Report: Prepare for RFID Failure
By George Anderson
A report by Gartner Inc., Prepare for Disillusionment with RFID, says at least half of all the radio frequency identification (RFID) technology projects currently underway will fail.
Jeff Woods, a research analyst with Gartner, said a 50 percent failure rate is being optimistic.
“What we tell customers is if you want to be really strategic — you really believe there is a business case — you have to have a lot of money. And, oh, by they way, you have to have an appetite for risk that most people don’t have; then RFID is for you.”
Mr. Woods does believe that RFID will eventually live up to its hype. That time, however, is three to five years down the road he says.
Moderator’s Comments: Do you agree with Gartner on the high rate of failure in RFID projects? Why are projects failing and what needs to be done to achieve
success on a more consistent basis?
Jeff Woods said companies in RFID projects may be startled to discover, sometimes, good old-fashioned bar codes work better. –
George Anderson – Moderator