The Top 5 Things to See at RFID Journal LIVE! 2015

The 13th Annual RFID Journal LIVE! Conference and Exhibition is right around the corner.  The event will be running from April 15th to the 17th at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.

RFID Journal LIVE! is the largest event in the world focused on radio frequency identification (RFID) and related technologies.  With over 200 exhibitors from around the world, the conference is one of the most important of the year.  This year’s conference program will feature preconference seminars, the main conference (with keynotes and tracks), as well as classes and workshops post-conference.

With over 100 sessions to attend and more than 50 new end-user case studies, there’s a lot to take in over the course of a few days.  Before planning a schedule, consider Lowry Solutions’ recommendations and take full advantage of the event’s offerings:

1. Preconference Seminar: RFID for Warehouse and Inventory Management

The conference agenda features eight preconference seminars on April 15th, including the one on the use of RFID in warehouse and inventory management. RFID offers huge benefits for those struggling with the visibility and management of inventory, especially when integrated with mobile device management solutions to streamline tracking and data access. One of the segments in this workshop is titled “Building Your RFID Business Case,” and it teaches attendees how to measure the impact of RFID on a supply chain’s performance.

2. Keynote: NFL Benefits from Next-Generation Stats and Analytics

Last year, the NFL began utilizing Zebra Technologies’ Sports Solution player tracking system.  This system is able to pinpoint the locations of each player during a game.  Data from the system provides NFL teams with information that either wasn’t recorded before or had to be recorded manually – like how fast/far a player moves or how much time is spent in the huddle.

3. Post-Conference Seminar: RFID in Manufacturing Technical Workshop

This post-conference workshop is perfect for those concerned with the critical issues faced by manufacturers: meeting tagging requirements, tracking work-in-progress, and improving visibility and traceability.

4. Two Co-Located Events

This year, RFID Journal LIVE! is doing something it has never done before – it is hosting the Internet of Things Conference and IEEE RFID 2015.  This is the inaugural year for the Internet of Things Conference, which will feature IoT technology leaders and solution providers.  This conference deals with technologies required to connect things to the Internet, like Wi-Fi and cloud computing.  IEEE RFID is a conference where technical information and research about RFID is exchanged.

5. Speed Networking

RFID Journal LIVE! is offering an hour-long speed networking event that is designed to help match attendees with exhibitors.  There are quite a few interesting things to see at the conference, and this is the perfect way to cut down on time spent looking for exhibitors with the products you’re looking for.

Make sure you save some time to visit Lowry Solutions at booth #736! Stop by to say hello and learn about our industry-leading solutions.  We hope you have an amazing time at RFID Journal LIVE! and can attend all of the events on your schedule.

Making the Most of RFID Journal LIVE!: How to Turn Conference Insights into Business Value

Industry conferences like RFID Journal LIVE! provide much more than an opportunity to explore the latest technologies. They give organizations a chance to evaluate emerging trends, learn from successful implementations, and connect with experts who understand the challenges of modern asset and inventory management. While keynote sessions and product demonstrations are valuable, the real return on attending comes from translating new ideas into practical business improvements.

Focus on Real-World Applications

One of the biggest advantages of attending an RFID-focused event is seeing how organizations across different industries solve common operational challenges. Rather than simply learning about new hardware, attendees can explore how RFID supports everyday business processes.

Some of the most common applications include:

• Inventory visibility
• Asset tracking
• Work-in-progress (WIP) monitoring
• Returnable transport item tracking
• Tool management
• Supply chain traceability
• Equipment utilization

Understanding how these solutions are deployed in real environments helps businesses identify opportunities within their own operations.

Evaluate Complete Technology Ecosystems

RFID technology delivers the greatest value when it operates as part of an integrated ecosystem rather than as a standalone solution. Successful deployments combine hardware, software, networking, and analytics to create a seamless flow of operational data.

When exploring technology providers, organizations should look beyond individual RFID readers or tags and evaluate how each solution integrates with existing systems.

Important considerations include:

Taking a holistic approach ensures that RFID investments continue delivering value as operational requirements evolve.

Learn from Industry Case Studies

Real implementation stories often provide more valuable insights than technical specifications. Businesses can gain practical knowledge by studying how other organizations approached deployment, overcame challenges, and measured success.

Case studies frequently demonstrate improvements such as:

• Faster inventory counts
• Reduced asset loss
• Improved order accuracy
• Greater warehouse visibility
• Lower labor costs
• Enhanced compliance reporting

These examples help decision-makers build realistic expectations and identify proven strategies that can be adapted to their own operations.

Explore Emerging Technologies Alongside RFID

RFID continues to evolve alongside several complementary technologies that enhance visibility across the enterprise.

Many organizations now combine RFID with:

• Internet of Things (IoT) sensors
• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
• GPS tracking
• Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
• Barcode technology
• Cloud-based analytics
• Artificial intelligence for predictive insights

Each technology serves a different purpose, and understanding how they work together allows businesses to create more comprehensive tracking strategies.

For example, RFID may identify an asset within a warehouse, while GPS tracks it during transportation and IoT sensors monitor environmental conditions such as temperature or humidity throughout the journey.

Build a Roadmap for Digital Transformation

Tech events are an ideal time to assess the long-term digital transformation objectives. Organizations will begin developing a roadmap that connects technology investments with high-level operational priorities, rather than simply segueing into a procure-hardware-now mode.

Questions to consider include:

• What manual processes take up the most time?
• Question 4: Where are the inventory errors most frequent?
• What is an asset that is hard to find?
• How can automation minimize repetitive work?
• What data can you use to make operational decisions better than today?

Answering these questions will help businesses focus on the projects that yield concrete and measurable increases in productivity and efficiency.

Strengthen Enterprise Mobility Strategies

Most new RFID implementations are more dependent on mobile workers who can interact anywhere in the facility with real-time data. Rugged Mobile Devices are even simpler devices that include mobile computers, handheld RFID readers, industrial tablets, and wearable devices, which enable employees to gather information and access databases without having to return to a fixed workstation.

An enterprise mobility strategy helps you better secure mobile devices, configure them properly, and keep them up to date all the time. This variety of features supports centralized management, software updates, and device monitoring to keep business continuity while enhancing the protection of critical operational data.

The combination of RFID and enterprise mobility streamlines workflows, minimizes inventory inaccuracies, and enables mobile employees to use data-driven insights at the point of activity!

Prepare for Successful RFID Implementation

Implementing RFID successfully requires careful planning. Organizations should evaluate their operational goals before selecting hardware or software.

Key planning considerations include:

• Identifying assets or inventory to be tracked
• Defining business objectives
• Selecting appropriate RFID tags and readers
• Evaluating environmental conditions
• Planning system integration
• Establishing performance metrics
• Training employees on new workflows

A structured implementation approach helps minimize disruptions while maximizing return on investment.

Partner with Experienced Solution Providers

One of the most important factors directly impacting the success of an RFID initiative is picking the right technology partner. In addition to hardware, mature solution providers also offer a full range of consulting, deployment, integration, training, and long-term support during the project lifecycle.

Lowry Solutions takes RFID technology and combines it with enterprise mobility, industrial printing, barcode systems, IoT devices, and its own proprietary Sonaria platform to help organizations develop turnkey end-to-end tracking solutions. Leveraging these technologies together with ERP and warehouse management systems offers an all-real-time view of the assets, inventory levels, and operational performance.

Lowry also offers hardware lifecycle management, managed services, and technical support to help organizations stay up and running long after deployment.

Turning Knowledge into Competitive Advantage

Events like RFID Journal LIVE! This highlights the pace with which tracking technologies evolve, but much of the value lies in applying those insights as part of day-to-day operations. Any organization that constantly explores new technologies, seeks lessons from peer businesses, and invests in scalable solutions is likely to win by improving efficiency, enhancing supply chain visibility, and addressing growth effectively.

Whatever the purpose may be — scaling warehouse operations, improving manufacturing traceability, increasing asset utilization — RFID channels coupled with integrated enterprise technologies lay the foundation for better decision-making driven by data. Simply put, businesses can turn the knowledge gained from a conference into tangible results if they concentrate on practical application and long-term vision.