First Look

T3Ci (the T3 stands for "The Tag Tracking Company Inc.") is partnering with IBM to provide Unilever North America with a breakthrough new RFID service based on the new Electronic Product Code Information Service (EPCIS) standard.

It will query and exchange RFID data across the enterprise and with training partners. T3Ci's CTO Richard Swan detailed the benefits for vendors, retailers and customers. For example:

-- Manufacturers can track movement of their merchandise on and off selling floors and placement (or lack thereof) of special promotion displays within a store.
-- Retailers can be alerted when products near the end of their shelf lives; they can also track how employees are moving products on and off selling floors.
-- Consumers will see fresher -- and fewer out-of-stock -- items.

For a some fascinating looks at the future of retail and RFID -- including the price pressures affecting tag- deployment -- click on the player below or download the file.