L-com Expands Line of IoT Air Quality and Water Leak Sensors

L-com, an Infinite Electronics brand and a supplier of wired and wireless connectivity products, recently announced the expansion of its line of IoT air quality and water leak environmental sensors.

Each air quality sensor monitors one or more of the following: alcohol, ammonia, dust and particulates, formaldehyde, humidity, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, LPG, ozone, refrigerant, smoke, sulfur dioxide, temperature and TVOCs.

The new sensors assist in the use of IoT data collection to make process control more efficient and to lower building and process costs. Applications for the air quality sensors include commercial facilities, HVAC systems, factory floors, laboratories, smart buildings, food processing and preservation facilities, and public restrooms.

The water leak sensors are for any environment where damage from water leaks or flooding is a concern, such as communications rooms, equipment cabinets, server rooms, warehouses and storage areas. The wall-mounted devices are waterproof and feature a long service life and a Modbus output.

L-com's new IoT air quality environmental sensors feature industry-standard sensing elements and low power consumption. They have a four-pin, 2.54 mm pitch header for device integration. They can be mounted to a wall or a DIN rail.

5G IoT Market worth $59.7 billion by 2028

The global 5G IoT Market size is projected to grow from USD 13.2 billion in 2023 to USD 59.7 billion by 2028, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 35.1% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Heavy IoT investments are driving the growth of the 5G IoT Market.

Professional services include the assistance provided to companies by external sources. These services support businesses of all sizes and across industries. Vendors offering professional services assess the expense and design of solutions for streamlining communication and improving the efficiency of networks. Professional services enable enterprises to deliver short-term and long-term savings. The professional services segment involves network testing, planning, optimization, orchestration, integration and deployment, support and maintenance, and consulting.

SMEs are small independent firms that employ less than 1,000 employees. A digital transformation is expected for SMEs with the 5G network technology. 5G network will not just be a technological connection but will affect different sectors and industries and encourage innovation in small companies. The SMEs segment is the fastest-growing segment. It faces several problems, such as limited capital and knowledge, non-availability of proper technology, ineffective marketing policy, identification of new markets, restraints on modernization and expansions, and non-availability of highly skilled cost-effective labor. Better connectivity, improved product quality, decreased cost of new product introduction, and increased resource utilization are the main reasons encouraging SMEs to adopt 5G IoT solutions and services.

Samsung and Naver launch integrated mobile payments service in South Korea

Samsung and Naver Financial have launched an integrated mobile payments service in South Korea that enables Naver Pay users to make in-store payments with their smartphone at outlets accepting Samsung Pay and Samsung Pay users to make online payments at ecommerce merchants supporting Naver Pay.

The integration of the two services means that Naver Pay users will now be able to make in-store payments from their smartphone using Samsung Pay’s magnetic secure transmission (MST) technology at some 3m merchants across the country, according to Naver Financial.

To date, users of the Naver Pay service have been able to make in-store payments via QR code at 120,000 merchants nationwide.

Global Asset Tracking Market to Reach $33.5 Billion by 2028

The global asset tracking market size reached US$ 15.4 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the analyst expects the market to reach US$ 33.5 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.83% during 2022-2028.

Asset tracking is the process of tracking the physical assets of the organization by scanning barcode labels attached using a global positioning system (GPS) or a radio-frequency identification (RFID). It provides real-time and accurate data for an efficient asset management system.

It helps upgrade or replace various assets while saving time and expenses. It offers several benefits, such as centralizing data with asset management software, increasing value with asset utilization reports, improving asset lifecycle maintenance, achieving greater security for assets, and strengthening asset management protocols.

As a result, asset tracking finds extensive applications in the food and beverage (F&B), transportation, aviation, healthcare, and manufacturing industries.

At present, there is a rise in the demand for asset tracking in various organizations to streamline operations and optimize the utilization of existing resources worldwide. This, along with the growing employment of asset tracking solutions to save costs, enhance profits, and improve the return on investment (RoI), represents one of the key factors driving the market.

Besides this, the increasing demand for asset tracking in the healthcare industry to improve workforce safety and patient care is contributing to the growth of the market. In addition, the growing utilization of geographical information systems (GIS) in the transportation sector due to the wide availability of orthorectified images through satellites is positively influencing the market.

Moreover, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), predictive maintenance, augmented reality (AR), internet of things (IoT), digital twin, and telematics in asset tracking for better planning and maintenance of assets is offering a positive market outlook. Apart from this, the rising demand for cloud-based solutions in large enterprises to eliminate the need for installing additional hardware and storing the data in various data centers is bolstering the market growth.

Panasonic Still Hasn’t Finished the Organic CMOS Sensor

Panasonic has touted additional benefits of the organic CMOS sensor that it has been working on for nearly a decade, and while the developments still sound enticing, the company seems no closer to release.

On Friday, Panasonic wrote a lengthy blog post where it noted the benefits of its organic CMOS sensor with regard to its “excellent color reproduction” under multiple types of light sources.

In this technology, the organic thin film that performs photoelectric conversion and the circuit that stores and reads out electric charge are completely independent of each other. This unique layered structure reduces the sensitivity of each pixel in green, red, and blue in wavelength regions outside the target range. Since it can achieve spectral characteristics with low color mixing, accurate color reproduction is possible regardless of the type of light source.

Smart occupancy sensor

Known as RoomSense IQ, this small device mounts somewhere within a small room and uses a number of different technologies to keep track of the number of occupants in a room.

The primary method is mmWave radar which can sense the presence of a person up to five meters away, but it also includes a PIR sensor to help prevent false positives and distinguish human activity from non-human activity.

The device integrates with home automation systems to feed them occupancy data to use to further improve the performance of those types of systems.

Taking Apart IKEA’s Latest Air Quality Sensor

IKEA released the VINDSTYRKA sensor. Now thanks to the efforts of Oleksii Kutuzov we’ve got a fantastic teardown of the new gadget, and some more information on the improvements IKEA made over its predecessor. There’s even a traffic light colored indicator to show at a glance how bad your air supply is. The other big change is the addition of wireless, though unlike the WiFi hacks we saw for the VINDRIKTNING, this built-in capability uses Zigbee and is designed to plug into IKEA’s own home automation ecosystem.

Keysight Introduces Battery Emulation and Profiling Solution for IoT Devices

Keysight Technologies introduces the Keysight E36731A Battery Emulator and Profiler, a complete emulation solution that identifies the impact of variables affecting the battery drain of internet of things (IoT) devices to enable development engineers to improve their device designs.

The new Keysight E36731A Battery Emulator and Profiler is a complete emulation solution that allows development engineers to improve the designs of their internet of things devices. (Photo: Business Wire)

International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that there will be 41.6 billion connected IoT devices in use by 20251, many of which will be portable, battery-operated devices requiring advanced battery management techniques. To ensure these devices perform well in the field, development engineers need to design for peak battery performance and validate those designs against real-life performance. However, testing the run time of a physical battery in a device is a challenging and time-consuming task that can slow time-to-market.

The Keysight E36731A Battery Emulator and Profiler addresses the battery testing needs of IoT device designers by giving them an integrated electronic load and power supply that can be used to emulate battery performance. By testing with an emulated battery, engineers can quickly assess the effect of design or software changes on battery life by instantly transitioning the battery's charge state, allowing them to enhance their designs to achieve longer battery life and reduce device size.
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IO-Link Market worth $33.9 billion by 2028

The IO-Link market is projected to reach USD 33.9 billion by 2028 from an estimated USD 13.6 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 20.0% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets™. The rise in demand for IO-Link solutions can be attributed to rising demand for industry 4.0 and growing demand for remote configuration, monitoring, and maintenance.

IO-Link wired is used in automated production in industrial environments for linking sensors and actuators. It supports a master–slave configuration with passive connection points, which further reduces wiring requirements. IO-Link wired communication offers transmission of three different data types: service data, process data, and event data. Owing to this, the IO-Link wired segment is expected to account a larger market share of the IO-Link market in 2028.

In 2028, the IO-Link devices segment is expected to dominate the IO-Link market. IO-Link devices refer to intelligent sensors or actuators such as converters, device circuit breakers, I/Os, safety relays, and motor starters connected to a system. IO-Link makes it possible to drive industrial communication from the lowest level of automation—the sensor level. A device has identification data, e.g., type designation, serial number, or parameter data, that is readable over the IO-Link protocol. In addition, IO-Link devices can supply detailed diagnostics data that can be used for preventive maintenance and servicing.

Internet of Things (IoT) in Healthcare Market Worth $861.3 Billion by 2030

The global internet of things in healthcare market size is expected to reach USD 861.3 billion by 2030 and is expected to expand at 16.8% CAGR from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.

High penetration of smartphones is one of the significant factors boosting the growth of market. As per the statistics published in GSM Association's report, The Mobile Economy 2018, the number of people connected to mobile services surpassed 5 billion in 2017 and the number of unique mobile subscribers is expected to reach 5.9 billion by 2030 (71% of the global population).

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

    Medical devices segment held the largest share of 2022 owing to the growing demand for self-monitoring devices and launch of novel instruments. For instance, in March 2022, Amrita University introduced Amrita Spandanam, a wearable non-prick health monitoring device that can monitor blood pressure and measure blood glucose without pressure cuffs

    By connectivity technology, the cellular network segment accounted for the largest share in 2022. This can be attributed to the benefits of cellular network including increased capacity, less power consumption, and reduced interference.

    By application, telemedicine segment dominated the market in 2022 owing to the increasing number of patients suffering from conditions requiring Long-Term Care (LTC), including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

    Based on end-use, hospitals and clinics segment dominated the market in 2022. Rising investments by hospitals for accelerating the adoption of IoT solutions is a key factor propelling the segment growth.

    Due to the rising adoption of electronic health records, increasing government support for internet of things in healthcare and growing usage of e-prescribing, telehealth, and other HC IT technologies in North America, the region had the largest market share.

Fingerprint Payment Market to Reach $36.2 Billion

According to a new report, the global fingerprint payment industry generated $9.0 billion in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $36.2 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 15.3% from 2022 to 2031.

Businesses are increasingly using fingerprint payments to function more quickly, cut down on transaction time, and enhance security. In addition, to make sure a business runs securely, the fingerprint payment systems are entailed with complex security authentication features. This factor notably drives the global fingerprint payment market growth. Technological advancements in the fingerprint payment such as inclusion of machine learning (ML) and automation boost the market growth even more. However, high acquisition costs and security risks of the payment terminals restrict the market growth. Moreover, increase in adoption of wireless handheld POS terminal by restaurants and healthcare industry for streamlining the transactions through biometrics is expected to provide new opportunities in the coming years.

Key market players focused on investments in R&D activities and adopted strategies such as collaborations & partnerships to stay competitive in the market. For instance, on May 2022, Fingerprint Cards collaborated with Transcorp and Mswipe to bring contactless biometric payment cards to India and published its financial results for 2021 and future outlook that anticipates success with diversification and the biometric payment card market.

Similarly, on September 2022, World-leading biometrics company Fingerprint Cards AB (Fingerprints) and leading financial and banking solution provider Technical Equipment & Supplies Company (Tesco) collaborated to promote and support the adoption of contactless biometric payment cards in the Middle East.

Kochi Metro to trial digital rupee for contactless parking

Passengers using rapid transit services operated by Kochi Metro in the Indian state of Kerala will soon be able to make contactless parking payments with the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) as part of a digital rupee pilot programme launched by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Kochi Metro is the first metro network in India to begin accepting digital rupee payments and is launching the service with support from IDFC First Bank and digital parking solutions provider Anantham Online.

The RBI launched the first phase of its retail CBDC pilot in December after it revealed plans  in October 2022 to trial a prototype digital rupee.

RFID Tags For Livestock Management Market to grow at a CAGR of 9.75% from 2022 to 2027

The global RFID tags for livestock management market size is estimated to grow by USD 880.8 million from 2022 to 2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.75% during the forecast period.

The regulations regarding animal welfare are major drivers fueling the global radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for livestock management market growth. Livestock gets affected by severe chronic diseases such as anthrax and other viral and bacterial infections, which has led to the need for regular monitoring. The number of animals slaughtered for human consumption is increasing significantly even though the number of people involved in livestock farming is limited. 

Resultantly, livestock production units are operated at overcapacity. Due to this, farmers cannot pay attention to the health and wellness of each animal. Thus, animal health and welfare are becoming a major concern for governments in several countries.

  The market share growth by the cattle segment will be significant for the market growth during the forecast period. The rising investments in cattle farming to boost milk and meat production are increasing the number of livestock worldwide. Owners opt to manage livestock without any human intervention, which leads to increasing demand for automation in managing livestock units using advanced technologies such as RFID, NFC, and others, thereby driving the sales of RFID tags in cattle and is also expected to remain unchanged during the forecast period.

Global position sensors market grew to $5.56 billion in 2023

The global position sensors market grew from $5.06 billion in 2022 to $5.56 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted the chances of global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, at least in the short term. The war between these two countries has led to economic sanctions on multiple countries, a surge in commodity prices, and supply chain disruptions, causing inflation across goods and services, and affecting many markets across the globe. The position sensors market is expected to grow to $8.91 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 12.5%.

The position sensor refer to a device that can identify an object's movement or identify its relative position to a known reference point.These sensors are used to detect the presence or absence of an object.

It is also used to measure the distance travelled by a body from its starting point. It determines the linear or angular location to a fixed point or arbitrary reference.

The position sensor market consists of sales of resistance-based or potentiometric position sensors, capacitive position sensors, linear voltage differential transformers, magnetostrictive linear position sensor, eddy current based position sensor, hall effect based magnetic position sensors, fiber-optic position sensor and optical position sensors.Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers.

Collaboration of MasterCard, Visa, and PayPal, among others, Expected to Result in a Massive 18.15% Growth for In-Vehicle Payments Market

According to a new study, the recent surge in the adoption of in-vehicle payment services across developed economies and their growing global awareness is shifting automakers' focus to equip their upcoming models with the in-vehicle payment system.

A prominent example of this is that well-known automakers, including Honda, General Motors, Mercedes, and others, have already begun to offer payment services in recent years.

In addition to this, debit and credit cards are the most popular payment methods, and they are widely used to make in-vehicle payments as these methods provide a convenient way to pay without cash or checks and are accepted almost everywhere.

According to BIS Research's report, digital cards are now being made by tokenizing a physical card, a technology standardized by EMVco, which is a consortium with control split equally among Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, China UnionPay, and Discover, and it is widely used around the world.

This shift in OEMs' focus toward developing in-car payment services is expected to generate a significant growth of 18.15% in the in-vehicle payments market between 2022-2031.

Another very significant insight that this study highlights is that in terms of vehicle type, it is the passenger vehicles segment that is currently credited with the highest share of the demand for in-vehicle payments. In 2022, this segment alone accounted for a market share of $4.04 billion out of the overall $5.77 billion.

This trend is expected to continue for the next few years owing to the rise in demand for heavy and luxury vehicles and an increase in cars driven by diesel engines. Additionally, increased population, urbanization, and disposable income have significantly increased passenger car production, thereby fueling the market.

Monogoto Partners with Skylo Technologies and SODAQ to Deliver NB-IoT Satellite Connectivity for Asset Tracking Products

Cloud-based cellular network provider Monogoto announced a new roaming agreement with Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) service operator Skylo Technologies. This new agreement lowers the barrier for developers to add satellite connectivity to existing public and/or private networks already available on Monogoto Cloud, delivering the world's most affordable and accessible solution for NB-IoT Satellite connectivity for asset tracking products.

In addition, low-power tracking and sensing solutions provider SODAQ will launch a new asset-tracking trial kit, using Monogoto connectivity and network.

The Monogoto/Skylo/SODAQ solution is expected to be available in the market in the latter half of 2023.

Rising Demand for Smart Gadgets and Contactless Shopping Drives Growth

The Global Ambient Commerce Market size is expected to reach $33.6 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 32.4% CAGR during the forecast period.

With ambient commerce, also known as checkout-free retail, customers can leave stores with their desired goods in hand. Without the use of lines or cash registers, a variety of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies monitor their movements and automatically charge their accounts.

Retailers are getting more inventive as they work to entice customers back into physical stores after the lockdown restrictions were relaxed. By implementing this method of shopping in a few of their branches, retailers like Amazon, Tesco, and Aldi are influencing the future of grocery shopping.

To give customers a multisensory purchasing experience, ambient commerce blends the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), sensors, actuators, as well as other cutting-edge technology. The ease of purchasing, restocking, and cheaper store operating expenses are a few advantages of ambient commerce that can be used to explain the market's expansion. Additionally, it offers various e-commerce information, including data on financial transactions, consumer preferences, and behavioral trends.

Due to the fact that ambient commerce enables customers to leave businesses with the merchandise they want without waiting for the checkout procedure, it is sometimes referred to as checkout-free retail. There is no need to wait in long lines because a variety of AI technologies and cameras monitor the customer's activities and charge them for the purchased items immediately from their account or digital wallets.

Worldwide Smart Airports Industry is Projected to Reach $8.3 Billion by 2027

The Smart airports market size is projected to grow from USD 7.0 Billion in 2022 to USD 8.3 Billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2022 to 2027.

The growing need for real-time information and the increasing usage of self-service technologies are projected to fuel the growth of the smart airport industry. The market will be driven by the expansion of existing airports, the adoption of smart airport solutions at new airports, and an increase in the number of green initiatives by airports. Furthermore, airports are implementing self-service kiosks, biometric passenger identification, and artificial intelligence technologies to boost market development.

Based on End Market, the Upgrades & Services are projected to lead the smart airports market during the forecast period. Airports are implementing digital transformation to differentiate their visitor experiences. To enhance the passenger experience and operational effectiveness, existing systems and solutions are being modernized with cutting-edge technology and solutions. The need for enhanced upkeep and services to guarantee their ongoing operation is driving the market.

Based on System, the Endpoint Devices segment is projected to dominate the market share during the forecast period. The market is further segmented into Communication & Connectivity, Endpoint Devices, Data Storage, and Software & Solution. To speed up the screening process, airports use trustworthy endpoint devices like biometrics, RFID, beacons, and so on. End point devices have enhanced airport operations and consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, developments in endpoint devices have increased security standards and streamlined the airport screening procedure.

Based on application, the smart airports segment is projected to dominate the market share during the forecast period. Rapid growth in global passenger traffic is expected to increase demand for smart solutions on the airside. Additionally, the market has been driven by the growing requirement for smart solutions for airside operations, such as sophisticated aircraft parking solutions and cutting-edge maintenance and health monitoring systems.

Real-Time Payments Market to grow at a CAGR of 31.35% from 2022 to 2027

The global real-time payments market size is estimated to increase by USD 55,539.13 million from 2022 to 2027. The market's growth momentum will progress at a CAGR of 31.35%.

The increasing adoption of smartphones and access to high-speed internet is notably shaping the market growth. Smartphone usage has drastically increased in countries like Canada, China, and India in recent years.

And the widespread 3G and 4G connectivity have enabled a simpler way of payments for customers. As the 5G network becomes popular in regions like North America, APAC, Europe, and the Middle East, the market is expected to grow during the forecast period.

The market share growth of the solutions segment is significant during the forecast period. These solutions process transactions between the customer/merchant and the bank/processors in real-time. This is a very safe and secure mode of payment. The cheaper cost of internet services has accelerated digital and technological adoption in several sectors. This has altered business models for various sectors including logistics, banking, education, retail, and healthcare among others. This has led to a drastic increase in digital payments across different sectors.

SimplyRFiD Launches Popsicle RAIN RFID Flag Tag for Metal, Liquid Products

SimplyRFiD has simplified the RFID tagging and tag selection process with the Popsicle RAIN RFID tag. Traditional RFID tags obscure product text when placed on products, or they don't work on products containing metallics or liquids.

Designed for Shopify inventory management systems or modern RFID inventory control, the Popsicle is priced for high-volume supply chain use with none of the disadvantages. Unique features of the SimplyRFiD Popsicle v3: 1

A clear adhesive area that does not obscure product text. This allows the tag to be placed over descriptive product text and still allows consumers to see the existing product detail.

Non-adhesive RFID flag will stand off from the product surface to allow tagging of products containing metal or liquids. Additionally, the RFID tag area contains a synthetic white face for printing human-readable text or adding a barcode

The popsicle works in standard RFID printers/encoders for low-cost printing and encoding.

Central bank enables rollout of contactless mobile payments in Egypt

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has issued regulations governing payment card tokenization on mobile apps that enable banks and payment service providers to allow customers to make contactless payments with digital cards stored in mobile wallets including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.

The regulations set out the responsibilities and obligations of banks, card issuers, card networks and token service providers with regard to the provision and management of tokenized card payments from mobile devices, confidentiality, infrastructure, security and security assessment.

The CBE introduced measures to promote cashless and contactless payments in March 2020.

TSC Printronix Auto ID Launches Print Engine Capable of Printing and Encoding RFID Labels

TSC Printronix Auto ID announces the launch of its new 6-inch PEX-2000 Print Engine for automatic labeling. The PEX-2000 Print Engine was designed to easily integrate into any print and apply system and is engineered to keep production lines moving 24/7. Rugged, fast-paced, and easy-to-integrate the PEX-2000 is ideal for manufacturing and logistics applications where high-speed and high demand label printing is required.

Built with simplicity in mind, automatic labeling operators can easily configure their preferences for print speed, accuracy, and synchronization. Due to its highly compatible hardware and software, the print engine easily integrates with any print and apply system for hassle-free setup. The printer’s customizable printer language firmware supports all major printer languages so template commands and print files can remain the same and allows for seamless integration into existing environments.

The 6-inch PEX-2000 is available in 203 or 300 dpi print options with print speeds up to 14 inches per second (ips). The printer’s innovative peel-off module allows for integration into tight spaces and harsh angles without redesigning peelers or application arms. The PEX-2000 also features an optional RFID-encoding capability. Most importantly, the printers full-metal chassis is 14% smaller than other mainstream print engines, delivering advanced user experiences in a compact footprint.

Latest RFID Innovations from Murata in Hannover

At the upcoming Tire Technology Expo (Booth 9036, Hannover, 21st - 23rd March), Murata will be demonstrating how it’s now bringing this technology to the automobile sector - in terms of better traceability and more effective inventory management, as well as facilitating aftermarket maintenance (such as re-treading) and recycling activities.

Murata representatives are also participating in day-long RAIN RFID Masterclass courses being organised during the expo event. To register for one of these, simply go to here .

The Murata tire-targeted RFID solution is built around compact RFID tags, RFID readers, and id-Bridge Middleware and Dashboard needed to collect the data and turn it into actionable insight.

The new generation RFID tire tags (with 1,8 mm × 40mm dimensions), co-developed with Michelin, are embedded directly into vehicle tires. These tags utilise the 865MHz - 920MHz UHF RAIN frequency band for data transmission. The proprietary antenna design employed enables extended reading distances.

The tire tag is based on a durable design, making them highly suited in challenging automotive environments - sustaining long-term operation despite exposure to extreme conditions. Being passive, they receive energy from the reader, meaning that an external power source is not required.

Each RFID Tire tag is encoded with a unique identification number that conforms to the SGTIN-96 tire industry standard. This connects the tire to the tire manufacturer, when and where the tire was produced, repair history details, etc. The RFID data, gained from the readings at the different stages of the tire’s journey, is managed with id-Bridge software that transforms the data and turns it into valuable information visible on a dashboard.

Malarkey Shingles Feature RFID Microchip Tags

Oregon-based Malarkey Roofing Products announced the addition of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to its shingle lines.  

According to Malarkey, in shingle production, this technology aides its team with increased feedback. RFID tags tie with a time stamp to more accurately track material for quality information.

Roofing material distributors and contractors can scan the shingles to get the unique tag IDs for the tags within the pallet. Insurance companies can also benefit from the new RFID tags in Malarkey products for their ability to better identify shingles for claims.

The global Satellite-Based IoT Service market to reach $2,302.4 million by 2033

The global satellite-based IoT service market was valued at $279.7 million in 2022, and it is expected to grow with a CAGR of 2.76% and reach $372.6 million by 2033. The satellite-based IoT service market companies have witnessed the demand from the growing commercial industry. The ecosystem of the satellite-based IoT service market comprises system manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and end users.

In 1999, a scientist named Kevin Ashton, while working for Proctor & Gamble, proposed using radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips on products to track them through a supply chain.Since then, till 2022, IoT technologies and their implementation in satellite-based IoT services have come a long way in being cost-effective and efficient.

Companies like Inmarsat and Iridium Communications have shown their capabilities in IoT technologies as well as their use in satellite-based IoT services.

Currently, many space agencies and commercial companies across the globe have been focusing on developing low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations.This would drive the market for satellite-based IoT services.

Moreover, rising research and development activities to develop cost-efficient IoT terminals and modules are other factors contributing to the growth of the satellite-based IoT service market. For instance, in December 2022, Astrocast SA signed a multi-million-dollar contract with ArrowSpot for the mass production of ArrowSpot's ArrowTrack SAT device for hardware integration and Satellite IoT (SatIoT) connectivity.

The expansion of the terrestrial IoT network, along with access to cheaper LEO-based satellite connectivity, has placed a high demand for the production of the satellite-based IoT service market during the forecast period.

Furthermore, there is a rise in research and development activities for the development of smaller and cheaper IoT hardware has increased the demand for satellite-based IoT services for satellites.

Radio Frequency Identification Market Size Worth USD 44.12 Billion in 2032

The global RFID market size was valued at USD 14.27 Billion in 2022, and it is expected to register a CAGR of 11.9% during the forecast period, according to the latest analysis by market research firm Emergen Research. RFID technology uses radio waves to track and identify objects or assets, and it has found applications in various industries, including retail, healthcare, logistics, and transportation.

One of the key factors driving the growth of the RFID market is the increasing adoption of RFID technology in the retail industry. RFID tags and readers are used to track and manage inventory, reduce theft, and improve supply chain efficiency. RFID technology helps retailers to automate their inventory management process, which results in improved inventory accuracy, reduced out-of-stocks, and increased sales. Furthermore, RFID technology helps retailers to enhance their customer experience by providing real-time inventory visibility and enabling efficient order fulfilment.

The healthcare industry is also expected to witness a significant growth in the adoption of RFID technology during the forecast period. RFID tags and readers are used in hospitals to track medical equipment, patients, and staff, which helps to improve patient safety, reduce errors, and enhance operational efficiency. RFID technology also helps hospitals to manage their inventory of medical supplies and equipment, which results in reduced wastage and improved cost savings.

The logistics and transportation industry is another key application area for RFID technology. RFID tags and readers are used to track and manage shipments, improve supply chain visibility, and enhance operational efficiency. RFID technology helps logistics and transportation companies to reduce their operational costs, improve delivery times, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Government initiatives and regulations are also driving the growth of the RFID market. Many countries are implementing regulations that require the use of RFID technology in various industries, such as healthcare and transportation. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated the use of RFID technology to track prescription drugs and prevent counterfeit drugs from entering the supply chain.

However, there are certain restraints and challenges facing the RFID market. One of the major challenges is the high cost of RFID tags and readers, which makes it difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to adopt the technology. Another challenge is the lack of standardization in RFID technology, which makes it difficult for interoperability and integration with other systems.

SensiML to Demonstrate IoT Models for Consumer Embedded Applications

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent Internet of Things (IoT) endpoints, announced that it will be exhibiting at Embedded World, Germany, as well as the tinyML Summit in Burlingame, CA. It will be demonstrating IoT sensor recognition models that serve as a central feature for developing intelligent consumer embedded applications.

SensiML will also have a keyword-spotting exhibit that exploits speaker dependency to demonstrate a voice ID Smart Lock. Lastly, SensiML will also be showcasing a host of new features for its end-to-end tinyML model development tool suite making SensiML the ideal choice for developers deploying ML at the extreme edge.

According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research forecasts, TinyML Software-as-a-Service Revenue will exceed US$220 Million in 2022, on pace to become a billion-dollar market by 2030.

Finalists Announced for 17th Annual RFID Journal Awards

RFID Journal has unveiled the finalists for this year's RFID Journal Awards. The winners will be announced at RFID Journal LIVE! 2023, the company's annual conference and exhibition, which will be held on May 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

End-user companies were nominated in six categories. The finalists for each category are listed below:

Best Retail RFID or IoT Implementation
C&A Services GmbH, which added RFID to all stores throughout Europe to optimize and align the customer experience, standardize and simplify processes, provide customer benefits due to increased stock-data accuracy, and ensure merchandise availability and visibility.

Lojas Renner, which deployed RFID to improve its product replenishment from stock room to sales area, optimize processes involving deliveries of up to 20,000 items per day at each store, and boost inventory count accuracy and frequency.

Siman Group, which improved its inventory accuracy by 65 percent, while minimizing the amount of time employees spend searching for items among its more than 350,000 constantly rotating stock-keeping units, as well as improving the overall customer experience.

Best Healthcare RFID or IoT Implementation
AZ Sint-Maarten Hospital, which improved its logistic processes and its management of more than 15,000 medical materials (such as beds, wheelchairs and blood pressure devices), by localizing its medical materials and furniture in real time, then forwarding data to its enterprise resource planning system.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, which improved the utilization and traceability of its existing fleet of equipment, enabling it to avoid investing in new assets it didn't need, via a hybrid solution combining passive UHF RFID and active Bluetooth Low Energy infrastructure.

Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, which implemented a multifunctional passive RFID architecture for its entire institution, as well as for collaborative use, allowing the same readers to be applied to different use cases, thereby reducing costs for future deployments.

Best Manufacturing RFID or IoT Implementation
Pilkington Brasil, a car glass manufacturing company that uses returnable metallic racks to supply products to automakers, which implemented RFID to determine how many active metal racks it had in its inventory, manage the flow of those racks among customers, and reduce container shrinkage and attrition.

SEKISUI Aerospace, which is using RFID to track shipments of single-use tooling between two of its production facilities, and has expanded that technology deployment sitewide, with the goal of improving operational efficiencies and boosting the on-time delivery of its products.

Vestel International, which deployed RFID to track a wide variety of products, such as home appliances, electronics and computers, in order to prevent unplanned downtimes, as well as measure costs, productivity and efficiencies through a real-time equipment tracking process.

Best Supply Chain/Logistics RFID or IoT Implementation
Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telegrafos (Brazil's postal system, the USPS's counterpart), which transports, processes and delivers millions of postal items throughout Brazil's national territory, and now uses RFID to automate the tracking of large volumes of cargo, enable additional monitoring points and replace an existing barcode-based system.

Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense contractor, which uses RFID to improve its accountability and operational efficiency, and to comply with a U.S. Department of Defense Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness mandate to know where government assets are located in real time.

S. Marine Corps Logistics Command, which utilizes RFID technology to monitor a large inventory of diverse equipment, as well as improve its inventory management and accountability, and prepare for an imminent Department of Defense-mandated audit.
Best Use of RFID or IoT in a Product or Service

AmerisourceBergen, which leveraged its position as a wholesaler and RFID technology provider to create the AB Medication Tray, by which products come pre-tagged to reduce the need for pharmacy personnel to manually tag medications, while eliminating third-party costs and complexity.

Halden Kommune, which attached an RFID tag to every waste bin in its municipality, with trucks using UHF RFID readers, 4G connectivity and GPS to document the number of bins emptied, and to enable accurate invoicing and counter households claiming they had not been visited when they had.

United Parcel Service (UPS), which transitioned from manual to automated scanning with wearable RFID technology, and which instrumented its vehicles with RFID readers that enable customer pickup scans as smart packages are loaded onboard, along with other visibility options.

Best RFID or IoT Implementation (Other Industry)
Avon and Somerset Police, for its Dementia Safeguarding Scheme, an IoT-based solution designed to reduce the number of people living with dementia who were reported as missing, as well as safeguarding them in public settings and allowing citizens to assist them by contacting next of kin.

CPC Corp., a petroleum, natural gas and gasoline company in Taiwan, which deployed a custom solution to enable automated management of its filled drums as they are received, weighed and shipped to refineries or other production sites, and to maintain a record indicating the warehouse location in which each drum was stored, along with the weight of every drum and pallet.

Enea Operator, a power company and the fourth largest energy group in Poland, which improved its warehouse processes by building a self-service counter warehouse based on RFID technology, thus boosting security, availability, convenience and reliability at its facility, using stationary and mobile readers for the identification of products.
Best New Product

The judges also selected nine finalists for the best product being exhibited at this year's LIVE! event. The finalists for 2023 are:

Advanced Card Systems' Walletmate ACS Mobile Wallet NFC Reader, which is certified by Apple and Google to work with their respective protocols.

Avery Dennison Smartrac's AD TexTrace Soft Fabric label, based on a recycled textile substrate with an integrated woven antenna and a small loop inlay.

Bluebird's HF550X RFID reader, which encompasses a smartphone form factor with RFID reader and NFC functionalities.

HerdX's Smart Reader, a configurable, Bluetooth-enabled solution for meshing multiple units, with no hard-wiring or additional tech investment required.

InPlay's NanoBeacon Bluetooth Low Energy SoC IN100, designed to eliminate the need for software programming.

PervasID's Mobile Ranger system, a passive RFID tracking technology with a smart distributed antenna system and signal-processing techniques.

Powercast's Ubiquity RF Power Transmitter, designed for both wireless charging and two-way communication.

Reliance RFID's Find-it-Anywhere real-time locating and tracking system, which leverages UHF RFID, BLE, Wi-Fi, GPS, cellular and satellite technologies.

RF Controls' Overhead EPC Long-Range Encoder, designed to write EPC codes directly to UHF RFID tags without the need for handheld devices.

RFID Special Achievement Award
In addition, RFID Journal is pleased to present the 2023 RFID Special Achievement Award to Mark Roberti, the company's founder and editor. In 2022, Mark retired after 20 years' of educating companies about radio frequency identification and other Internet of Things technologies (see The Wind of Change, Connections and Recollections, and On Mark Roberti's Retirement), so that he could spend more time with his family.

Since retiring, Mark has launched a consulting firm, RFID Strategies, to help end-user companies deploy RFID successfully, and RFID firms to market their products more effectively (see RFID Journal Founder Launches Consulting Firm). For two decades, Mark has recognized other individuals at RFID Journal LIVE! events for their body of work. Now it's Mark's turn to be honored, and the entire RFID Journal team congratulates him for his extraordinary contributions.

This year's RFID Journal LIVE! event will showcase tags, readers, software and services from a variety of manufacturers. Nine industry-specific and how-to tracks will cover how RFID and IoT technologies are being used in retail and apparel, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, the food chain, and inventory and warehouse management, as well as business drivers beyond inventory accuracy, the fundamentals of RFID, and how to integrate RFID into a manufacturing line. LIVE! will also offer fast-track RFID Professional Institute certification training, and attendees will see the latest innovations from more than 80 exhibitors hailing from 26 countries.

Contact Cards Give Way to Contactless Card Based Access Control Technologies

The global market for Card-Based Access Control Systems estimated at US$2.3 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$3.9 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.6% over the analysis period 2022-2030. BFSI, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 5.2% CAGR and reach US$545.7 Million by the end of the analysis period. Taking into account the ongoing post pandemic recovery, growth in the Retail segment is readjusted to a revised 5.7% CAGR for the next 8-year period.

The Card-Based Access Control Systems market in the U.S. is estimated at US$586.2 Million in the year 2022. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$847 Million by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 8.1% over the analysis period 2022 to 2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 5.3% and 5.7% respectively over the 2022-2030 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 5.8% CAGR. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$456.8 Million by the year 2030.

TEKLYNX Launches Enhanced Enterprise Label Management System

TEKLYNX International, known globally for their barcode labeling software solutions, announced the launch of their enhanced enterprise label management system, TEKLYNX CENTRAL 7.0. Built to optimize and standardize labeling, this solution allows companies to manage label design, approval, print automation, and reporting across their business from a single location.

TEKLYNX CENTRAL is designed to meet complex labeling requirements and integrate with on-premise or cloud-hosted ERP systems to maximize simplicity for print users. Its browser-based print interface, with access via secure user logins, eliminates the need for individual workstation installations and enables on-demand label printing from anywhere in the world.

TEKLYNX CENTRAL 7.0 offers  new features such as

Enhanced print capabilities: Print to PDF and print multi-page labels through the cloud to local print workstations.
Server auto scaling: Automatically scales server capacities based on usage to maintain optimal software performance and stability.
Search improvements: Refine your label file search results to quickly find the correct labels you need to print.
AutoSave: Automatically saves label drafts locally if the server connection is disrupted, so no work is lost.
Reprint comments: Administrative option to require a comment when a label reprint is selected for a more detailed label audit trail.
Easily adjust margins: Modify horizontal and vertical label margins directly from the print interface for accurate printing.

Air Canada: Introducing digital identification system

Passengers travelling on select Air Canada flights between Vancouver and Winnipeg international airports can now opt to create a biometric digital ID on their NFC smartphone that they can then use to verify their identity with their face when travelling through the airports.

CP30 is a compact and simple to operate RFID printer

Developed by Chainway, the CP30 provides RFID and barcode printing capabilities through both direct thermal and thermal transfer printing. It can accurately and rapidly print barcodes, RFID tags, invoices, wristbands, etc., at speeds up to 8ips (203dpi) / 6ips (300dpi), which easily meets the printing needs of various industries.

The printer precisely positions and prints small 10mm-width tags or batches of RFID tags placed only 20mm apart, thanks to its premium security and compatibility to a variety of consumables and printing specifications.

CP30 supports touch and visual operation via a 3.5-inch LCD touch screen, and easily achieves offline operation with its USB HOST. Moreover, the printer comes with multiple communication interfaces including USB-B, Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0/BLE, and wireless network card. It even automatically identifies print heads of different resolutions and prints various electronic tags accurately and rapidly in any scenario according to user needs.

Elo Partners with Felix to Make Mobile Payments a Reality

Felix announced the integration of the Felix.Terminal Tap to Pay cloud-based solution with Elo's M50 Mobile Computer. The move aims to provide a seamless contactless payment experience to retailers across various industries, including retail, hospitality, sports stadiums, and quick-service restaurants.

The Android-based M50 Mobile Computer is purpose-built to provide mobile inventory and mobile-to-fixed solutions supporting computing needs. Now with Felix.Terminal Tap to Pay, the M50 Mobile Computer enables retailers to utilize the NFC function for contactless payments and BOPIS in environments such as retail, hospitality, sports stadiums, and quick-service restaurants. This functionality supports consumer demand for a frictionless buying experience.

The integration of Felix.Terminal Tap to Pay and the M50 Mobile Computer will enable retailers to accept NFC payments, improving the checkout experience for customers and increasing sales. According to a report by IHL Group, retailers using mobile POS systems have experienced 42% higher sales growth over those that don't.

Elo's Android-based M50 Mobile Computer provides a mobile inventory and mobile-to-fixed solution for computing needs, making it ideal for retailers of all sizes. With the Felix partnership, the M50 can be used as a contactless payment device, giving retailers the flexibility to process payments from anywhere within the store, curbside, or at special events. This results in faster checkout times and improved customer satisfaction.

New app to make your phone your ticket to the slopes

Vail Resorts says ts upcoming Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket technology will be available to guests on a new My Epic app coming in the fall of 2023.

'With Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket on the new My Epic app, your phone becomes your ticket to the slopes,' said Tim April, chief information officer of Vail Resorts.

The new technology will allow guests to buy their pass or lift ticket online, activate and store it on their phone in the new My Epic app, put their phone in their pocket, and get scanned, hands free, via Bluetooth technology designed for low energy usage. This reduces the need to visit the ticket window or wait to receive a pass or lift ticket in the mail. In support of the company's Commitment to Zero sustainability commitment, this change over time will also reduce the waste created by plastic cards and RFID chips.

Even after the feature is launched, Vail Resorts will continue to have plastic cards available to any guests who cannot or do not want to use their phone as their pass or lift ticket. The company will also activate the plastic cards of renewing pass holders and mail plastic cards to all new guests for the 2023/24 season, as part of the transition to Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket.

Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket will be available in the new My Epic app, replacing EpicMix as a new comprehensive app in the fall of 2023. Other features on the new app will include:

Smart Labels Market to Reach $39.2 Billion

The global smart labels market was valued at $9 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $39.2 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15.8% from 2022 to 2031.

Growth in number of industrial consolidations and technological explorations along with versatile benefits along with rapid urbanization drives the growth of the global smart labels market. On the other hand, poor mechanical susceptibility impedes the growth to some extent. However, growing e-commerce industry is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry.

Volatility in prices of raw materials such as paper, fabric, plastics, and other materials lowered the market demand, thus impacting the growth of the smart labels industry negatively. However, rise in organic growth strategies by the major key players has helped the market recover post-pandemic.

By product type, the RFID segment held the major share in 2021, garnering around 40% of the global smart labels market revenue. The sensing label segment would showcase the fastest CAGR of 20.2% during the forecast period. The large-scale application of RFID tags for retail and logistics industry is driving the segment growth.

By application, the retail inventory segment contributed to the highest share in 2021, accounting for around 70% of the global smart labels market revenue. The perishable goods segment would showcase the fastest CAGR of 4.6% throughout the forecast period owing to growing food & beverage industry which is growing the adoption of label sensing in order to track freshness and life of food products.

By end user, the retail segment accounted for nearly 45% of the global smart labels market share in 2021, and is expected to rule the roost by 2031. The healthcare segment would display the fastest CAGR of 23% throughout the forecast period. This is due to the fact that smart labels for healthcare industry helps in providing real time monitoring and helps in improving the supply chain.

Wide Area RFID System Market is Anticipated to Increase at a Stable CAGR

The global wide area RFID system market is expected to grow at a significant CAGR. It refers to a tracking system that identifies, detect and locate various objects over a limited range in a wide area. It is a traditional RFID system that at certain checkpoints and entrances enables to identify and account to restrict the objects. The wide-area RFID system is a viable solution over the existing system as it includes time-efficient and least labour work to track and locate the object across the long-range.

The rapidly growing adoption of wide-area RFID in various manufacturing units including automotive, logistics & retail and supply chain management is significantly driving the market growth. Further, the authentication and identification of enormous objects offer by wide-area RFID systems is further contributing to the demand for wide-area RFID systems. Thus, it will be considered as a market driver for the wide-area RFID system Market and induce substantial growth opportunities for the market during the forecast period.

The wide-area RFID system has been widely installed by manufacturing units to ensure performance and operations of the assets, to monitor the activity, to identify the defects, induce high productivity and detect system failure. Additionally, the increasing penetration of wide-area RFID systems to track the process components and manufacturing equipment or on any movable assets during the production is projected to surge the growth opportunities for the market.

Bank of Montreal drops debit card transaction fees for contactless fare payments across Canada

Bank of Montreal customers can now use their debit card to make contactless fare payments on services operated by transit authorities throughout Canada without their journeys counting towards their monthly free transaction limit.

The bank is removing transit fare payments from the monthly debit card transaction count for all its retail and commercial customers.

The company says: 'In this economic environment, we are seeing that significantly fewer Canadians feel they are making real financial progress with particularly steep declines in city centres such as Toronto and Vancouver. This feature will help ease worries about transaction count limit fees and let customers focus on their financial goals and staying on budget.'

Pressure sensitive labels market size to grow at a CAGR of 3.75% by 2027

According to Technavio, the global pressure sensitive labels market size is estimated to grow by USD 6,790.84 million from 2022 to 2027. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.75% during the forecast period. Moreover, the growth momentum will accelerate. APAC will account for 53% of the market's growth.

The report includes historic market data from 2017 to 2021. In 2017, the pressure sensitive labels market was valued at USD 30,273.53 million. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of growth opportunities at regional levels, new product launches, the latest trends, and the post-pandemic recovery of the global market. For more insights on the market, request a sample report

The linerless segment will account for a significant share of the market's growth during the forecast period. Linerless labels are pressure sensitive labels that do not have liners. This eliminates the need for a backing material, which directly reduces the costs involved in label production. A roll of linerless labels has 40% more labels than a roll of release liner labels, which reduces the label applicator downtime by 64%. In addition, the lighter weight due to the absence of backing material results in lower shipping costs, which allows manufacturers to save up to 35%-40% in shipping costs. Such factors will drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period.

M-Commerce Global Market to Reach $2.4 Trillion by 2030

The global market for M-Commerce estimated at US$422.1 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$2.4 Trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 24.5% over the analysis period 2022-2030.

M Retailing, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 25.2% CAGR and reach US$1.3 Trillion by the end of the analysis period.

Taking into account the ongoing post pandemic recovery, growth in the M Billing segment is readjusted to a revised 21.7% CAGR for the next 8-year period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $115 Billion, While China is Forecast to Grow at 33.8% CAGR

The M-Commerce market in the U.S. is estimated at US$115 Billion in the year 2022. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$727.9 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 33.8% over the analysis period 2022 to 2030.

Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 18.5% and 21% respectively over the 2022-2030 period.

Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 19.5% CAGR. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$370.3 Billion by the year 2030.