For years, RFID technology has suffered from an image problem in manufacturing circles, where retailer mandates forced the technology's introduction and left some plant managers and operational folks with a bitter aftertaste. As the industrial adoption rate has ticked sluggishly upward, some RFID technology providers have headed for more lucrative shores, spending their R&D dollars on consumer- and healthcare-focused applications, such as pet tracking and medical equipment tracking. In the wake of those defections, questions emerge: Is RFID in manufacturing at a standstill? Have providers covered all the terrain they're going to cover with applications for work-in-process, tools, and people tracking?
The answer to both questions is an emphatic "no," according to experts. That's probably to be expected. After all, analysts who cover the RFID industry have tended to display a relentless optimism, even during periods of stagnation. From the analyst ranks, the outlook for RFID is almost unerringly upbeat, a fact that has contributed to the technology's image problem.
Indeed, a recent study by RFID researcher Burnell Reports found that prospective RFID customers "are harder to influence than ever before," and that "eight of the 10 most recognized RFID leaders had their recognition rankings decline from the original industry leadership study conducted in 2006."
Still, the rah-rah forecasts stem from a belief that the technology works, and works well. The truth is, RFID remains a rugged frontier, with many areas of adoption still unsettled.