Emerging Mobile Technology and Supply Chain Integration: Using RFID to Streamline the Integrated Supply Chain

This chapter explores how a mobile tracking technology is able to further streamline the integrated supply chain. Previous technologies which have attempted to integrate suppliers, manufactures, distributors and retailers have lacked the flexibility and efficiency necessary to justify the prohibiting costs. Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology however enables various organizations along the supply chain to share information regarding specific products and easily remotely manage internal inventory levels. These applications are only a sample of what RFID is able to accomplish for the integrated supply chain, and this chapter seeks to explore those applications. INtrODUctION This chapter sets forth to provide a holistic view of how a recently adopted wireless identification technology, specifically radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, could potentially revolutionize the integrated supply chain. Companies are able to become more flexible and efficient by using a combination of mobile technologies and RFID to provide for remote inventory control and realtime, information-rich tracking of shipments in the distribution channel (Lapide, 2004). Although this technology has several hindrances currently blocking it from mass usage (Thompson, 2003), recent advancements in the technology have increased the viability of RFID for widespread organizational use, increasing the capacity and