RFID is getting a lot of buzz, but what can RFID really do for a company?
Gene Alvarez: Traditional bar-code replacement is the [business] model that is getting played up the most right now. If you currently use bar codes for packing and shipping merchandise globally, RFID is something that you should consider. Another use may be in the food supply industry. The single case of mad cow disease found in the United States has spurred [RFID] interest from the beef industry, which wants to use it to better trace beef. But RFID is useful for more than tracking. For example, Exxon Mobile Corp. has introduced Speedpass, an RFID-based alternative method of payment. You can put a key fob on your keychain that contains an RFID tag in it, and it is linked to one of your credit cards. When you pump gas, you put the key fob in front of the pump to authorize payment. You can also use it in the company’s convenience stores to pay for gas and other items. Exxon Mobile is expanding that service to its fast food partners as well. How can businesses set up effective trials and
