SA should push ahead with implementing radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and stop using proposed changes to the frequency allocations as an excuse to delay, says Eurotag chairman Chris Turner.
"The time has come for a co-ordinated effort by all stakeholders in local RFID-related industries to ensure the local adoption of the technology and global alignment," he told attendees of the Afritag Forum at Carnival City, on the East Rand, yesterday.
Afritag is a forum within the Smart Card Society of SA, which like Eurotag, is aimed at helping members address issues and challenges surrounding RFID technology.
Many South African organisations are delaying RFID pilots because the Independent Communications Authority of SA has indicated it intends to recommend revisions to the frequency allocation for RFID. However, Turner cautioned against any further delay.
Turner said revisions to the frequency allocations for RFID could take many months. "In the mean time local organisations should go ahead and use the two allocations in the 915 to 921MHz portion of the radio spectrum that were gazetted in 2004.
"South African organisations should use allocated frequencies and then rally together to pressure authorities to maintain those allocations and ensure alignment with the major world markets to enable the use of imported equipment without the need for modification."
Firmware upgrade
Addressing concerns that changes to the frequency allocations will necessitate hardware replacements in future, Turner said most RFID readers use software-defined radios, which means a firmware upgrade is all that will be required.
Although conceding there are various technical issues that still need to be resolved, Turner said RFID can be used right away to improve supply chain efficiency and manage re-usable assets such as pallets, trays and containers.
"If SA is not to fall behind the rest of the world, local organisations need to start using RFID to learn first hand how their business can best derive benefit from this technology, which should not be considered to be a 'plug-and-play` solution that can be adopted quickly," he says.
Gartner research supports Turner`s position that, while much can be learned from implementations by market leaders, would-be "fast followers" run the risk of losing competitive-edge by not testing RFID and finding the business benefits for themselves.
Turner also dismissed uncertainty around standards as a reason for delaying RFID implementations. He said the ISO 18000 6C RFID standard and framework based on EPCglobal`s Gen 2 specification is an established and global standard.
The Afritag Forum heard yesterday that most large retailers, such as Wal-Mart, and other organisations like the US Department of Defence and the International Air Transport Association, are adopting EPCglobal`s Gen 2 specification.
"SA is not in a position to dictate which standards are adopted internationally and would be best advised to steer clear of proprietary solutions and play by the rules and trends that are being established globally," noted Turner.
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