Radio Frequency ID (RFID) technology is slowly, but surely, changing the way eCommerce works. RFID tags are smart bar codes that are placed on boxes and have the ability to interactively communicate over the web. One of the big leaders in RFID technology is Wal-Mart.
Wal-mart is now testing a way for packages with RFID tags to notify recipients that it (the package) is on it’s way. You may say you already get this advance shipment information from companies like Amazon or from shipping companies like UPS and FedEx. The difference is that with RFID tags on the box, the box itself can tell you it is on it’s way instead of a retailer or shipper’s system. A package cannot really be “lost” when it has an RFID tag on it.
Having the box tell you it is shipping instead of a company computer system may seem like no big change, but it can make a big difference. If every box had an RFID tag and the communications network to send messages to you, then you could receive notification on every package coming your way (not just from just selected stores and shipping companies). See RFID News posting:Automated EDI Transmissions for more on what Wal-Mart is doing with RFID tags.
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Tags: RFID, Transportation