Mumbai, Oct 25: If you are an exporter, you would be at your wits end when your customer calls up from one corner of the world to tell you that his consignment has not arrived. Apparently, you have no clue as to what happened to the goods, in which shape they are in and in which part of the world. And in today's highly-competitive environment, the customer will not tolerate any delays and you could end up sighing: "If only were I able to track my goods!"Perhaps, technology has an answer here. Japan's largest business form maker, the 175.8 billion yen-Toppan Forms Co and Motorola of the US are jointly developing "smart" label solutions, which will contain all essential information on goods that can be read and modified through internet and any wireless interface.
The partners says that these labels and forms are ideal tools for tracking and efficient routing of materials around the world.
The smart labels incorporate Motorola's BiStatix radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The technology uses silicon and printed ink to create smart labels, that are more effective than earlier generations of RFID technology-enabled labels, which required the incorporation of a costly metal coil and resonant capacitor.
The solutions can also be used in bar coding. BiStatix tags can be read without having a clear sight and are not rendered unreadable by damage from moisture, dirt, dust or paint. While bar code technology is "read-only," BiStatix RFID technology is read/write capable, effective of changing, updating and locking the data on the forms.
Also, BiStatix smart labels have high level of resistance against damage and can be read after being folded, crumpled and even ripped, and are also fully disposable. BiStatix tags can be printed easily on paper and other non-conductive surfaces and integrated into existing printing processes.
Toppan has used its expertise in the information management service solutions to the hilt in this project. At present, the company uses internet and other electronic applications in Japan to provide various solutions.
The development partners expect major customers in transportation, retail, access control and other markets to embrace this solution. Companies seeking to improve business operations in the area of tracking objects, monitoring inventory and other supply-chain related processes can use these paper-based solutions, which will be commercially available early in 2000.
Once successful with the technology, the partners may extend it to everyday forms and labels such as baggage tags, parking lot tickets and inventory control labels. Prime targets are companies in the Asia-Pacific region.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.