[LINK] Coonan launches RFID guide

[brd at iimetro.com.au]

The guide is at
http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/41249/Getting_the_most_out_of_RFID.pdf

Coonan launches RFID guide
Michael Crawford
Computerworld
27/07/2006 08:38:52
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;497073536;fp;16;fpid;0

The Minister for the Department of Information Technology, Communications and
the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan used her opening address at the GSI Impetus 2006
conference in Melbourne this week to launch a guide to RFID adoption for
Australian business.

GS1 Australia allocates barcodes and numbering systems for e-commerce, promoting
international standards for item identification, data capture and data
synchronization with trading partners via the GS1 pool.

In the pre-recorded address, Coonan said in many instances Australia is at the
forefront of research into RFID usage and the government committed to helping
all businesses in embracing opportunities the technology offers.

"For many years we have seen the technology work in road toll tags but automated
data capture using RFID systems creates huge scope. It is vital Australian
businesses remain competitive here and overseas," Coonan said.

"The inventory and supply chain is leading the way and the use of RFID to track
pallets and individual stock. It is a revolution every bit as significant as
barcodes were in the 80s.

"Even at this early stage we have seen significant Australian RFID successes and
the case studies in the guide, Getting the Most from RFID, are to help
understanding and provide useful news. The starter guide is aimed mainly at the
SME space and serves as an introductory guide to potential RFID benefits."

A copy of Getting the Most out of RFID is available for download from the
Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts Web site.

Unfortunately though, it seems only a small number of global businesses are
adopting the use of standards for data exchange in relation to business
transactions for RFID tagged goods.

Maria Palazzolo, chief executive officer of GS1 Australia, said business is
maturing in the use of standards for e-commerce transactions, but warned many
do not yet have the basic data standards correct.

"There are 1500 companies in Australia and only a small percentage is taking
advantage of the existing standards [for business-to-business exchange],"
Palazzolo said.

"We don't have the basics right yet and I would like to think of the 1600
companies currently involved that they are doing it right, but they are not. We
have much more to gain from using basic global standards.

Sally Herbert, president of the Global Data Synchronization Network, said a key
part to the data interchange is both retailers and manufacturers keeping
quality data sets. Herbert said data quality is the foundation to data
synchronization with trading partners and cited a recent Global Commerce
Initiative study of implementations worldwide.

The Global Data Synchronization Network connects the data pools of retailers and
suppliers to the GS1 Global Registry.

"The study found 30 percent of current item data is incorrect, which costs
between $US60 and $80 per error to fix, and to cleanse takes about 25 minutes
per stock keeping unit per year," Herbert said.

"Some 60 percent of invoices were found to have errors with 40 to 45 percent of
these involving deductions."

-- 
Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au

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