But even with all of this potential to replace barcode technology, if there were not a promise of real return on investment, organizations ­ whether manufacturers, retailers, or others ­ would not be adopting RFID as aggressively as they are.

For the manufacturer, RFID drives labor savings and operational efficiencies that return top-line benefit across production lines and through distribution. Manufacturers can track products through all points of production on and off the line, around the "yard," and even through a product's life cycle ­ potentially driving "real" dump fees at the end of a product's life cycle.

ROI can be measured in terms of impact to labor costs, as well as in reduction of errors via automation, such as reductions in misshipments, lost inventory, and errors in redundant data reads. Productivity gains are also generated by RFID, which enables better management of skilled resources through automation.

For the retailer, the vision of a consumer-driven supply network means real-time demand, signal-sanctioned inventory controls, and management through to their vendor "partners." Empty shelves are lost sales ­ and self-aware products from RFID can enable the efficient management of product through the back door of the store and all the way to the selling floor.

The premise of this ROI model is inexpensive tags and readers able to identify and track each individual object. This enables visibility across the supply chain, from manufacturer to distributor, which increases efficiency throughout. This is accomplished as a result of RFID technology's ability to collect real-time information (where, when, condition) and store that information online, allowing for request-based online access by all value-chain players.

The real focus for RFID, however, is its fundamental impact on enterprise data strategies. RFID has the potential to determine how far a product has travelled through the manufacturing cycle, determining how far downstream it is, and offering true product visibility. This generates tremendous benefits, instantly detailing when a product was manufactured, if a retailer has received it, and where it is now. In this way, RFID ensures consistency of data throughout a business.

In the longer term, the increased data granularity afforded by RFID will allow companies to create, manipulate, and manage transaction data across the enterprise. Furthermore, this data can be shared across cooperative networks that feed the whole supply chain ­ manufacturer, distributor, broker, retailer, and end consumer. The increased data volumes, speed, and "reality" of data will impact storage strategies and storage infrastructure. RFID applications will demand software, hardware, data storage, and security solutions along with core technology implementations.

To illustrate the promise of RFID, let's consider one organization that's beginning to deploy RFID with great effectiveness.

Extra Stores, part of the Metro retail chain in Germany, is utilizing RFID tags for inventory management as part of its "store of the future" initiative. While the effort is designed in part to accustom grocery shoppers to the idea of electronic store management, the primary goal remains cost reduction. The Extra Stores will feature RFID checkout lanes, as well as "smart shelves" that generate real-time information for Metro about how much inventory is left on a shelf. The RFID initiative is helping Metro to alter the method by which inventory is managed, transforming it from a manual chore to an automated one.

Airlines are also considering the use of RFID tags. It is estimated that lost luggage costs the airline industry in excess of $100 million annually. By tracking luggage with RFID tags, airlines anticipate a significant reduction in lost baggage. Any improvements in this area not only reduce the cost of compensation payments to customers, but also significantly improve customer service.

Yet, the airline example aside, the most widespread and common use of the traditional barcodes is within the retail and supply chain industries. It is here that RFID is expected to make its greatest impact.

During the past decade, supply chain management has seen a complete overhaul of traditional logistics procedures as tight integration between warehouses, distribution, and retail has smoothed out duplication and improved time-to-market. Supply chain efficiencies are being driven by improvements in information accuracy and availability. However, further improvements have been constrained by the technology used to track goods through the supply chain. The use of RFID wireless technology changes that, providing organizations with an opportunity to significantly enhance supply chain processes as well as deliver improvements in customer service.

Clearly, RFID presents an extraordinary opportunity for organizations. The technology drives benefits throughout the supply chain, with great dividends for manufacturers, retailers, and ultimately, consumers.