?  Well, RFID is a bit of a gamble for many companies who are thinking about implementations.  Many of those who have tried it have had great success, both in the technical sense as well as the financial. But, it is still hard for many to see how to make it pay.  RFID is part of the information wave.  It gives us the ability to sense the world around us and merge that data with others and use it for our advantage.  Companies that are global in scope are adopting RFID to gain an advantage in their supply chain visibility and to control processes.  Do we have to wait for the next generation to accept the challenge?