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Overview -- SociaTec Inc. and iCommerce
The primary premise of SociaTec is that
social networking is inseparable from mobility. The company's rich
history in mobility in the industrial and transportation communities
provides us a unique perspective how mobility enables social
interaction. SociaTec's core competency is navigating through the
landscape of mobility and social networking in regulated environments
such as banking, finance, drugs, and insurance.
The company evolved from a military and
aviation supplier of IFF (RFID) programs in the 70's to a prioneer
in the PC and network revolution in the 1980's, secured distributed
computing and RFID enabled eCommerce the 1990's, RFID and Homeland
Security in recent years.
As the predecessor of iCommerce, American
Technologies of Beverly Hills and Basel was one of the first solutions
providers for business computing in 1982, with a suite of applications
first developed with Xerox.
In 1983 American Technologies partnered with
Western Union to develop and distribute the first peer-to-peer PC
based eMail client, followed by engineering the first low cost dial-up
modem.
For a decade between 1983 and 1993, additional
technologies were developed and enhanced for securing video media and
develop new paradigms in profile based retailing.
In Social Media, iCommerce developed one of
the first social networking eCommerce platform for supply chain
members. The year was 1995 and the platform was www.genlogistics.com
In 1998, iCommerce launched the initial social
media site, www.learnanytime.com, designed to secure the k-12 and higher
education community. This social site preceded mySpace or Facebook.
Followed by media platforms targeting young auto drivers, the insurance
sector and the auto sector.
With technology advancement in RFID and the dot
com bust, iCommerce and SociaTec, expanded it's laboratory capacity and
partnered with companies such IBM, TI, Oracle, Intel, Motorola, Checkpoint,
and Siemens to accelerate RF and mobility solutions.
What is RFID ?
RFID uses tags affixed to cases, containers, totes, unit packaging and vehicles to transmit accurate, real-time information to enterprise, merchandising, warehouse, transportation and other supply chain applications. A basic RFID system consists of three components:
•Antenna
•Transceiver (transmitter/receiver)
•Transponder (tag)
Similar to a bar code, RFID encodes data into a medium which allows that data to be read contactless, static state or in motion. The RFID tag responds to signals received from a reader (transceiver/receiver). A tag is attached to an item and provides identification for that item when captured. A significant improvement over the bar code, RFID offers non-contact, non-line-of-sight ability to gather real-time, unique, data and can penetrate most non-metallic materials. MOBILITY APPLICATIONS can be embedded in corrugated cases, totes, skids (pallets) containers and even products without any adverse effects on the data capture requirements.
Active or Passive Tags Active Tags:•Catch the attention of the reader
•Function with battery power (a battery is either connected to, or built into the tag)
•Work over a greater distance and are usually more expensive due to the cost and size of the battery Passive Tags:•Alert the tag to communicate through a reader
•Communicate without battery power, giving them essentially unlimited life (without a battery, passive tags are generally smaller and lighter than active tags)
•Derive power from the reader’s electromagnetic field
The main difference between the two: A passive tag’s read range is generally shorter, and much smaller than an active tag. However, in the case of a reusable container, a passive tag will last the entire lifetime of the container to which it has been assigned, without the need to change batteries or interrupt the flow of the pooling system.
Frequency Ranges and Characteristics Frequency ranges also distinguish RFID systems.
Low frequency 150 KHz: Short to medium read range — low reading speed
High frequency 13.56 MHz: Short to medium read range — medium reading speed
UHF frequency 868-920 MHz: Long read range — high reading speed
Microwave 2.4 - 5.8 GH: Long reading range — high reading speed and line of sight required
Possibilities for RFID Recent RFID deployment by SociaTec Inc. thus far prove that RFID is the future. Financial analysts predict companies that lag behind in RFID technology adoption will face substantial handicaps years to come. The early implementers of RFID systems are reaping the benefits of being innovative.
The Future of RFID1) RFID technology will experience rapid growth in 2005-2006 and accelerate in 2012. The foundation beyond pilots will be established in 2005.
2) The majority of the industries using bar code technology will experience pressure to revolutionize to RFID tagging systems — RFID technology will replace the ever-present bar code as prices for RFID technology fall.
3) International standards for RFID technology are progressing, and will be adopted when source tagging occurs in China.
4) Environmentally demanding requirements include developing tags with the ability to withstand the various printer environments, de-tuning influences, time stampings and various environmental influences of extreme temperatures, humidity and impact.
5) The capabilities for RFID technology meet demanding requirements such as reading tags when mounted on vehicles in secured environments, borders and ports.
The Cost of RFIDRFID costs are decreasing slowly, but will drop more rapidly as the technology evolves from silicon to non-silicon mass production. While producers of readers and tags will be few, label converters and antenna producers will be counted in the hundreds. While the cost of MOBILITY APPLICATIONS are higher than printing generic bar codes, SociaTec Inc. encourages companies to do their RFID research and incorporate RFID in their current process. We encourage such research on product that presents an adequate margin to support the cost. With
our middleware partners SociaTec Inc. has developed a program of identifying an adequate ROI on a closed loop pilot.
SociaTec Inc. and RFID RFID is the core of SociaTec Inc. single-source solution for asset management and inventory management.
Our first full retail implementation in 1992 of a print and apply RFID tag solution for a major retailer delivered a scalable cost effective solution for packaged music and VHS tape.
SociaTec Inc. asset management, logistics services and supply chain technology require the lowest investment and the shortest timeline. This allows companies to deploy RFID with little to no up front investment and with less risk than other RFID solutions. With SociaTec Inc. RFID technology, we help companies track inventory and assets in real-time as they move through the supply chain.
SociaTec Inc. RFID user base has benefited from our recognized RFID solutions.
About SociaTec Inc.SociaTec Inc. supply chain technology and services have evolved over two decades in security, brand protection and asset management designed to reduce transportation and operating costs for manufacturing companies that move raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods through the manufacturing supply chain, and inventory through the retail supply chain.
SociaTec Inc. multi-part asset management, logistics services and supply chain technology solution, integrating EPC, RFID and container tracking software, is available today.
With our middleware partners, SociaTec Inc. has over 6000 manufacturing middleware installations worldwide providing SociaTec Inc. a marketing and relationship reach second to few.
SociaTec Inc. and its affiliates focus on drug, retail, Homeland Security, food & beverage, chemical, air cargo, automotive and other asset-intensive industries. Target Stores, Church and Dwight, Coca-Cola, Abercrombie and Fitch, Wal-Mart, Metro Group, Tesco, and others have benefited from development by SociaTec Inc..
Headquartered in New York, SociaTec Inc. affiliates have offices in 43 countries.
SociaTec Inc. is privately held.
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