RFID Enabled Supply-chain: Harvesting the Opportunities.

Implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology stands to save WalMart $750 million dollars per year. The retail giant has mandated that its top 100 suppliers begin using RFID by 2005. It is believed that other retailers will follow Wal-Mart’s lead. RFID holds the promise for a more efficient supply-chain, however, the industry struggles to comply with the cost and logistics to implement this new technology. This paper present the state of RFID technology and its use in supply-chain management. It outlines benefits to industry and consumers of this new technology and explores issues related to consumer privacy, IT infrastructure, and security that need consideration.