RFID is being used or evaluated for a growing number of applications across a wide range of vertical industry sectors, according to an online end-user survey by ABI Research. The results of this end-user research reinforce ABI Research's position that the opportunity for RFID is not limited to supply chain management (SCM) or industrial environments.

According to ABI Research director Michael Liard, "The business case and value proposition for RFID is being realized across many types of organizations. The results of ABI Research’s 2007 Annual RFID End-User Survey indicate that RFID’s opportunity is not limited to open-loop supply chain management; other application areas include asset management, security access control, and inventory management in closed-loop environments."

While an increasing number of companies said that they were using, evaluating, or piloting the technology to support a wide number of applications, it remains true in many quarters that "compliance is king": the single most significant driver for RFID adoption remains the mandates imposed by Wal-Mart, the United States Department of Defense, and, in Europe, the Metro Group. Where there’s room for growth and opportunity -- and the survey results confirm this -- is in supply chain-related applications such as tracking at the pallet, case, and item levels.

Not all the respondents use RFID. Some respondents evaluated RFID, but decided not to deploy the technology. The reasons non-users cited for not deploying or evaluating the technology include limited application relevance, the success of existing automatic identification solutions already, concerns about ROI, and a lack of clarity regarding RFID’s potential benefits.

The results of this end-user research reinforce ABI Research’s position that the opportunity for RFID is not limited to supply chain management or industrial environments. "These survey results mirror the patterns and pace of adoption that we have previously forecast," notes Liard. "They provide solid validation for our assessment of the direction of the RFID market."

About the study

ABI Research’s 2007 Annual RFID End-User Survey provides the high-level, top-line survey, including analysis of respondents’ RFID usage plans, primary adoption drivers, operating frequencies being supported, applications, expenditures, vendor sources, and demographics. More than 175 organizations worldwide responded to the survey, providing a detailed picture of the current state of RFID adoption.

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