Summary

Several mandates for RFID usage, notably from Wal-Mart and the DoD, have created critical momentum in the market for the use and adoption of RFID technology. In general, these mandates adhere to EPC standards, however they leave out parts of the EPCglobal Network (such as the global registry) that are under development. The partial adherence to standards as well as the developing nature of the technology is likely to make RFID adoption somewhat complex for the suppliers. However, staying out on the sideline is not an option. If you are a supplier to these entities, you are likely to benefit more by complying with these mandates. Because RFID deployments take time and vary based on the environmental conditions (for example, RF noise in warehouses), you should start pilots as soon as possible to gain experience. In fact, to get the most benefit from the deployment, you should create plans to deploy RFID in other parts of your internal or external organizationsfor example, your supply chain. The information provided in earlier chaptersdeployment frameworks, organizational considerations, cost-benefit analysis, and the vendor landscapeshould help you carry out these deployment plans.