Our corporate vision encompasses philosophy, as well as knowledge and expertise. We know who we are, where we are going, what it takes to get there, and how we will proceed to successfully accomplish our goals. This page is intended to inform those with questions about RFID systems or services regarding Franwell's perspective.

If knowledge is power; then that power is an advantage commercially.
Knowing what you have, how much you have,
where it is at any point,
Where it originated, 
Where it is currently stored,
Where it is going,
as well as what environmental conditions affect it,
Is total inventory visibility.

Taking the data read and/or written at each stage in the processing of inventory
is true track and trace functionality.
The ability to make dynamic decisions that effect 
procurement, 
flow, 
and placement of inventory, 
is superior inventory management.

Achieving ROI on RFID Is Realistic

Franwell believes that even with limited deployments RFID clients can begin achieving benefits that ultimately contribute to greater profitability for their companies. When data is managed so that end-users have real time asset knowledge, losses due to a variety of factors are greatly reduced, and restocking for product availability is possible. All of this is enabled by integrating a good RFID system with a company wide ERP/WMS system for full and synchronized use of data. A more accurate and efficient warehouse, distribution center, or retail store ultimately does lower costs and creates greater opportunity for revenue increase.

One need not invest in multiple fixed RFID portals. Most good entry-level systems and equipment are scaleable and forward compliant, so they can be upgraded rather than fall into early obsolescence; additionally, they are more affordable for low volume to suppliers. There are a number of portable solutions available. Wireless networking, handheld readers, and mobile shipping stations (where tags are printed and applied) can accomplish much even in a minimal deployment. Mobile solutions that enable quick start-up do not lose their value after a company ramps up deployment, because they continue to be used in a variety of ways and environments that complement a large-scale rollout.

With standardized RF protocols, multi-protocol RF equipment, and collaboration among manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers, it is possible to achieve end-to-end validation of all inventory transactions. A secure data authentication center where data can be published from each end-user link along the supply chain is an essential element for full validation of the business processes involved. VeriSign, Inc. and the EPC Network offer the kind of infrastructure required to maintain end-to-end supply chain verification.

Having a strong barcode-based system in place should not be an issue that hinders transitioning to RFID. Good RFID readers also read and store bar code data. Database integration enables the accurate storage and retrieval of detailed information--and far more asset data is collected than was possible using only barcodes. 

This is not to say that there are no challenging issues to overcome. In addition to the dialectic properties of liquids and metals (whether they constitute the asset to be identified and tracked, the packaging, container, or the surrounding environment), there are scientific considerations that require a high level of expertise when determining how to implement an RFID solution. There is no shortage of new companies entering the RFID marketplace, but there is a shortage of individuals with firsthand knowledge and experience in assessing an operation to establish a business case for RFID, designing a complete solution, and following through with support after deployment.

Another significant obstacle is the fact that many companies that need to accelerate their business practices to the level of RFID tracking have no existing ERP/WMS to provide a framework for integration. For end users, it is not as difficult to advance to RFID technology if there is an existing automated system for inventory management; however, it is a quantum leap for those keeping records with pen and paper alone. A good RFID system should have its own database with track and trace functionality, but the benefit is far greater when integration enables company wide data sharing and transactions updated in real time. RFID without data management is like the proverbial toothless lion.

So, yes, there is ROI to be found at the core of RFID integration. There has always been a cost of doing business, but nothing prior to the introduction of practical RFID technology for commerce has held so much potential for improving the way we do business.

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An Honest Look at Where We Are Right Now

The January 2005 mandate deadlines most of us, if not everyone, in the RFID arena have been talking about and many, including Franwell, have been working toward, has arrived. Counterbalancing the positive industry hype that made headlines last year, we now see many negative articles in all our favorite technical news sources decrying the lack of preparedness and progress. While automatic identification by means of radio frequency is hardly a new concept, the entrance of RFID into the retail world is, to be honest, in a neophyte stage.

Critics point to a variety of factors to conclude that the retail/DoD RFID initiatives are a failure. Actually, what has been accomplished is far from failure, although implementation has not been as widespread nor as far reaching as hoped. The entire RFID/EPC implementation process has been challenged and progress toward resolving issues has been delayed; nevertheless, a great many prohibitive obstacles have been removed so that the supply chain industry finds many attempting to comply with the most recent standards available. Compliance to a lesser extent is acceptable when so many have taken giant strides toward common goals. It makes sense to relax the mandates and push the deadlines back a bit, creating an inviting atmosphere for those who just had to "wait and see."

Yes, there are still standards issues, but the UCC and EPC communities are much farther along the path than they were a year ago. Now that the Gen2 standards have been ratified, IP issues will at some point be resolved so everyone can move forward. While tag costs have come down, overall prices are still too high--and they will continue to be until there is widespread adoption of RFID into normal business practices. While RFID hardware has proliferated, the introduction of robust RFID software systems has been much slower because many software solution providers are just now responding to market needs that caught them by surprise.

Even with years of planning for calculated innovations that would radically transform supply chain industries, Franwell finds that it still takes time to put together the right technology sets for each new installation. We understand that the necessary testing phase takes longer than those involved in sales and marketing would like. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the number of companies cautiously entering the field with test projects and pilot programs. A slow start is preferable to no start.

With any new endeavor, there has to be a beginning point that may have little historical frame of reference to satisfy market analysts and investors. Innovation is all about believing in the success of products and services one introduces to the marketplace when suspicious naysayers can't share the vision--whether one is developing a new concept or reinventing an old one. Someone has to be positive about the market potential, someone has to have the foresight to realize that the technology, in our case RFID, will solve real problems, enhance capabilities, reduce losses, and provide the all-important ROI businesses require.

As to those who suggest that slap and ship systems have no practical value, Franwell must disagree. Even when clients are using a stand-alone RFID shipping station, once product reaches the retailer who verifies the tags through the EPCIS, more has been accomplished to maintain integrity of shipment as well as provide knowledge of the asset, than is possible with barcodes alone. Both the sender and the receiver know that they have exchanged the right goods, and the source, identity, and quantities are valid. That is an example of enhanced supply chain visibility, although admittedly limited in its application.

All along we have said slap and ship is just the beginning and that, for full benefit, data must be integrated throughout an operation, from receipt, through shipping, and from distribution to destination. For high-level security, ideally, the pedigree of assets would be verified at every juncture where they changed hands. When assets are routinely tracked along every link of the supply chain, then we will have mature use of RFID technology with a genuine ROI.

As more businesses join this venture, not only targeted suppliers, but also companies who have no compliance mandate, the shared information is going to benefit consumers as well. Rapid replacement of diminishing stock items as well as speedy recalls and removal of troubled items are just two values. Less manual handling of inventories means less product damage or wear and tear, and fewer losses or costly misplacements. Better management is always cost effective for suppliers, which translates to reduced prices for consumers.

If not Wal-Mart, and others of like economic stature, then who will provide the impetus to start the forward motion of an industry whose time has come? Partial satisfaction of case and pallet tagging efforts on the part of only some groups of suppliers is the beginning of far greater enterprise. Some people have the vision to see that far and others only recognize it in retrospect.

Henry Ford did not invent the wheel, but what he did to industrialize automobiles mobilized our society, changing far more than demographics. With the same creative focus, Franwell chooses to forge ahead seeking new applications for technology that can benefit everyone from source to consumer.

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Franwell Prepares for the Future by Implementing RFID Technology Today

Franwell, Inc. integrated RFID technology with our enterprise applications because we believe the combined technologies offer the best inventory visibility available to our current, as well as potential, clients. Franwell is also integrating RFID capability with other systems. Assisting clients that do not use our computer systems with their implementation of RFID is part of our commitment to provide the best available resources for a better economic future. Better management means fewer losses and lower costs for both suppliers and consumers, which includes all of us.

While there is still a great deal of discussion regarding future uses of RFID, there is a definite future for RFID technology that should benefit both consumers and retailers. And we believe the time has come. There is no more advanced technology available for business purposes than RFID when it comes to tracking the movement of inventory rapidly and accurately.

From business leaders, such as Wal-Mart, Procter & Gamble, Gillette, and Siemens, to the U.S. Military, those who use RFID are paving the way to a future that will affect virtually every product-based industry. Where concerns for safety of every asset from medical products and perishable foods to defense projects exist, RFID solutions promise the most reliable means of traceability known to modern industry. The practical use of RFID is not only a possibility, but a necessity for inter-connected supply chain industries. How we use emerging technology today will determine the ROI tomorrow.

The global exchange of RFID data for commercial enterprise was largely made possible by researchers at MIT along with an international symposium at the AUTO-ID Lab that successfully accomplished the requisite research and development goals. With the technology for EPC standards going forward through the efforts of EPCglobal, we are encouraged to see continual progress. While standardization requirements are continually upgraded, as a member of EPCglobal, Franwell is purposed to maintain EPC compliance for the benefit of all our clients.

RFID technology vendors have developed numerous systems to utilize the new industry standards for product identification. Our partnerships enable Franwell to integrate our software with RFID hardware that is compliant with EPC standards.

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We Are Positioned at the Forefront

Franwell's offering as a company is enhanced by carefully chosen affiliations with trusted partners, RFID hardware and middleware providers as well as trained technicians. Our combined knowledge and experience can benefit clients from any industry. Our wide array of expertise enables us to provide full RFID service from inception to completion of a project. Because we have a history of working with RFID technology long before it became daily headline material, Franwell specialists are ready now to take you forward with your operation.

We invite you to make an appointment to visit Franwell's RFID Lab to see live demonstrations of our integration solutions. Over the past year, we have made presentations at various trade shows and seminars, and we continue to be involved with educating the public as well as private businesses regarding the many practical uses for RFID technology.

For more than 20 years, Franwell, and its predecessors, have been involved with computer systems development using the newest workable technologies available. Not content merely to keep pace with the computer technology industry, Franwell has often developed its own tools to improve our products. The "cutting edge" is well honed, as Franwell developers do not adopt that which is new unless it is observably better than existing technology. Building upon past successes enables us to continue to grow along with the demands of our customers.

There are a number of very knowledgeable RFID systems integrators whom we greatly respect. Franwell is not competing for someone else's business. The market is wide open and we are targeting the food industry because, not only is that our area of special expertise, but also there is a recognized shortage of specialists in this important segment.

There has probably never been a time when there was greater concern about the freshness and safety of the foods we consume than in this century. Although it is helpful to be able to patch up after problems have occurred, Franwell prefers to be known for contributing to preventive solutions. We are poised to do this because we understand how RFID technology works and what it can do to improve the way you handle your assets.

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Why Franwell is Focused on RFID
(Franwell's History with RFID)

You read about companies toying with the idea of utilizing RFID to manage their assets and there is much concern expressed regarding cost of tags, availability of integration with existing computer systems, general reliability of tag readers, and the viability of operations dependent upon an RFID system. Read more on this broad topic and you will find that more than a few companies have been using RFID technology for some time to control movement of inventory as part of their business practices.

Just as radio frequency technologies are not new, RFID technology is not new to Franwell. Our President and CEO, Jeff Wells, began developing plans for RFID transponders that would exceed the capabilities of competitive systems operating more than 10 years ago. Along with his business partners, Jeff envisioned the increasing use of computers integrated with wireless communications for the tracking and location of any item from the manufacturer to the end-user, to be offered at reasonable (i.e., affordable) cost.

In addition to automating various labor functions, early objectives were, in brief, to attain a high level of accuracy that would target the identification of any and all items, including multiple diverse items out of line of sight, but simultaneously within one read-space, with reasonably short read-cycle times, as well as applications with flexibility and ability for system growth that allows for upgrading. The first project called for an extremely large number of unique tags, passive transponders with an indefinite shelf life, at low cost (commensurate with disposability).

Studies showed that the Franwell requirements for an RFID system were not available from any other technology companies at that time. After completing studies of feasibility, Franwell, in contract with a leading research institute, determined to proceed with a prototype. Ultimately, however, RFID was deemed too futuristic for consideration by potential investors approached at that stage, and the Franwell team moved ahead in other directions with innovations for the perishable foods industry. Nevertheless, Franwell maintained a relationship with the institute through its chief engineer.

The future is here, however, and we see a happy marriage of our enterprise applications and the RFID technology Jeff envisioned long ago. Franwell is prepared to introduce radio frequency identification to interested companies who want solid information without the media hype that usually surrounds the subject.

Franwell, Inc. is not merely integrating RFID technology with our own products, but we have formed partnerships with other leading companies that enable us to provide integration solutions for clients using a wide variety of computer systems. Consulting services are naturally an outgrowth of strategic planning for implementation of RFID systems and their integration with other systems.

Those who are waiting to see if RFID technology will catch on and gain widespread use, will find themselves playing catch-up as EPC standardized systems are deployed globally. The advice to act now, rather than be forced to update or be marginalized at a later date in time resounds like an ugly threat. Nevertheless, information technology is not going to reverse direction—there is no going backward. That is as factual as the common knowledge that one does not make advances without taking certain risks. RFID involvement presents a reasonable risk based on years of study and development, rather than a leap of blind faith into the unknown.

We invite you to consider taking steps forward hand-in-hand with integration specialists who have been there already.

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What Does Franwell Envision Doing for You?

Imagine running several pallets with mixed product containers through a stationary label reader that immediately scans multiple items accurately, and instantly relays that information to your computer. Everything is identified and nothing has to be done individually by hand. All of this is done faster than anyone can manually enter the information into the quickest computer system available.

You cannot always directly view your inventory, but RFID technology enables you to track the location along with other product details. When you need to trace the history of an item, you can have a complete trail to verify what happened and when it occurred. Stronger security for your inventory means better financial security for your company.

Franwell's Agware system is already superior at tracking inventory from grower or vendor source through sales to its destination and final financial settlement. Utilizing RFID technology will further increase efficiency, accuracy, and safety of perishable food products, thus enabling our Agware users to benefit financially from reduced waste and loss of inventory. Franwell has accomplished the same results for other companies that use different ERP/WMS enterprise systems.

Whether you are concerned with tracking product in transit, through receiving to storage, and then from shipping to retail distribution, from the manufacturer to shopping shelves, RFID technology enables precise reading of tagged items. There are different kinds of readers suitable for everything from freestanding portals, doorways, racks, and shelves, to the interiors of trucks.

Tags vary in design and price, but, we all know, currently high costs will come down when the technology is more widely used. Some estimates place that number around 30 billion tags annually. A handful of large corporations employing the technology could make from one up to two thirds of that amount. The smaller businesses should not be left behind. Franwell has always been interested in making our solutions affordable for just that reason.

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Working toward Integrating RFID for YOU

Franwell's RFID specialists want to work closely with you to identify the best means of implementing radio frequency identification technology to your benefit. We want you to be familiar with Franwell and comfortable with our business practices.

Franwell is collaborating with the University of Florida to pursue actual case studies of RFID as it applies to the produce industry. We assisted The University of Florida in creating an RFID lab at their new research center. The Center for Food Distribution and Retailing at the University of Florida is testing extensively the way RFID tag readings vary with the different types of perishable foods (frozen, packaged, etc.). In addition to this cooperative scientific endeavor, we have our own RFID lab at Franwell headquarters in Lakeland, Florida, where we have been demonstrating RFID capabilities, as well as testing various equipment and our own integration systems.

The technical expertise gained from UF's research will certainly have a bearing on our individual recommendations and practical implementation. We also will assess the needs of a client regarding the kind of readers, antennae, and tags that will best work within a particular business scenario (which includes environment, orientation, possible interference, and substance challenges). Beginning with this business assessment, Franwell will then establish an expected flow of processes in your operation.

With a thorough understanding of how you need to conduct your business, Franwell can help you build a business case, plan your pilot, and handle engineering for your physical plant. When theory and practice come together, piloting of the project begins and will continue for a number of months, depending upon the size, nature, and complexity of a given business.

By the time the actual implementation plan is finalized, the transition from pilot to established program is expected to take place smoothly. Your employees will have the ability to carry out fully procedures on their own and your business is good to go and grow.

For letters of recommendation, please call for specific e-mail contact information, as we no longer post e-mail addresses on our Web sites. Franwell.com or telephone your request to 813.752.7952 extension 222.

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