RRFID has emerged as a premier solution for tracking raw materials, work in progress and finished goods through the global supply chain. Embraced first for its cost reduction and accuracy advantages, RFID is regarded as a way to bring visibility and intelligence to the very edge of the enterprise-right down to the individual conveyor, forklift, portal, shipping vehicle and shelf. Hence in addition to reduced time and labor costs, ROI can flow from such benefits as:

• Reduction in out-of-stock problems
• Automated proof-of-delivery and reduced chargebacks
• Enhanced consumer safety and reduced liability
• Improved theft and threat protection
• More timely and more granular business intelligence
• Better product quality and improved sales

Success Drivers
Today's supply chains are immense and complex constructs and the volume of materials and goods flowing through them is staggering. The success drivers for RFID in this dynamic environment include low-cost tags that can be produced in large quantities, interoperable and highly flexible reader solutions, compliance with regional regulatory standards to enable global deployment, and the ability to integrate RFID systems and data seamlessly with enterprise systems and overarching business processes.

Alien Technology is meeting these demands today, starting with low cost UHF RFID tags available-a position enabled by our patented FSA® high-volume manufacturing process. Alien also supplies RFID readers suited for the full range of supply chain environments, including multi-protocol readers for mixed populations of tags, readers compliant with World regularity standards, and Battery Assisted Passive (BAP) readers and tags for accurate extended distance reads and for temperature monitoring and other sensor-driven applications. Alien readers are also enterprise-ready-i.e.: optimized for integrating supply chain data into enterprise networks and processes. This includes the ability to integrate Alien readers with IBM's WebSphere RFID Device Infrastructure (WRDI) and with Microsoft's RFID Services Platform.

Wrapping around Alien's technologies and products is a set of educational and professional services and implementation and software partners. In concert with these partners and by ourselves, Alien has been integral to numerous supply chain management implementations in multiple industries-thus building a base of practical knowledge that is open to customers around the world seeking new supply chain efficiencies.