RFID 101: The Next Big Thing for Management

Purpose – This article examines the phenomenon of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology and its implications for both management practice and research over the next decade. Design/methodology/approach – The article examines RFID, incorporating the latest information and research findings on how the technology is being utilized today and planned for in the future. The article uses both academic and practitioner-oriented resources to support its findings. Findings – RFID is an emerging technology that is forecast to grow exponentially in use over the next decade. RFID, which uses radio waves to identify objects, is projected to rapidly supplant bar code technology as the principal means of identifying items in the supply chain and in a wide variety of applications. This overview of the fundamentals of RFID is presented to give the reader a working knowledge of the technology. Research limitations/implications – The article looks over the horizon at implications for management research, outlining how this represents a greenfield opportunity for research directed at a wide variety of topics and settings in the broad management discipline. Practical implications – The article concludes with a look at RFID’s implications for our day-today business and personal lives, including a number of cutting-edge applications for the technology. Originality/value – In this article, the author gives the history of RFID technology, how it works, how it differs from bar codes from a technical and operational perspective, and how RFID provides organizations with a unique opportunity to create value through the use of this new media technology.