Providing RFID technology support to help implement your program
and succeed
IBM RFID Solutions Centers:
Leveraging IBM business solutions
with RFID technology
As business continues to evolve,
there are few technological advances
that will have as large of an impact
as radio frequency identification
(RFID). Because it has proven to be
an effective tool for businesses, RFID
technology is quickly taking center
stage in today’s marketplace.
RFID technology can help businesses
reduce labor costs and increase
operational efficiency and throughput.
Highlights
RFID technology can reduce overage
as well as shortage claims due to
improved accuracy for shipping and
■ Offer guidance and support to
■ Help you focus on industry-
receiving and inventory movement
help define your RFID technology
specific, business process
data. Retailers have cited an increase
investment roadmap
oriented solutions
in sales from extended supply chain
visibility and improved replenishment
■ Help seamlessly integrate costs
■ Provide deep industry expertise
techniques. RFID technology can help
and improve efficiency returns
to help you meet your business
reduce shrinkage due to increased
through our cumulative
and technology goals
inventory control and visibility and
experience and assessment
lower the cost of stock holding at all
■ Offer strategically located global
■ Provide the expertise to help
seamlessly integrate RFID
technology into your operations
points in the supply chain. Businesses
solution centers to help address
have found that employees are better
your business needs
aligned with processes and systems
within the supply chain and are able
to more effectively meet business
objectives.
IBM RFID Solutions Centers
Page 2
Providing the technical expertise to help
of this technology through the business
protect your revenue stream by being
meet RFID objectives
value of implementing business
compliant to large customer mandates.
As you consider implementation of
process oriented RFID solutions, IBM
RFID you need to define a strategy
can help. Our centers help provide the
Offering specific benefits for specific
that will best leverage the technology
foundation to establish a strategy to
industries
to deliver the kind of returns on
help reduce risk, lower cost and speed
RFID technology can provide specific
investment that are available. IBM
the time to your successful launch. We’ll
benefits for a wide range of businesses
has eight worldwide RFID solutions
help you evaluate various technology
and organizations.
centers for the purpose of sales and
providers and combinations of tag,
engagement support. The IBM centers
fixed reader, handheld reader, printer,
In the retail industry, RFID technology
offer a combination of RFID technical
middleware and other technology
can help businesses to automate
expertise, practical assessment and
components for performance and
management of key business
implementation services, and industry-
compatibility with your product lines.
processes: product receipt / put-
leading innovative solutions that
Our centers can help you identify and
away, product expedition, inventory
place IBM among the leaders in RFID
resolve problems prior to investing in
location / availability, out-of-stock,
technology solutions. Our centers
pilots and rollouts.
shrink, shelf-set, check-out and returns
management. RFID technology can
can help enhance your investment,
and make usage and growth of RFID
Identifying issues to help protect your
also provide out-of-stock triggers to
technology more efficient and cost-
revenue stream
prevent customer disappointment,
effective. We can help your company
The IBM centers can help you establish
obtain real-time supply/demand data
stay ahead of the RFID evolution, while
benchmark performance for your
and enhance customer experience.
allowing you to take full advantage of
products with various individual
Retailers have seen:
this rapidly changing technology.
technology components. They can
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also help you project full system
Helping you lower costs and evaluate
performance, analyze the effect on
technology
your network and IT environment,
Understanding RFID is a good place to
identify integration issues within both
start. From understanding the physics
the wired and the wireless domain
in the enterprise environment and
Lower labor costs
Reduced shrinkage
Improved management of inventories
(reduced out-of-stock and overage)
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Improved resiliency
Additional complementary functions
and features
IBM RFID Solutions Centers
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The transportation industry can
benefit from RFID by helping carriers
accurately verify contract pricing and
reduce claim costs. It can also help
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Inventory and parts management
Shrinkage
Shop floor execution
improve:
Healthcare and pharmaceutical
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Asset utilization and tracking
organizations can benefit from
Volume planning
RFID technology by helping them
Automated sorting
enable environmental monitoring of
Automated data capture
specimens such as blood samples,
Shipment route tracing
anti-counterfeit measures and product
Delivery reliability/efficiency
recall procedures. It can also help:
Manufacturers can benefit from RFID
technology by helping them comply
with government regulations, reduce
gray markets and theft, control labor
and material costs and streamline
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Track hospital equipment
Track patient identification
Prevent medication errors
Track prescriptions
the processing of merchandise in
accordance with its assigned status so
that critical orders are processed before
lower-priority units.
Providing RFID solutions centers to help
you achieve your goals
Each of the eight IBM worldwide RFID
solutions centers has a core focus
and area of specialization in order to
help clients understand everything
from the physics of the RFID core
technology through the business value
of implementing business process
oriented RFID-enabled solutions.
Track samples/vials, etc.
recall procedures. It can also help
In the government sector, RFID
improve:
technology can help implement
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Quality control
homeland security objectives by
Lot tracking
providing real-time access to mission
Inventory accuracy and visibility
critical information that can currently
Asset control and utilization
be viewed in remote regional and field
Contract manufacturing
locations.
Supplier management
Customer relations
Businesses can use RFID to incorporate
Supply chain management
business rules and system alerts based
Warehouse management
on customer order status and dwell
time. This hierarchy of rules manages
Markham, Canada – (Canadian RFID
Centre)
This centre specializes in the food
traceability of refrigerated and frozen
consumer products for retail and
distribution clients.
IBM RFID Solutions Centers
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Key uses and functions:
Facilities include:
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Co-founded by industry associations
and technology partners, including
classroom style for large groups) and
IBM, the centre will:
two informal demo settings for group
- Help manufacturers, distributors
discussions
and retailers to understand how
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RFID technology will enable food
- Provide an industry resource centre
demonstrations, including IBM RFID
Washington, D.C. (U.S.) –
in Canada that will help drive
(Institute for Electronic Government
RFID technology discussions and
Briefing Center)
adoption
This center specializes in global public
- Provide education and training,
attendance being government clients.
expanding as RFID technology
RFID specialists from all areas are
enablement and industry
available for briefing presentations,
requirements evolve
consultation and training as needed.
- Demonstrate the interoperability of
RFID equipment in a multi-vendor
Key uses and functions:
environment
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Facilities include:
5,000 square foot centre that
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simulated supply chain, from supplier
to distribution centre to retail store
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Newly renovated executive briefing
centre
to print, verify and ship
sector briefings with nearly 80%
with the centre’s testing capabilities
demonstrates business processes in a
Large demo area featuring
100+ leading-edge public sector
traceability
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Two executive briefing rooms (one
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Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
(U.S.) – (Retail Innovation Center)
Deliver customized executive level
This center specializes in retail store
briefings and events for public sector
solutions. Experts are available for
clients from government, education
all retail store products, including
and healthcare organizations
point-of-sale (POS) systems, self-
Provide IBM’s thought leadership and
service solutions, software and
expertise to the public sector
more. Customized briefings and
Demonstrate leading-edge IBM public
demonstrations encompass specific
sector solutions
product focus and overall solutions
including enablement of technologies
such as RFID.
IBM RFID Solutions Centers
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Key uses and functions:
for optimal tag readability, based on
Facilities include:
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the unique characteristics of products
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Executive briefing center
Retail innovation center
Customized briefings and
demonstrations for the retail industry
being tagged. RFID technology and
and IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless
conduct training and consultation.
Facilities include:
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Executive conference room
warehouse space, with 6 dock doors
technical experts are available to
Key uses and functions:
Retail innovation center
Deliver client engagements
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Physical RFID testing (both at the
network
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Infrastructure and solution design/
installation/testing
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Up to 650 feet/minute RFID-enabled
loop conveyor
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RFID-enabled dock doors and
warehouse equipment: forklifts and
center and at client sites)
Video conferencing
5,000 square feet of operating
pallet wrapper
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Wireless technology lab
Develop and install client site RFID
lab environments
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Sales and delivery support
Demo IBM’s RFID solution portfolio
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IBM print, verify, ship and IBM
middleware
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Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
(U.S.) – (Wireless Center of Excellence)
This center specializes in hands-on
RFID testing in cross-sector areas
with a focus on distribution. The
testing determines recommended
RFID tag and reader combinations
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Partner technology: hardware and
software from RFID technology
Dallas, Texas (U.S.) – (RFID Global
providers
Solution Center)
Develop delivery assets and resource
This center specializes in complex
training
business solutions, with an RFID
Develop and utilize IBM’s thought
focus on retail, consumer products,
leadership around RFID/wireless
automotive, electronics and
infrastructure and technology
government industries. Certified
IBM RFID Solutions Centers
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information technology (IT) architects
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and specialists representing a breadth
capabilities
of specialties are available to conduct
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briefings and workshops.
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Facilities include:
prototypes
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Provide pre-sales technical support for
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IBM hardware, software and
services
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Partner technology: hardware and
software
Demonstrate IBM’s RFID solution
portfolio
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Inventory visibility
Inventory replenishment
Self-checkout
Facilities include:
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RFID technology integration room for
demonstrations with RFID readers,
tags and middleware
Host RFID-oriented briefings,
including:
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Identification
Build industry business solution
industry solutions
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Supply chain (pick-pack-ship and
three-way match)
Key uses and functions:
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Demonstrate IBM’s RFID technology
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Shared rooms with the Technical
Sao Paulo, Brazil – (RFID Center)
Exploration Center and the “IBM
This center specializes in distribution
Experience” demonstration area,
and integration solutions for clients
providing:
in the following industries: retail,
consumer products, automotive,
aerospace, electronics, industrial
products and chemical and petroleum.
Architects and specialists from the
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Conference rooms
Classrooms
Catering
Hardware and software for proof of
concepts
IBM Software Group and supply
chain consultants from IBM Business
Consulting Services are available to
conduct training and consultation.
Industry solution center
Executive briefing center
Key uses and functions:
Classrooms
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Technology gallery
15,000 square foot solution lab
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Host client briefings for integration
solutions
La Gaude, France – (RFID and Industry
IBM software and services
Solution Center)
Partner technology: hardware and
This center specializes in
software
demonstrating the business value
IBM RFID Solutions Centers
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of multiple industry solutions using
life sciences/pharmaceutical.
around the consumer and it is built to
Testing capabilities built on IBM
reflect a typical supply chain from the
Sensors and Actuators software that
factory to a consumer’s home. Each
to discuss the technical implications.
can demonstrate, test and verify
client visit is custom tailored; a variety
The facility showcases a variety
the integration of multiple RFID
of RFID technology demonstrations
of potential RFID business and
technology partners for a specific
are featured, including:
technical scenarios, demonstrating
solution. This can also be used to
the importance of an end-to-end RFID
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provide RFID asset tracking and
architecture and the critical role of
authentication in end-to-end asset
IBM RFID middleware. This flexible
monitoring solution prototypes.
end-to-end live solution prototypes,
with deep architecture skills on hand
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sales floor
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transportation
possibilities to include multiple IBM
Facilities include:
partners and their associated solution
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The RFID Center offers the following
RFID demonstrations and prototypes:
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Key uses and functions:
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The La Gaude facility is a multi-
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understand the value and implications
of major technologies on their
Consumer’s home
Manufacturing environment
Doctor’s office
Business headquarter office
environment and call center
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Video conferencing
Hospital prototype
End-to-end RFID asset
authentication and monitoring
customers and to demonstrate IBM’s
prototype
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deployment capabilities for RFID
technology solutions with strategic
IBM Sensors and Actuators
software, showcasing IBM RFID
IBM and non-IBM architectures and
business partner integration
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components.
Capabilities include the ability to
solution prototypes for applications
RFID asset tracking prototype
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(customized by client)
center, designed to help clients
provide comprehensive, live RFID
Comprehensive RFID supply chain
prototype
disciplined, business-focused solution
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Distribution including supplier
and retail warehouses and
approach offers a variety of integration
capabilities.
Retail store with back-office and
RFID technologies, like RFID
Tunnnel (pharmaceutical industry)
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In addition, the IBM Industry Solution
Center@ the Forum supports client
in the following industries:
events focused on exploring the
consumer products, manufacturing,
business value of our industry specific
transportation, retail, healthcare and
business solutions. It is designed
Yamato, Japan – (RFID Solution Center)
This center provides RFID technology
solutions for a wide range of
industries. Experts in areas of wireless
technologies and sense and actuator
released software are available to
conduct training and consultation.
IBM RFID Solutions Centers
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Key uses and functions:
the item, case and pallet level (AMR,
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January 2005)
Design and development for
a broad set of target industries, with
IBM Global Services
Route 100
Somers, NY 10589
USA
RFID systems including wireless
particular strength in the financial
Produced in the United States of America
technologies and software
services, industrial, distribution and
12-05
Antenna design and electronic
public sectors.
All Rights Reserved.
IBM is able to provide not only the
IBM, the IBM logo and the e-business logo
are trademarks or registered trademarks of
International Business Machines Corporation
in the United States, other countries, or both.
RFID related technical consulting
including required client pilot tests
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wave simulation to enhance the
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IBM has the vertical strength across
performance and quality of RFID
technical expertise, but also the
systems
industry and domain knowledge to
Evaluation of electromagnetic
sell to constituents that influence
interference by other radio-frequency
the buying decisions for RFID (AMR
noise, obstacles of metal, liquid,
Research, December 2005)
humidity, etc.
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IBM has over 1000 RFID practitioners
worldwide, has conducted over
150 RFID technology solution
Facilities include:
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Executive conference room
RFID solution test lab with a
and electromagnetic wave scanner
facilities
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In addition to RFID technology solution
capabilities provided by IBM’s eight
centers:
The IBM home page on the Internet can be
found at ibm.com
IBM On-Demand Innovation Services
brings IBM research together with
IBM Business Consulting Services.
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IBM has invested more than $1 billion
in wireless research and development
and $250 million in sensor and
Choosing IBM to help you meet your
objectives
Other company, product and service names
may be trademarks or service marks of
others. References in this publication to IBM
products and services do not imply that
IBM intends to make them available in all
countries in which IBM operates.
engagements.
shielded room, an anechoic room
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© Copyright IBM Corporation 2005
actuator technology development.
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IBM has eight worldwide RFID
technology and industry demo centers.
For more information
IBM was cited as a leader in RFID
To learn more about IBM RFID services
technology solutions for effectively
visit ibm.com/services/index.us
demonstrating RFID capability at
G565-1453-00