Sybase says its RFID Anywhere 3.0 breaks new ground with the delivery of a context-aware location information system, allowing companies to track other data, such as temperature, at a particular location.
The updated version of the software includes new support for real-time location systems and active RFID technology, as well as an increased ability to track mobile RFID and forklift readers.
RFID has long been touted as the future of logistics for all companies by allowing retailers and suppliers to track goods throughout the supply chain.
One of the key areas of concerns for early adopters of RFID is how to make intelligent business decisions based on the massive amount of data created byRFID, said Curtis Price, programme director at IDC, an analyst.
"The enhancements made to Sybase's RFID software platform address this issue and provides an increased level of value by combining RFID into an intelligent sensor network,"Price stated. "Asset tracking is one of the applications that IDC believes is driving early deployments of RFID, and the new release of RFID Anywhere provides a common infrastructure for managing and tracking assets, as well as obtaining contextual information from the data collected in a sensor network. This allows businesses to derive greater value by making better informed decisions."
Sybase suggests that the software could allow a produce distributor to correlate the temperature of its goods alongwith location and time data to know exactly where and for how long a given item was exposed to certain environmental conditions such astemperature or humidity.
"This information allows these organisations to make real-time decisions regarding the distribution of the goods toreduce spoilage, thereby increasing profits," Sybase stated.
"We're seeing that companies are looking for a single solution that gives them the ability not only to track their assets, but also to provide business context to them," said MartynMallick, iAnywhere's director of RFID and mobile solutions unit. "RFID Anywhere's Location Information System is able to add location awareness and business intelligence to the sensor network, providing context-sensitive, real-time views of the enterprise."