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- Wal-Mart is giving RFID its first broad real world test in the United States by requiring suppliers to begin tracking inventory more effectively by January 1, 2005.
- Leading international grocer Metro has been among the leading retailers testing RFID in its stores in Europe and its Future Store is up and running.
- Consumer product companies such as Procter & Gamble and Gillette are heading up initiatives to use RFID in the supply chain to generate efficiency, savings and reduction in shrinkage.
- The US Food and Drug Administration is asking pharmaceutical makers and distributors to adopt RFID technology within the next three years to combat drug counterfeiting. In a recent report, the FDA promises to assist with RFID adoption throughout the drug-distribution system.
- Regulations that mandate the ability to trace the origins of food are being put in place to control the food chain, solve food scares quickly, and prevent bio-terrorism. In Europe, the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate will come into law on January 1, 2005, and the Bio-terrorism Act in the United States came into effect in December 2003. According to a new brief by Forrester Research B.V., tagging food with RFID tags will help manufacturers and retailers comply.
- A partnership of SIS Technologies and Creative Healthcare Systems (CHS) has been formed to provide RFID integration within healthcare information systems - the solution allows real-time viewing of a patient's medical history when the pharmacy appliance is physically near the patient.
- Yankee Group's new report, entitled "Unlocking the ePC RFID Opportunity Requires Migration Management" estimates that radio frequency identification technology will be a $4.2 billion market by 2008.
- Albertsons Inc., the $36 billion food and drug retailer, said that its top 100 suppliers must participate in its RFID program by April 2005.
- In a report released March 8, consulting firm A.T. Kearney says companies should look for users of RFID that will be meaningful to customers. In particular, A.T. Kearney's report concludes that, rather than touting intangible cost savings to customers, companies should use RFID to keep track of food safety, control the counterfeiting of products, and provide easier access to warranty information.
- Industry leaders including SAP, Intel, IBM, Sun Microsystems, Oracle and Accenture have invested in RFID development and solutions.