RFID Journal LIVE! 2024: Keynote Speaker, RFID Journal Awards Finalists Announced

By James Hickey, Managing Editor, RFIDJournal.com

The winners will be revealed at RFID Journal LIVE! 2024, taking place from April 9 to 11 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As the excitement builds for the upcoming RFID Journal LIVE! 2024 event in Las Vegas from April 9-11, participants are eagerly anticipating an enriching experience that goes beyond the conventional. With a focus on disruptive technologies, innovative keynote speakers, and expert moderators, this year's conference promises to be a milestone in the evolution of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This year’s RFID Journal Awards finalists have been revealed by RFID Journal. The winners will be announced at RFID Journal LIVE! 2024, the company’s annual conference and exhibition, being held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. The six categories are Best New Product Finalists, Best Retail or Restaurant Implementation Finalists, Best Manufacturing or IIoT Implementation Finalists, Best Supply Chain/Logistics Implementation Finalists, Best Use of Disruptive Technology (AI, ML, Robotics, ChatGPT, etc.) to Enhance a Product or Service or Improve Business Operations and Best Large-Scale Deployment.

"The projects nominated this year show the growth and impact that RFID products have across so many industries," said James Hickey, RFID Journal's managing editor. "I look forward to meeting with the finalists—an international collection that truly shows the reach of RFID products as well as IoT and AI. I am especially excited to have several of them speaking at LIVE! 2024, where they will share their experience with attendees."

RFID Journal Live

The finalists for 2024’s RFID Journal Awards are as follows:

 Best New Product Finalists:

AsReader/Teijin Frontier’s Wearable-Type UHF band RFID reader powered by AsReader RecoHand

A wearable RFID reader that enables the wearer to read just the tag they are touching, scanning only that tag, ignoring all the stray tags around it.

Identiv’s ID-Pixels Battery Assisted Tag (Powered by Wiliot)

A smart, interactive tool that bridges the gap between digital intelligence and physical objects, enhancing the capabilities of IoT networks in multiple sectors.

PervasID's TrackMaster

A 99%+ accurate battery-free real-time location system to make any asset available at the right place/time.

Powercast Extended-Temperature RAIN RFID Reader Module

A ruggedized RAIN RFID reader module able to withstand a wider range of temperatures and environmental factors than most RAIN RFID reader modules.

ST Microelectronics ST25TA-E NFC Crypto Tag

NFC tag IC which enables secure physical product authentication, designed to digitalize any (valuable) physical object and ensure product authentication.

Zebra FXR90 Ultra-Rugged Fixed Readers

FXR90 RFID readers are built to perform reliably in a wide range of harsh environments and feature read rates of 1,300+ tags per second.

Best Retail or Restaurant Implementation Finalists:

Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia

Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia is using RFID to enhance the customer experience at their retail locations, while improving inventory management, reducing labor costs, and enabling better loss control.

Mercado Livre

Online retailer Mercado Livre is using RFID to improve the management of Returnable Transport Items (RTI) to optimize inventory processes in one of the world's largest e-commerce logistics operations.

Best Manufacturing or IIoT Implementation Finalist:

Yamaha G3 Boats

Yamaha G3 Boats is using RFID technology to facilitate real-time tracking and automated data collection, thereby enhancing the manufacturing process, and providing complete visibility into the production operations.

Best Supply Chain/Logistics Implementation Finalists:

Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein

Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein is leveraging their previous RFID investment of an extensive passive RFID structure throughout the institution. The firm has radically improved logistical processes for distributing linens to their patients, transitioning from using technology solely for asset traceability and visibility to making it a primary element in business management, while altering a model in use.

Loma Linda University Health 

Loma Linda University Health is successfully using RAIN RFID technology to achieve full visibility and tracking of all medical products, which has resulted in significantly improved patient safety. Recalled products are now traced to patients in seconds, expired devices are never placed in patients, required products for procedures are guaranteed to be available and electronic medical records are always accurate and complete.

Best Use of Disruptive Technology (AI, ML, Robotics, ChatGPT, etc.) to Enhance a Product or Service or Improve Business Operations

Microgroove

Microgroove, an application development company, has pioneered the first-ever technology for minting physical objects on the blockchain. The use of the Microgroove minted-NFC tag enables blockchain traceability and authentication, allowing for a new degree of physical object provenance.

Texas A&M University/Decklam Technologies-

Texas A&M sponsored research conducted by Decklam Technologies makes the case for RFID-enabled traceability in cash movements, proving organizations can provide better service at a lower cost, and garner operational savings using the technology.

Best Large-Scale Deployment

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman, in partnership with Factory Sense, has integrated state-of-the-art RFID technology across their extensive Space Park facility. This initiative was aimed at revolutionizing the way they track critical assets and tools, setting a new benchmark for industry excellence, streamlining production processes, and reinforcing their leading edge in aerospace technology.

UPS

The UPS Smart Package Smart Facility, is one of the largest RFID deployments in the U.S. and is reducing operations cost, improving productivity and radically elevating the customer experience with pinpoint location accuracy and speed of decision making.

New for 2024, the keynotes will take center stage on Tuesday, April 9 hosted on the LIVE! Immersive Stage—an interactive platform situated as the focal point within the expo hall. This stage will not only host the enlightening keynotes but showcase immersive product demonstrations and the prestigious RFID Journal Awards.

Opening Keynote - Disruptive Technologies: The Future is Now

The conference kicks off with an Opening Keynote - "Disruptive Technologies: The Future is Now." This enlightening panel discussion features industry leaders who will delve into the transformative impact of AI, IoT, and Machine Learning (ML). Among the notable speakers are:

Brandon Woodruff - Delta Air Lines

Topic: RFID Revolutionizing Baggage Handling

Discover how Delta Air Lines is leading the way in hands-free scanning of baggage, leveraging RFID technology to improve processing, reduce expenses, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Corey Cook - Lockheed Martin Advanced Technologies Concepts

Topic: Next Generation Asset Tracking Technologies

Join Corey Cook, Chief of Lockheed Martin Advanced Technologies Concepts, as he unveils the latest innovations in asset tracking technologies, spearheading the digital transformation revolution at Lockheed Martin. Explore integration with autonomous systems, augmented reality, holographic visualization, and self-sensing platforms.

Cameron Worth - SharpEnd

Topic: Strategic Use of IoT and Connected Packaging

Founder and CEO of SharpEnd, Cameron Worth, will share insights into the world's fastest-growing IoT SaaS platform, io.tt. Learn strategic approaches for consumer brands to embrace connected products through IoT and connected packaging, accelerating consumer adoption.

RFID Journal Live

Moderators Shaping the Discourse:

Adding to the depth of insights are the expert moderators who need no introduction to the industry:

Bill Hardgrave - President, University of Memphis

An accomplished scholar and thought leader in the field of RFID, Dr. Bill Hardgrave, President of the University of Memphis, founded the RFID Lab/Research Center. His extensive work with companies like Walmart and Macy’s has earned him recognition, including the Ted Williams Award from AIM Global and the Special Achievement award from RFID Journal.

Justin Patton - Director, RFID Lab, Auburn University

Overseeing the RFID Lab at Auburn University, Justin Patton has played a vital role in business case research for RFID in the United States. His work on the ARC program, an international performance validation system for RFID, is pioneering standardization in testing and certifying RFID performance across the retail supply chain.

These distinguished speakers and moderators promise to elevate the RFID Journal LIVE! 2024 experience, providing attendees with unparalleled insights and fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas. Don't miss the opportunity to engage with these industry luminaries and shape the future of RFID, IoT, and AI. Secure your spot now and be part of this transformative journey!