Microsoft Launches RFID Software Project

securitas writes "RFID Journal reports on the first Microsoft RFID software pilot project. Microsoft launched the six-month pilot in December with KiMs, Denmark's largest snack food producer. Microsoft plans to bring the new RFID-enabled supply chain management software (Axapta Warehouse Management) to market next year, targeting small- to medium-sized businesses. The news comes after Microsoft announced its Smarter Retailing Initiative, tools based on RFID and .Net Web services. More on this latest development at CNet and InformationWeek."

Comments

Re:first walmart

[grub]

well, with walmart and microsoft onside it's pretty much inevitable now...

It's only inevitable if you support the system.

Buy from locally owned stores.

Buy locally produced products.

Support companies owned from within your country.

Don't support the big multinationals. They view consumers as nothing more than cattle at the trough.

It's no suprise that Levi Strauss closed its last US manufacturing plant after getting in bed with WalMart to make cheap jeans so consumers could save a couple of bucks while putting their neighbours out of work.

Good news for SMB's...

[TopShelf]

This is good news for the small and medium-size businesses that might not otherwise spring for a more expensive, market-leading solution from a provider like Manhattan Associates. If a smaller biz can jump on the RFID-enabled supply chain bandwagon early in the game, it offers an opportunity to develop their relationship with the big boys like Walmart.

That said, it's definitely not an easy thing to implement and realize savings from. It requires a real white-board redesign of how your product flows from supplier all the way through to customer. I'm sure there will be many examples of companies falling on thier faces doing this, spending resources on capabilities that they never end up fully utilizing.

Re:first walmart

[cgranade]

They view consumers as nothing more than cattle at the trough.

Strange thought: perhaps that's because many Americans are cattle at the trough... consider the inevitable stampeding over Friday-After-Thanksgiving sales. The sad thing about modern marketing? It actually works. People are, in general, so apathetic, that they are glad to be treated like cattle, insofar as they get shiny things.

Now, before I get modded flamebait, please consider what I've said, and recall that I am not ranting against any one person, but against the state of the society as a generality. Thanks.

Growing new market..

[nurb432]

Since the biggest retailer on the planet is mandating RFID, it only makes sense that the largest software company will get on board too..

Just good business sence in this case.. noting much to see..move along.

At the peril of sounding moderate...

[peacefinder]

Publishing warehouse management software with support for RFID is not exactly a big deal. The software presumably had a barcode module before, and now they've added an RFID module. So what? It's just another way to do the same thing. Warehousing is where RFID makes sense. The trouble with RFID has never been in the supply-chain side.

RFID only becomes a problem when active tags escape the market and remain with the end user. Escaped tags are a hardware problem, not a software problem, and trying to bash Microsoft for supporting RFID in warehousing software is just silly.

There are so many good reasons ro bash Microsoft that there exists no need to conjure up bad ones.

Re:first walmart

[SheldonYoung]

It's no suprise that Levi Strauss closed its last US manufacturing plant after getting in bed with WalMart to make cheap jeans so consumers could save a couple of bucks while putting their neighbours out of work.

This is so much oversimplified crap. No matter how much money we save on an item it's just going to get spent on something else.

Lower prices are great help to low income families.

And who says that the person who gained a job because of the extra Wal-Mart business doesn't deserve it just as much as your neighbor?

Re:first walmart

[Frymaster]

Cost overrides quality.

the real problem is factoring the total cost of the product. not just the price.

ask yourself if the "cheaper" product:

• has contributed to local unemployment by relocating offshore. higher unemployment means a slower economy and thus, greater cost.
• does not adhere to high environmental standards. you know who's going to pay for cleaning up the manufacturer's mess eventually, don't you? you.
• has a lower use life through negligence or design. if you buy 2 frying pans in your life at $50 each, it's cheaper than 12 at $10.
• what's the disposal cost of your shiny new widget? you'll pay it eventually through taxes. remember those 12 frying pans.

since there are viturally no laws demanding disclosure by manufacturers, calculating the real cost of products is a left to a lot of guessing and assuming.

my general rules: look for the union tag, pay too much, avoid dubious materials (pvc fr instance), dedicate yrself to buying one for the rest of your life when possible.