Interest Increasing In RFID Applications, Survey ShowsInterest Increasing In RFID Applications, Survey Shows

Customers of IT channel companies have shown increasing interest in radio frequency identification technology and applications, according to a recently released survey.

In the second quarter, the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) surveyed 155 IT companies around the globe, from industries such as services, government, finance, health care, retail, communications, and manufacturing.

Forty-six percent of the companies said their customers they have implemented at least one RFID system. That includes pilot projects and production deployments. That's up from 2007, when 34% of IT companies said their customers had initiated RFID projects.

The survey revealed that the most popular RFID deployments among customers are asset tracking; 32% of respondents said their customers had used such applications.

In addition, 28% of IT companies surveyed said that their customers used RFID for personal identification, 25% said their customers used the technology for supply chain applications, while 15% said it was used for retail marketing. Nine percent of the IT channel companies said their customers used RFID applications for closed-loop manufacturing.

Of IT companies surveyed, 62% said they deliver hardware installation and maintenance to customers, while 46% said they provide consulting, 43% deliver training, and 40% said they implement software.

"RFID offers adopters of the technology a number of benefits, from improvements in manufacturing, inventory, and distribution processes to reduced costs for product theft, spoilage, or obsolescence," Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA, said in a statement. "It's incumbent on our industry, with help from organizations such as CompTIA, to help customers overcome any obstacles to RFID usage and help them benefit from the efficiencies RFID can deliver."