What is the RFID Business Association ?

The RFID Business Association is a group of RFID hardware, software, and
services companies, technology users, consultants, public policy makers, consumer advocates, and educators who have come together to educate each other on their vision of effective RFID-enabled communications infrastructure, and to systematically eliminate the barriers to adoption of RFID technology in the main-stream business environment, in a manner consistent with standards being developed by EPCglobal, GSMP, ISO, W3C, and other technology and application standards bodies.  

The association is a neutral forum for discussion and education, and promotes interaction of individuals and companies, both formally and informally, through meetings, publications, webinars, and other means.

Why was the RFID Business Association formed ?

The founders of the association perceived the need for more discussion
related to adoption barriers and technology migration for RFID technology.  They also recognized the need for increased interfacing between the “new” RFID technology and the “old” RFID technology (that which is well-established in industrial, transportation, and asset management environments), as well as the wireless data collection and communications industries. 

Does the RFID Business Association compete with EPCglobal ?

Absolutely not. The main purposes of the two organizations are different. Furthermore, they are synergistic. The main purpose behind EPCglobal is the creation and maintenance of technology standards to support product and asset visibility, particularly via RFID and web-based technology. The objective of the RFID Business Association is the promotion of standards-based RFID technology to solve business problems. The association serves as a discussion forum where technology and solution providers come together in a way completely transparent to end user companies, and deal with adoption barriers to RFID technology. The main vehicle for this promotion is education. We expect that companies who interact with each other in the association will be better able to support EPCglobal in its standards development activities.

What makes RFIDa different from other organizations?

The RFIDba is a global organization focused on RFID industry growth
through education. This makes it a truly distinctive organization. Also, the RFIDba endeavors to cover a very wide range of RFID applications and vertical markets in order to find new ways of viewing the best approaches to RFID implementation. Another point of distinction for the RFIDba is the extent of its efforts to blend the “old” applications of RFID with the new EPC-based applications. This approach to implementation and application development will greatly reduce adoption risk and help new users of the technology understand how RFID fits into their overall IT tool set. The RFIDba is putting special emphasis on finding experienced technologists and business process experts from solution providers and end users to develop educational content and provide advice for new RFID users.  In this way the RFIDba is a practical, real-world-oriented institution. Finally, the RFIDba puts great emphasis on economy, and works hard to find the lowest cost approach to accomplishing its objectives.

How is the RFID Business Association managed ?

The most important part of the RFIDba is its collection of special interest
groups and committees.  These are formed on an as-needed basis to meet the needs of the industry as these needs become apparent. The need may be recognized by anyone working in the RFIDba, on any level, and the creation of the committee suggested to the RFIDba executive officers, executive committee, or advisory board. 

The structure of the RFIDba is relatively flat, and the committees are fluid.  Some committees are needed on a temporary basis (from a few weeks to a few years) while other committees are permanent. Within the boundaries of the RFIDba mission and minimal set of operating guidelines, committees decide their own strategic objectives and tactics, pace themselves through their work, and deliver their final products.

What, specifically, will the RFID Business Association produce ?

Because the RFIDba is primarily an educational organization, the RFIDba
will produce educational material.  This material will be presented in a wide variety of forms, including but not limited to …

- Conferences and trade shows
- Seminars and workshops
- Webinars
- Whitepapers
- Newsletters
- Books
- Magazines and Ezines
- Training and certification programs
- Discussion groups

What industries does the RFID Business Association serve ?

The association believes that one of the biggest threats in the RFID world
today is fragmentation of technology and applications. Business risks for solution developers and customers are reduced to the extent that technology and technology application are blended over industry lines. Specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of industries served by the RFID Business Association include the CPG, retail, transportation, durable goods manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and defense industries.

Why is the association focused on RFID ?

The main objectives of the association ultimately deal not with RFID for its
own sake, but with the business benefits that RFID can bring.  Over the past several decades the global business community has been investing in software and communications infrastructure to reduce waste, increase collaboration, and give greater control of operations to managers at all levels.  We believe that RFID deserves its recent explosion in interest because of its significant potential to feed this mass of communications infrastructure with better raw data than could ever be enjoyed using older data collection technologies. RFID can make the raw data “better” with respect to quantity, accuracy, timeliness, and collection cost. RFID is, quite simply, a world-changing technology in the same way that telephones and computers were in the previous century. 

Who created the Association and what is their background ?

The RFIDba was conceived by Harry P. Pappas, a long-time member of the
wireless implementation industry.  Working closely with Brooke Peterson, Stephane Pique, Tom Abbett, Dr. Paul Rasband, and Peter Kuzma. Harry recruited a group of people from various corners of the RFID and wireless industries, and also a variety of user vertical markets to populate the executive and advisory committees, refine the vision of the RFIDba, define its objectives and mechanisms, and launch the organization. 

How is the RFID Business Association funded ?

The association, a non-profit organization, gets most of its funding from
member dues. These are set at levels designed to encourage participation of the widest range of individuals and companies from all parts of the technology and user communities. Rates are a function of company size and type, and all levels are set at the lowest possible level. The association operates in a frugal and fiscally transparent manner, with member-controlled procedures.