White Papers

A Four-Step Plan for Adopting RFID

by Nikki Baird, director of product marketing at Viewlocity Inc.

RFID is about collecting real-time information about activities in the supply chain. In order to get value from that information, you need to have the ability to respond with agility to exceptions identified within that information. To achieve that agility, you need to follow four incremental steps.

The Wireless Factory

by Belgravium Partner, Cisco Systems

For manufacturers, success or failure - profit or loss - is increasingly determined by their ability to react swiftly to changes in their markets. These changes are driven by a number of factors. Speed of response, the ability to retool for new production and the capacity to manage every part of the production line with the optimal efficiency each contribute to the pressure on manufacturers to perform at the highest level at all times.

Having the agility that this degree of responsiveness to change demands is a key determinant of a manufacturer's capacity to create and sustain competitive advantage.

Mobilizing The Enterprise 2003

By US Mobile Internet Platform Provider, Air2 Web

Enterprises are seeking the means to extend corporate data to an increasingly mobile workforce. IDC, a leading computing industry watchdog, estimates that the U.S. mobile work force - defined as employees spending at least 20% of their time away from the office - will be at 55 million in 2004, up from 39 million in 2000.

Wireless productivity applications leverage and extend corporate data and enterprise applications for workers on the move. Leading companies enable anywhere access to employees who are out of the office (and in the office), ensure real time communication of action items that require immediate attention, and provide a more efficient means to bring products and services to market. In addition, many corporations are embarking on wireless initiatives designed to further embrace customers - from business travellers to students.

This feature gives a snapshot of the US and European wireless computing industry in 2003, some typical applications and criteria for successful adoption and vendor selection.

Switch On Your Vision

By Howard Dearing , Sales Manager EMEA, with Belgravium Partner Aquitec

For decades, retail and wholesale businesses have used supply chain execution systems to improve their ability to satisfy demand for product from shops. But supply chain systems become confused if stock is misplaced, damaged or stolen, resulting in pick instructions being generated by a system trying to send virtual inventory which is available only within the computer system’s memory. Howard Dearing believes the answer is Supply Chain Intelligence.