IBM and OATSystems bring RFID downunder

IBM and OATSystems have announced that they will deliver the joint RFID solutions they have marketed successfully overseas to Australia and New Zealand.

The partnership will help Australian retailers, consumer products companies and manufacturers harness the potential of RFID technology in areas like inventory availability, promotions execution and asset management.

The RFID solutions, which OATSystems and IBM have provided for some of the world’s largest industrial manufacturers, retailers and consumer goods companies since 2005, will provide a complete end-to-end RFID service — from ascertaining the business case for change and identifying business processes that need to be integrated through to the implementation, roll-out and maintenance of software and hardware systems.

The service also includes real-time process alerts and analytics, enabling customers to continuously improve supply chain performance.

“An RFID implementation should be about more than just the technology,” said Martin Dolce, business transformation consultant for IBM Global Business Services A/NZ.

“To be successful, business processes need to be reviewed and changed where necessary. That determination can only be made by engaging stakeholders throughout the organisation such as finance, operations and IT. To maximise the value of RFID technology, organisations need to take a holistic view of their business and their key stakeholders within the business.”

According to IBM, Australian businesses have been taking a ‘wait and see’ attitude to RFID, cautious to embrace what is perceived to be a relatively immature technology.

“However with greater accuracy rates, lower implementation costs, packaged applications and increasing benefits being derived from supply chain collaboration, attitudes in Australia are shifting to examine the potential use of RFID,” said Dolce.