==Introduction Rationale ==* Technological developments in RFID are taking place rapidly - [http://www.rfidconsultation.eu/?id_categoria=29&id_item=214 source] <br>* RFID has been spawning a lot of innovation. One of the newest is Jewel, a tiny chip which has been designed for disposable radio frequency-enabled tickets - [http://www.rfidgazette.org/ Source]<br>* Wal-Mart Doubling RFID-Enabled Stores - [http://www.rfidgazette.org/ Source]<br>* U.S. FDA released its final report today on ways to reduce the counterfeiting of prescription drugs - [http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/801/1/1/ Source]<br>* Innovation is occurring in the RFID technology market, but it is diffuse and application-specific - [http://loftwares.blogspot.com/ Paul Faber]<br>* Scientists are developing a system that combines RFID tags and high-definition CCTV cameras to track passenger movements in busy airports <br>* “It’s inappropriate to use RFID technology for tracking and authenticating identities of people” [http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/40808-1.html Pattinson]<br>* CDT Working Group on RFID: Privacy Best Practices for Deployment of RFID Technology - [http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20060501rfid-best-practices.php Center For Democracy & Technology]<br>* RFID sweeps across Europe - [http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2135302/rfid-sweeps-across-europe Frost & Sullivan]<br>* Oracle and Intel join forces for RFID push - [http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2127122/oracle-intel-join-forces-rfid-push Allyson Fryhoff, vice president of Oracle]<br>* Ignorance putting RFID rollouts at risk - [http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2126992/ignorance-putting-rfid-rollouts-risk ABI Research]<br>* Cash under threat from RFID payments - [http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2126822/cash-under-threat-rfid-payments ABI Research]<br>* Oracle boosts supply chain==management tool [http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2125618/oracle-boosts-supply-chain-management-tool Don Klaiss, senior vice president of Oracle supply chain management]<br>
The supply chain is a complex multi-stage process which involves everything from the procurement of raw materials used to develop products, and their delivery to customers via warehouses and distribution centers. Supply chains exist in service, manufacturing and retail organizations. Although, the complexity of the chain may vary greatly from industry to industry and firm to firm. Supply chain management can be seen as the supervision of information and finances of these materials, as they move through the different processes, by coordinating and integrating the flows within and among the different companies involved. The efficiency of the supply chain has a direct impact on the profitability of a company. It is no surprise therefore to find that many large corporate companies have made it a key part of their strategy, and invested heavily in software systems (ERP, WMS...) and IT infrastructure designed to control inventory, track products and manage associated finance. RFID will bring a new dimension to supply chain management by providing a more efficient way of being able to identify and track items at the various stages throughout the supply chain. It will allow product data to be captured automatically, and therefore be more quickly available for use by other processes such as ASN, stock management and real time billing.---
== RFID - Market Potential ==