[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.