A Step Closer to Business Process Management



A Step Closer to Business Process Management

Jul-Aug 2008  Print

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an electronic tagging technology that allows an object, place or person to be identified at a distance without a direct line-of-sight, using radio waves.

Organisations have used this technology for several years already. For example, department stores use RFID tagging on clothing to alert the assistant when items are taken to the shop exit.

The technology has gained momentum amongst organisations across the globe. ABI Research recently predicted that worldwide RFID markets will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15 percent through to 2013.

Microsoft released RFID capabilities in its latest version of BizTalk Server 2006 R2 late last year. As a result of this availability and the growing demand of RFID technology, DDLS has launched a BizTalk RFID Workshop in association with Breeze Training.

One of the biggest challenges for RFID has been to integrate RFID data into business process management such as warehouse management system, for example, and then determine whether an action should be taken. A tag on a pallet that was to be shipped two days ago should create a new workflow to alert the warehouse manager of the delay so they can contact the customer.

With BizTalk RFID, management has instant visibility into inventory control and ultimately business and team performances.

Asset Management and RFID Integration for Better Business Performance

At present several major companies including Airbus and Wal-Mart are using RFID. Airbus, for example, uses RFID for electronic support of loan and repair management. By scanning a spare part when it is installed, the repair and flight history of that component will be available electronically. This takes inventory control and repair management to a new level.

In the future the technology is expected to penetrate more deeply across industries including healthcare, retail, industrial, automotive, aerospace and government sectors.

Never before has inventory control and supply chain management been more accurate and accessible. With data such as stock movement feeding directly into an organisation’s ERP system for example, management can monitor sales performance by region and predict future supply shortages.

Microsoft’s BizTalk Server 2006 offers one way for businesses to automate their business processes by linking information to business strategy.

To learn more about this course, you can view the course outline here.