Current and Potential Uses for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) has many uses, and is growing in popularity as a way to track products, transfer payments and are even used in keycards to unlock doors in office buildings across the world! Digital Sabre currently works with businesses seeking to harness the power of RFID. Here are a few current and potential uses of RFID:

Asset Tracking
Asset tracking is one of the most common uses of RFID. RFID tags are put into, or onto, a company’s assets or products to help track them if they are lost or stolen. Currently, just about every type of RFID system is used for asset management, and this effective type of use saves time locating items as well as money in not having to replace lost assets.

Manufacturing 
The RFID technology has been used in manufacturing plants for more than 10 years increase productivity. Part tracking is managed by the use of RFID and can help to reduce defects, create efficiencies, increase through-put and manage the consistant quality production of different versions of the same product. Manufacturers can benefit greatly from what RFID has to offer.

Supply Chain Management
RFID technology is used in closed loop supply chains or to automate parts of the supply chain. Companies are now turning to RFID to track shipments among supply chain partners. Have you ever looked at the label on a package you receive and notice the chip? That is RFID and how you are able to track your package online!

Retail
Popular retailers including Best Buy, Metro, Target, Tesco and Wal-Mart are in the forefront of RFID usage. These technology pioneers are currently focused on improving supply chain efficiency and making sure product is on the shelf when customers want to buy it. Look for RFID tags on everything from clothing to your groceries in the coming year as more retailer take this option. 

Payment Systems
RFID is an emerging technology in the supply chain world, but is also used as a convenient payment method. RFID today is used to pay for road tolls without stopping, or in key-fobs to pay for gasoline. In some countries fast-food restaurants are testing the same active RFID tags to pay for meals at drive-through windows. We expect to see this type of mass-market use to continue to grow in popularity.

Security and Access Control
RFID has been used for years as an electronic key to control who has access to office buildings or areas within office buildings. This is quick and convenient and because there is no contact between the card and reader, there is less wear and tear, and therefore less maintenance. It is possible that RFID will replace traditional keys in homes and vehicles.

As RFID technology evolves and becomes less expensive and more robust, more companies will develop new applications to solve common and unique business challenges. If you think that RFID could help your business–or have an area of manufacturing, security, payment, supply chain or asset tracking that could be made better or more efficient, please contact Digital Sabre and we will assist you in determining the best technology solution.

What is the Philosophy of SaaS?

SaaS (Software as a Service) gives the software users the benefit of using exceptional advanced and pricey software without having to pay staggering costs and investing in installation, maintenance, modifications and understanding of single application software. This strategy is clearly a popular one, since now almost every software application is offered in some sort of SaaS format.

Small businesses have found that by embracing SaaS, they can quickly adapt and remain cutting edge.  Since there is no such an extreme capitalization of investment in purchasing new software, the business can license new software as it comes available.  New software and practices definitely keep any company keen and sharp, so there is much to be said from a modernistic and evolutionary perspective when embracing the SaaS philosophy.

Would you like to learn  more about how Digital Sabre can provide Software as a Service? Check out our white paper. 

The History of SaaS

By the late 90s, it was determined that not every company or organization could handle the requirements of all software needed to be most efficient.  Small firms needed to be able to compete with larger firms, but couldn’t afford the infrastructure investment required to solely purchase certain software.  With only a limited pool of people able to pay for products, software providers found their systems being under utilized – and therefore, under sold. Yet it was clear that there was a market for these enterprise tools. There was a definitive need for subscription pricing along with the hosted delivery and outsourced expertise features. However, the applications present during that time were not capable of operating in the limited bandwidth environment of the Internet.  There was a supply, a demand, but no way to deliver the product. 

Fortunately as bandwidth and competition increased, SaaS providers such as Digital Sabre began to be able to offer this type of software solution to all streams of businesses.  By the new millennium, the world’s internet access and ability had dramatically increased, allowing for SaaS providers and consumers to utilize any program and software they desired.

The availability of Saas has dovetailed into the severe backlash over the software licensing model as software vendors began to increase costs. Many customers believed that once they bought the license, the provider stopped caring about the customer’s problems. SaaS providers have often been perceived to be more responsive to customer needs after the initial sale, and have provided needed software at affordable prices making for a successful partnership of solution, provider and client.

Would you like to learn more about SaaS? Check out our white paper.

Technology and the Law Event

Technology and the Law
Discovery Place
February 9, 2010, 5:00pm

Tonight we will be attending an event in beautiful Uptown Charlotte at Discovery Place. From 5-5:30 there will be some great networking opportunities, (we will be there of course!) and then from 5:30-6:30 there will the presentation and discussion on technology and the law. 

Technological advances seemingly offer better and more precise opportunities to assess crime, monitor criminals and provide heightened surveillance in our lives. Does the application of such scientific breakthroughs in law wrongly erode personal freedom and liberty for the sake of growing collective security and safety? Join Bruce Arrigo, Ph.D., Professor of the Department of Criminal Justice at UNC Charlotte as we explore the case of technology in law and in our lives.

We hope to see you there!

More Info