Orlando, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/14/2011 -- Leading radio frequency identification (RFID) software and asset management solutions provider epcSolutions, Inc., announces the world’s largest successful “Internet of Things” (IOT) implementation in partnership with iGPS Company, operator of the world’s first pallet rental service, providing all-plastic pallets with embedded RFID tags.
The Internet of Things was conceived by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Auto-ID center. In the IOT vision, everyday objects are networked with one another through RFID sensor networks, providing real-time visibility and allowing “intelligent” interaction between them. The Internet of Things is predicted to be the next generation of Internet where billions of items communicate with each other, as well as to people.
“The Internet of Things is no longer merely a vision of futuristic fantasy idealized in academia and unattainable by the masses. The future is here and the future is now. As the marketplace embraces RFID, whether motivated by efficiency or competition, RFID hardware manufacturers can leverage greater economies of scale, allowing hardware prices to drop,” said David Russell, Vice President of Operations at epcSolutions.
iGPS, operator of the world’s only large scale pallet rental service providing state-of the art plastic pallets with embedded RFID tags, tracks their assets as a Maintenance and Repair Organization (MRO) from asset creation, and their pallets travel through Fortune 100 manufacturers, five-person factories, distribution warehouses, big box retailers, and field-deployed recovery teams alike. Each iGPS pallet is embedded with a GS1 compliant RFID tag serialization method known as a Global Reusable Asset Identifier, or GRAI.
The more sophisticated manufacturers use the GRAI of the iGPS pallet as their serial number for tracking pallet-level inventory. Empowered with this built-in serial number, these future-thinking companies boost efficiency by automatically and unerringly directing manufacturing line Programmable Logic Control (PLC) devices, robotic forklifts and tracking product movement through their value chain and out to a distributor, co-packers, and to the retailer.
Sophisticated retailers in this model use the iGPS pallet’s embedded RFID tags to validate that the shipment arrived as expected using automated, networked RFID readers that communicate this data back to the manufacturer, quickly identifying any issues for immediate resolution.
“Our RFID enabled pallets, as they travel throughout the supply chain, allow our clients to strengthen their relationships with their end-customers while capturing and understanding value chain data in an innovative way through epcSolutions’ RFID solution,” said Jack Sparn, Chief Information Officer for iGPS. “The proven scalability of this solution improves efficiency between all partners. With the data available in our central repository, patterns and trends are spotted instantly, enabling adjustments to further streamline the supply chain process.”
With iGPS’ pallets traveling between thousands of locations, this implementation of the Internet of Things generates millions of RFID read transactions daily, all transmitted to their home office using industry standard protocols and encryption. This timely and accurate data collection allows iGPS visibility into their entire inventory so they can make important billing, manufacturing and logistics decisions. Implementation of the initial solution required only six months for a full deployment, with additional functionality and sites being added to the network regularly.
“With the convergence of RFID technologies transmitting via Ethernet protocols, Alien Technologies has an opportunity to become a market leader, as companies with the most IOT-equipped products and services will prevail,” said Patrick Ervin, Vice President of World Wide Sales. “Our integration with epcSolutions provides seamless visibility, from pallets and cases to individual items, leading to higher yields of productivity and lower costs as they pass through a network of Alien RFID readers.”
“With these market motivators combined with global standards through GS1, we will collectively trigger the ROI tipping point that allows solutions like our IOT RAMP framework to provide end-to-end visibility of any asset at all times to improve global efficiency, reducing the carbon footprint of humanity, and eventually making a global Internet of Things possible,” Russell continued.
epcSolutions’ RFID software and communication infrastructure used in the world’s largest Internet of Things implementation is publicly available as the Internet of Things Reusable Asset Management Platform™ (IOT RAMP™). To learn more about epcSolutions’ IOT RAMP™ or to receive a DVD containing an in-depth analysis of this case study, contact epcSolutions by email at Sales@epcSolutions.com or by phone at (703) 757-4470.
About epcSolutions
epcSolutions, Inc. (http://www.epcSolutions.com) operates the world’s largest and most scalable and distributed Internet of Things implementation using RFID and GS1 compliant communication. Since 2004, with over 200 implementations a month and thousands of installations of our RFID software in over 10 countries, their Internet of Thing Reusable Asset Management Platform™ (IOT RAMP™) allows communication between things themselves at any time, in any place, providing rapid connectivity for everyone and everything.
About iGPS
iGPS operates the world’s first pallet rental service providing shippers and receivers with lightweight, 100 percent recyclable all-plastic pallets with embedded RFID tags. Its highly engineered platform—the world’s most advanced shipping pallet—is rapidly replacing wood as the platform of choice among the world’s most innovative companies. Businesses that switch from wood pallets to iGPS realize game-changing savings—as much as $2 per unitized load—thanks to lower transport costs, reduced production downtime, reduced product damage and fewer rejected loads. iGPS’ pallet is also a major advance in supply chain hygiene—a platform that is easily cleaned, will not absorb fluids that can lead to contamination and never requires treatment with toxic pesticides and fungicides. An independent life cycle analysis has documented that iGPS’ solution is dramatically better for the environment than both one-way and multiuse wood pallets. Launched in March 2006, the company has created nearly 2,000 new green jobs in the U.S. and is led by pallet and supply chain veterans with decades of experience. iGPS (http://www.igps.net) is headquartered in Orlando, FL and operates its state-of-the-art National Sales and Innovation Center in Northwest Arkansas.
About Alien Technology
Founded in 1994, Alien Technology (http://www.AlienTechnology.com) is the only RFID company that provides a complete solution of world-class UHF Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Integrated Circuits (IC), tags, readers and professional services. Alien Gen 2 products, along with software solutions from partners, help solve business problems for customers to improve productivity, processes, security and asset tracking for closed-loop and supply chain systems.
Media Contact:
MMI&D Marketing
epcSolutions, Inc.
sales@epcSolutions.com
(703) 757-4470