EPC-Enabled Enterprise Mobility An Integrated Architecture for RFID Success

There’s Not a Lot of Debate …  RFID is here.. NOW! “Widespread RFID adoption is inevitable and will have a transformation impact on supply chain execution” - Business Integration Journal, 1/04 EPC Pallet and case tagging mandates

We Have a Standard  EPC (Electronic Product Code) enjoys widespread support – no other practical alternative exists  Emerged from the MIT Auto ID Center, driven by leading retailers, CPG companies, and technology companies, including Symbol Technologies and Manhattan Associates  Will continue to evolve – as all standards do

The Business Drivers are There  The benefits are known.. now …  Automatic scanning allows..  Increased accuracy and visibility … drives …  Real-time decision making … drives …  Supply chain efficiencies (cost DOWN).. Plus  Increased responsiveness to customer demand (sales UP ) Sales lifts lowers OPEX improves Supply chain visibility

The Technology Works  Tagging and reading at the pallet level works reliably with the current generation of tags and readers  Tagging and reading at the case level works when cases are singulated on a conveyor or other material handling system

EPC …Pervasive in the Supply Chain

Supply chain is just the beginning … ManufacturingDistributionRetailTransportationHealthcareGovernment EPC will be pervasive.. period

Pilots Today are Defining What is Needed for Success Tomorrow  Pilots are happening today.. And will continue to grow in scope through 2004  These pilots are showing what works.. And where improvements are needed as we move towards a broad rollout at an enterprise scale Lesson learned: What works at a pilot scale may not work at an enterprise scale

Make It work Phase 1 Make It manageable Phase 2 Make It essential Phase 3 Make It ubiquitous Phase 4 The Phases of Technology Adoption Make It transparent Phase 5 DELIVERED

What is Needed to Bridge the Gap?  Integration with other data sources and devices such as bar code, wireless networks, and portable data terminals  Solution suppliers with a proven track record  Integrated, end-to-end solutions  Modular and configurable solutions  Manageable and scaleable reading and software infrastructure  Expansion of existing solutions (WMS, etc.) to include EPC

Meeting the Needs  Capture information in real time at the point of business activity  Move information instantly to and from the point of greatest impact  Manage the unimpeded flow of information and the devices that supply it with exceptional efficiency and security  Provide the benefits of this architecture to the applications and systems that drive business value.. such as Warehouse Management Systems and Transportation Management Systems

An Architectural Solution  A point solution will not suffice  Capture, Move, Manage can only be delivered with an integrated architecture  Symbol’s solution is an integrated Enterprise Mobility architecture = Enterprise Mobility

MoveManage Internet Access Hot Spot WAN Capture Enterprise Mobility Reference Architecture RFID Tag Web Server Database Server MSP

MoveManageCapture Enterprise Mobility Reference Architecture RFID Tag Internet Access Hot Spot WAN Web Server Database Server MSP

Enterprise Mobility Requirements Enterprise Mobility cannot be delivered with only point products. EPC-Enabled Enterprise Mobility

Where Does RFID Fit in an Enterprise Mobility Architecture?  A natural and essential extension of the enterprise mobility services architecture  RFID must be seamlessly integrated in order to achieve its real-world potential  Every bit as important as the other elements of the architecture – just as critical as bar codes, wireless data networks, and management tools

What Does the Market Need? Portal / Gate Reader Forklift Reader Conveyor Reader Hand Held Management Software & Appliances

Device and Data Management  The goal must be to provide management of RFID data and devices as part of an integrated toolset that also manages all aspects of mobility and data capture – i.e. bar codes, portable terminals, and wireless networks  These must be offered as part of a larger integrated enterprise-enabled suite of data and device management tools and appliances (e.g. Symbol’s Mobility Services Platform)  There can be no RFID information islands

What Design Philosophy Will be Needed?  “EPC Plus” – everything you have today PLUS EPC  No functional or performance compromises in any respect  The environment does not change when you add EPC

Example: MC9000-G Terminal Prototype

“EPC Plus”  Integrated high-performance imager engine capable of reading most popular 1D and 2D bar code  Designed with real-world usability in mind – not a “clip on” that will fail at deployment  Lightweight antenna structure to support full shift usability  Directional (60 degree forward) field generation to support read isolation  Innovative antenna design/manufacture technique designed to withstand repeated 6’ drops to concrete

What Can an Integrated Architecture Do?  Adaptive interaction between architecture elements  Example: system detects heavy inbound shipments and adjusts Class of Service (CoS) of wireless VPN upwards to compensate  Only possible with tightly integrated architecture

What Can an Integrated Architecture Do?  Bar code and RFID scanning  Workers can move dynamically between EPC-tagged and bar code tagged object  In a typical mixed environment, transitions may occur within inches and seconds of each other

What Can an Integrated Architecture Do?  Integrated management tools  Single interface for managing a wide variety of devices and data  Reduction in complexity  Reduction in training  Reduction in cost

What Can an Integrated Architecture Do?  Combine data from a variety of RFID reading equipment  Will be a requirement in real world RFID systems  Architecture can present a unified view of RFID data… AND non-RFID data

…Innovation Will Continue  RFID devices must be seamlessly managed in order to derive maximum business value  Market will move toward an increasingly integrated product strategy that seeks to exploit convergence between wireless data and RFID infrastructures wherever possible  Expertise in both RFID and wireless systems will be required to drive this convergence

… closing thoughts  As RFID evolves from pilots to enterprise roll- outs, point products are giving way to RFID integrated with end-to-end Enterprise Mobility solutions  EPC-Ready Enterprise Mobility plus Manhattan Associates – the one/two punch that gives you the power to succeed!

Questions ?