Kamarajar Port to deploy RFID

Kamarajar Port Ltd., (KPL) is all set to implement a full-fledged Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system from November 30 onwards to track movement of men, materials and laden vehicles within its premises on real time basis. The implementation of RFID system is one of the initiatives of Ease of Doing Business under the Shipping Ministry. The implementation of it will benefit trade immensely in terms of time and cost reduction.

Barcode Printers Market to grow beyond $3.8 Billion by 2024

The global Barcode Printers Market value is projected to grow beyond USD 3.8 billion by 2024. Barcode printers are specialty printers which facilitate the printing tags or barcode labels that are openly printed on or connected to physical objects. They are usually used to tag cartons or retail objects with European Article Numbers (EANs) or Universal Product Codes (UPCs) prior to shipment. They also find usage in printing barcodes on wristbands for individual recognition in hospitals or events.

Key products are industrial printers, desktop printers, and mobile printers. Mobile printers are mainly used by organizations sales employees for tickets, printing receipts, and labels, irrespective of the place and name. Desktop printers can be used for printing low to mid-volume labels, wristbands, receipts, and barcode. Industrial printers can also be used for high volume purpose counting order labeling and warehouse labeling. They are intended to function 24/7 in callous environments for mission critical operations.

Gauhati University students get smart cards

Amid the cash crunch triggered by the demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, Gauhati University (GU) has decided to introduce cashless transaction through smart cards. The university has already distributed the cards among students and the cashless system will soon become operational. Those who have not received the cards yet will do so soon.
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Five Easy Ways To Build Security Into The Internet Of Things

IoT security is at the forefront of everyone’s mind these days due to a huge uptick in DDoS attacks coming from our newly connected devices. So far, we’ve seen DVRs and video cameras fall victim and become mindless drones in a malicious botnet army. After 20 years of partnering with enterprises to build software that deploys inside, outside and around their firewalls, I’ve learned that there are a few basic things we should always include when creating new IoT solutions to protect our creations and our companies.

Starbucks takes mobile payments to 260 stores in Indonesia

Customers at coffee chain Starbucks in Indonesia can now make mobile payments at 260 stores nationwide by scanning a barcode at the point of sale using the company’s mobile app and completing the payment using a registered Starbucks Card. Starbucks“Customers can register multiple Starbucks Cards onto their account, all of which are linked to the Starbucks mobile app,” Starbucks says. “In addition to mobile payment, the Starbucks Indonesia mobile app puts the latest information on Starbucks products at customers’ fingertips with an easy-to-browse menu of beverage, food and merchandise as well as a convenient store locator.”

3 Ways High Tech Barcode Scanning Can Transform Supply Chain Efficiency

A product’s packaging and barcodes are vulnerable to damage during its entire journey through the supply chain, whether handled by humans or machines. Redundant information and error corrections are typically included in both 1D and 2D barcodes to ensure readability, despite any damage that could occur to the label. Some of today’s barcode scanning software includes algorithms that offset misprinted barcodes, such as blank lines from broken printer pins.

Barclays pilots cash withdrawals using NFC mobile phones and contactless cards

UK bank Barclays has begun piloting a contactless mobile cash service that will enable customers to withdraw cash with a tap of their NFC mobile phones or contactless debit card. The service is scheduled to be rolled out to more than 180 bank branches in the new year, and will be enabled on more than 600 in-branch machines. Customers will be able to pre-select the amount they want to withdraw through the Barclays Mobile Banking app and then tap their phone on the contactless reader to withdraw their cash within 30 seconds.

Thuraya joins Internet of Things industry group

Mobile satellite services operator Thuraya announced Nov. 21 that it is joining an industry group that develops standards for the “Internet of Things” (IoT), a market that has the potential to generate significant demand for satellite services in the coming years. The Dubai-based company has become the second satellite operator to join the LoRa Alliance, a nonprofit that creates IoT standards. It follows Inmarsat, which became a member in February this year, helping the organization factor in the capabilities of satellite technology when creating new standards.

France Brevets Licensed NFC Patents to Taiwanese Giant HTC

French technology firm France Brevets recently announced that they have granted to Taiwan-based mobile device giant HTC a worldwide patent license under their NFC Patent Licensing Program for use in HTC’s products. The NFC Patent Licensing Program, fully managed by France Brevets and their affiliate NFC Technology LLC, now offers NFC patents from both INSIDE Secure and Orange, as well as patents acquired by France Brevets and patents owned by NFC Technology LLC.

LotteCard to use Gemalto contactless stickers for NFC mobile payments

Korean credit card network LotteCard is using digital security giant Gemalto’s Optelio Contactless Stickers to allow its customers to make NFC mobile payments at 35,000 stores throughout South Korea. “The miniature size sticker is one third of the size of a standard banking card and designed to adhere to the surface of any mobile phone,” Gemalto says. “The sticker also doubles as a credit card for online shopping.”

RFIDsecur Offers Unusual Method of Protecting Contactless Payment Options

Security in mobile payment systems is instrumental in people’s continued and growing use of same. That’s why new tools are constantly emerging to fight data breaches and other hacker-driven incursions, and one of the latest—now going through Kickstarter—is delivering highly-portable protection for payment cards: RFIDsecur. RFIDsecur is built around a proprietary polymer film which acts to effectively block RFID access when a payment card isn’t actively being used. This isn’t exactly a new concept—the idea of RFID-blocking card sleeves and wallets have been around for some time—but this may be the first time I’ve seen it reduced down to a simple film sleeve.

Amcor Uses NFC RFID for S.M.R.T Pill Dispenser

Amcor Rigid Plastics, a division of Australia-based packaging company Amcor, has announced the release of an RFID-integrated pill-dispensing solution. The battery-powered system, known as the "S.M.R.T Bottle" (the initials stand for separate, monitor, release and track), has a clock-calendar function that registers and stores the time, date and number of each dose taken. Smartphones equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality can then read, display and transmit the information.

U.S. lawmakers balk at call for IoT security regulations

The U.S. government needs to pass regulations mandating internet of things security measures before device vulnerabilities start killing people, a security expert told lawmakers. A massive distributed denial-of-service attack aided by IoT devices in October "was benign" because a couple of websites crashed, said Bruce Schneier, a veteran cybersecurity researcher and lecturer at Harvard University. But the next attack may be more dangerous.

STAR Systems International Releases New RFID Vehicle Hang Tag

STAR Systems International, a RFID Hardware, Tag and Professional Services provider, announced the introduction of its new GATRIA vehicle "hang tag" for parking, access control, and other automotive identification applications.

Designed for ease of use, high performance, portability and reusability in automatic vehicle Identification applications, the GATRIA can be hung on a vehicle's rear view mirror, providing fast and reliable RFID detection and identification in a portable and reusable form factor.

GATRIA is an excellent option for applications that require temporary or portable vehicle identification functionality, with the same accuracy and reliability provided by STAR Systems' permanent RFID labels and tags. GATRIA is perfect for use in applications such as: access control, temporary guest vehicle access, seasonal parking, fleet management, automotive service and repair stations, automotive dealers, car washes, etc

Metro Bank tests smartcard payments on the blockchain

SETL, Deloitte and Metro Bank have successfully demonstrated a contactless blockchain smartcard retail payment system for 100 customers of the UK-based challenger bank. The project is part of SETL's FCA Sandbox participation, which creates a ‘safe space’ in which businesses can test innovative products and delivery mechanisms in a live environment, while ensuring that consumers are appropriately protected.

Avery Dennison: RFID Growth To Drive Future Growth

Avery Dennison operates what many could interpret as a boring business, but that doesn't make it a poor value. It has been a stealthy value play for years now, and many in the market appear to continue to miss the company's improving outlook and competitive advantages within the markets it operates. So what are these "boring" business lines? Broadly, the company operates within two operating segments: Pressure-Sensitive Materials (producing tags, labels, graphic films) and Retail Branding and Information Solutions (RFID trackers, price ticketing, and general brand protection and security solutions).

RFID to be a mahor development in airport baggage handling

According to a new market report published by Lucintel, the future of the global commercial airport baggage handling system market looks good with opportunities in the conveyor system, scanner, and sorting device market. The global commercial airport baggage handling system market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2016 to 2021. The major drivers of growth for this market are construction of new airport terminals and the expansion of existing facilities.

In this market, barcode system and radio frequency identification system (RFID) are some of the major segments. On the basis of its comprehensive research, Lucintel forecasts that the RFID segment is expected to show above average growth during the forecast period.

Within the global commercial baggage handling system market, the conveyor system segment is expected to remain as the largest market. Newly constructed and upgraded airports will be equipped with interlinked baggage conveyor system, which would spur growth for this segment over the forecast period.  Europe is expected to remain the largest market due to tightening of the airport security standards and increasing investments in the terminal expansions.

Emerging trends, which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the industry, include the introduction of home-printed bag tag solutions to enable the passengers in printing their own bag tag at office or home, development of auto bag drop solutions, and hybrid check-in system for passengers to help the airlines in managing long queues effectively. Vanderlande Industries B.V., Siemens AG, Beumer Group, Daifuku, and Pteris Global Limited are the major baggage handling system manufacturers in the global commercial airport baggage handling system market. Some companies are opting for merger and acquisition as strategic initiatives for driving growth.

Apple’s NFC restriction hits mobile payments innovation, Australian banks claim

The group of Australian banks taking on Apple over access to the NFC technology within iPhone handsets says the restriction is not only preventing the introduction of mobile wallet services across multiple platforms but also proving detrimental to continued investment into mobile payment apps. In a 27-page submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) this week, the four banks insist Apple’s restriction is fragmenting the customer experience and, without access, there “simply will not be the same incentives and ability to innovative” on either the iPhone platform or other alternatives.

North Korean shoppers use barcodes to find South Korean goods

The demand for South Korean-manufactured goods in North Korea is rising. Consumers in North Korea have learned that the first two digits of a product’s barcode serves as the country code, identifying the origin of the company that made the product. While the sale of South Korean products is expressly forbidden by the North Korean authorities, consumers in the past have euphemistically referred to such items as “products from our Southern neighbors,” or “clothes without tags,” in order to circumvent uncomfortable accusations. But a new expression is rising to prominence these days. The number 88 is the country code that indicates a company is of South Korean origin.

Global Smart Labels Market witness a compound annual growth rate of 12.06%

Global Smart Labels Market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 12.06% over the period 2015 to 2021. This double-digit growth is on account of increasing application of smart labels across different industry verticals. Benefits like reliability and simple functionality are further driving the demand for these labels.

Other advantages of smart labels are theft protection and prevention against counterfeiting, which will further boost the demand for these labels over the forecast period. Retail industry accounts for the bulk of smart labels demand and with increasing investment in this sector in developing economies, the sector will continue to maintain its dominance in smart labels market over next half a decade.

River Island and Decathlon ramp up RFID usage

River Island and Decathlon are in the process of large-scale RFID deployments, with both companies rolling out the technology as they look to improve inventory management. Two large European retailers are continuing their wide-scale RFID deployment as they look to the technology to help solve various pain points in their businesses, including inventory management, reducing loss prevention and boosting stock accuracy.

SML expands RFID education with global technology centers

SML-RFID has inaugurated a technology center in Mettmann, Germany as it seeks to satisfy a ‘growing appetite’ for RFID information, guidance and production. The RFID Solution Innovation Center is described as a ‘complete RFID resource’ by SML-RFID, a subsidiary of SML. It houses RFID tag testing, and RFID hardware/software demonstrations and application, including the ability for retailers to test RFID in the configurations they require for their own use.

Altova Adds Support for Barcodes & Automated App Testing in MobileTogether 3.0

Altova announced the release of MobileTogether Version 3.0, its cross-platform mobile development framework for building native apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and other devices.

Version 3.0 ships with an impressive array of new functionality, from developer-requested features such as barcode scanning and automated testing support, to flexibility improvements in the form of multi-level stylesheets and print-to-file functionality, all of which will give MobileTogether developers the edge they need to build sophisticated apps faster than is possible with other solutions.

"MobileTogether delivers the two most important keys to the mobile development kingdom: time and sophistication," said Alexander Falk, CEO and President of Altova. "These new features only add to the platform's ability to help developers build the most sophisticated apps possible while still delivering on MobileTogether's promise of record time-to-market." 

MobileTogether now lets developers build apps that include barcode scanning, with support for the most popular linear and 2D barcode standards. This immediately makes MobileTogether apps even more useful in a variety of vertical industries.  Developers can also give end users the ability to open files such as PDFs, image files, text files etc. that are stored on the client device from within an app.

HID Global Announces OSM Multitech Smart Card

HID Global has announced a new smart card for identity applications. Called the OSM Multitech card, it’s “one of the most secure citizen ID cards on the market,” according to a statement from the company.HID Global Announces OSM Multitech Smart Card. The card allows issuers to laser-engrave biographic information on its front and encode data on its OSM stripe on the back, and to include further identity data on an embedded chip.

American Woodmark lauded as a standout in RFID production applications

Cabinetry manufacturing giant American Woodmark earns attention for its broad application of radio frequency identification chips (RFID), used to track materials at seven of its nine factories. RIFD is seen as a key factor in raising worker productivity, which has been in decline across the U.S., despite computerization of individual machinery. RFID, along with barcode identification systems, is seen in larger as part of the process for automating the links among machinery, work in process, and to order entry through delivery of cabinets and vanities. 

₹2,000 note won’t have nano GPS or RFID for tracking

In a surprise move made by India’s NDA government to curb black money transactions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that effective midnight of November 8th, ₹500 and ₹1000 currency notes would be demonetized and considered illegal. Further, they will be replaced by a new ₹500 note and a brand new ₹2,000 note that would be in circulation from November 10th, according to the RBI (Reserve Bank of India). Soon after the announcement was made, a WhatsApp forward began doing the rounds that said that the new ₹2,000 note would have a ‘Nano GPS Chip’ – aka NGC – that can be used to track the notes from anywhere via satellite, even if they were buried deep underground.

UK consumers say mobile payments are ‘life changing’

More than one third of UK consumers describe mobile payments as “life changing” while 57% say the same thing for contactless transactions, research by UK bank Barclays reveals. “Shoppers are more likely to visit a store kitted out with virtual reality (57%), smart fitting rooms (57%) or augmented reality (52%),” the research also reveals.

Greater IoT Proliferation is Possible Through RFID-Tagged Smart Paper

Paper is one of the most ubiquitous materials on the planet. As a medium, it can assist the IoT world by being implemented with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), which can turn normal paper into a responsive medium of communication. Its applications include supply chain inventory tracking, as well as retail and warehouse storage. The thin, low-cost tags can also be printed onto currency, legal documents, and concert tickets, helping to combat counterfeiting. This unique medium has sensing capabilities and operates just like the sensor on your phone screen, communicating gestures such as touching, tapping, swiping, or sliding to a remote computer. The small RFID tags are what make the paper smart, adding the interactive component to what previously was just a normal piece of paper.

Here's what a Trump presidency means for the Internet of Things

Donald Trump's surprise win in the US presidential election has sent ripples throughout the world, and the IoT is no exception. Here are our first thoughts on the impact of the historic results on the IoT. Self-driving car adoption levels may be lower than anticipated. BI Intelligence has maintained an optimistic take on self-driving car adoption rates. Much of this belief has been driven by the actions and plans of Tesla, which has aggressively moved to make its vehicles autonomous, with all new cars shipping with the hardware for full autonomy.

Why artificial intelligence will finally unlock IoT

According to Gartner, there will be more than 20 billion connected devices worldwide by 2020. Today’s enterprises are already benefitting greatly from a strong, connected workforce, but as Internet of Things (IoT) enabled devices move forward, saturating the market, is it possible for them to outpace their own benefits? After all, while the continuing surge of IoT devices is creating an onslaught of data requiring storage and retention, advancements in the IoT world are still bound by how quickly and efficiently data can be computed, and value extracted. Interestingly, the current resurgence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology may provide an antidote to the flood of data today’s digital world is facing.

Macy's: Inventory will be 100% RFID-tagged by 2017

Full RFID-implementation has long been in the works for Macy's: the store began its post-pilot stage of implementation in 2012, tagging only the store's more replenished goods, or 30% of its inventory. Yet even in 2012 the technology was over a decade-old, so what took the retailer so long to fully expand the technology? One problem was a potentially over-hyped ROI at first, according to IT Jungle. A highly competitive market had priced the technology at $1 per tag in the early days, making full-scale implementation unfeasible for low-replenishment or low-sale goods.

Denso launches scanners with RFID and NFC

BHT-1200 RFID handheld terminal (or BHT-1281QULWB-CE as the model is officially called) is described as being perfect for longer distances while QK30-IC offers comfortable scanning on short distances. Both scanners are said to combine efficiency, comfort and easy handling. Both products are based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or NFC (Near Frequency Communication) respectively. Their outstanding features are operability, robustness and durability, according to Denso.

Large Apparel Retailers, Wholesalers See Sharp Rise in RFID Adoption, ROI

The rate of adoption for radio frequency identification in the retail apparel, footwear and accessories market has more than doubled during the past two years, according to a survey of 60 European and U.S. retailers and wholesalers, conducted by management and strategy consulting firm Kurt Salmon. The company's first large retail study, carried out in 2014, found that 34 percent of respondents had either implemented or were currently implementing or piloting RFID (see Many RFID-Adopting Retailers Report More Than 5 Percent Improvement in Gross Margins).

What information is available on Boarding Pass Barcode

Most people treat the boarding passes for flights as a piece of trash after they’re through with the concerned journey. Some may file it somewhere for future references but in most of the cases, the boarding passes end up in the trash can. Not shredded, though. There is plenty of information on the boarding pass that others with malicious intent can use for their own benefits. Let’s see what all it contains and why you should not simply throw it away without shredding or tearing it properly.

Global RFID market on a steep growth trajectory

As the IoT industry booms, the global RFID market has grown rapidly, with the market size exceeding USD10 billion in 2015. According to the latest market intelligence fromRnRMarketResearch, this figure is expected to surpass USD17 billion in 2020. At present, the global RFID industry is mainly concentrated in European and American markets, where RFID technology has more mature applications, accounting for nearly 70% of the global total in 2015.

Never lose your luggage again with RFID technology

Losing your luggage at an airport might soon be a thing of the past, thanks to the introduction of a technology that tracks your baggage in real time. The global deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which can accurately track passengers' baggage in real time across key points in the journey, can enable the air transport industry to save more than $3 billion over the next seven years. Global IT provider Sita and the International Air Transport Association (Iata) revealed that the highly accurate tracking rates of RFID technology could reduce the number of mishandled bags by up to 25 per cent by 2022.

High-Tech Barcode Scanning’s Role in Boosting Supply Chain Efficiency

In specific sectors, granular visibility into product supply chains isn’t simply a corporate objective, it’s a matter of regulatory compliance. In the food industry, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act places a greater emphasis on product traceability from origin to distribution at supermarkets, restaurants and other consumer establishments. GS1, the global authority that sets international barcode standards, responded to these evolving needs with more robust barcodes that simplify the process of tracking specific product lots. With a greater level of detail, companies can respond to critical recalls and other product safety issues (not to mention individual customer questions) quickly and accurately.

Dynamsoft's Barcode Reader SDK Vastly Improves Read Speed and Accuracy

Dynamsoft has upgraded its Barcode Reader software development kit (SDK) to vastly improve decoding speed and accuracy for various 1D and 2D barcodes, making the SDK even more well-suited for enterprise-grade applications. Barcode reading speed increased by 40+ percent for 1D barcodes. Barcode reading accuracy for 1D and 2D barcodes are also improved. For example, accuracy improved by around 29 percent when scanning QR codes from different perspectives.

These improvements are in Dynamsoft's Barcode Reader SDK version 4.3, compared to internal testing with version 4.2. To accomplish these improvements, a new localization algorithm was implemented for 1D barcode scanning. The new SDK also has optimized decoding performance for large size or special angle 1D barcodes and for multiple 1D barcode decoding. And, multi-thread processing has been implemented for 2D barcode reading.
  


 

Surgical instrument tracking systems market to hit of 17.3% CAGR and expected to reach 204.8 $ million by 2021

The global surgical instrument tracking systems market is projected to reach USD 204.8 million by 2021 from USD 92.2 million in 2016, at a CAGR of 17.3% from 2016 to 2021. The report provides qualitative insights about key market shares, growth rates, and market drivers for all important subsegments. It maps the market size and growth rates of each subsegment and identifies the segment projected for rapid growth in each of the geographic segments.

The global surgical instrument tracking systems market is expected to reach USD 204.8 Million by 2021 from USD 92.2 Million in 2016, at a CAGR of 17.3% during the forecast period 2016 to 2021. Factors such as the impact of the UDI regulation, rising need for inventory management and better patient care, and the need to minimize the operational expenses of healthcare facilities are driving the global market.

How to integrate RFID tags in any tracking application

The radio-frequency identification (RFID) tracking and error-proofing functions, typically used in machines, can often be replaced with other methods such as sensors, work procedures and barcode readers. However, RFID sure has created many niches over the past 50 years. For many years now, the 1-bit RFID anti-theft tag has been tracking anything that needed tracking. The machine builder and OEM have many options in RFID today. The basics require proper selection of tag and reader for the application and integration into the control system.

How the Internet of Things is revolutionizing manufacturing

The Internet of Things (IoT) is changing business models, increasing output, and automating processes across a number of industries. But no other sector has been more impacted by this technological revolution than manufacturing. Manufacturers across all areas —automotive, chemical, durable goods, electronics, etc. — have invested heavily in IoT devices, and they're already reaping the benefits. Manufacturers utilizing IoT solutions in 2014 saw an average 28.5% increase in revenues between 2013 and 2014, according to a TATA Consultancy Survey.

Smart Card Alliance to Host Webinar on Benefits and Implementation of EMV Tokenization for Stronger Payments Security

Tokenization – the process of substituting valuable data with a token made up of random alphanumeric characters – has the potential to be a payments security game-changer for its ability to protect sensitive account data for in-store and online transactions. Issuers, acquirers, processors, merchants and service providers can find out all about tokenization and how to implement it at the November Smart Card Alliance webinar, “EMV Tokenization.”

The one-hour webinar will be held on November 3, 2016 at 1pm ET (10am PT). To register, visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5182475867510822401.

“Tokenization is going to have a significant impact on the payments industry going forward as more mobile solutions come to market, and as more consumers are adopting them,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “Understanding how tokenization changes the way payment credentials are used and secured is crucial for stakeholders looking to incorporate the technology into their security plans. This webinar will provide attendees with that necessary information, and will give perspective on how this plays a role in both in-store and online transactions.”

RFID Spices Up Sales for Maille Mustard

Maille, a purveyor of specialty mustards, is planning to launch an RFID-based solution at its stores in Paris and New York, enabling customers to digitally record their favorite products. The system has already been implemented at Maille's London location to allow patrons to use an RFID-tagged spoon to indicate the flavors of mustard they sampled and liked during their visit. Maille can present each patron with a record of those products he or she favored, and thereby create customer engagement that lasts after that individual leaves the store.

RFID technology expected to reduce lost baggage by 25%

Delta is implementing a new $50 million baggage-handling system based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology that is expected to reduce the number of the airline’s lost and mishandled bags by 25%. “They clearly have an intention to improve passenger processing,” said Caroline Camilli-Gay, the baggage program manager with the air transport information technology company SITA, which each year publishes an analysis of mishandled baggage worldwide.