Jul 12, 2012I'm very pleased to announce that Bill Hardgrave, the dean of Auburn University's College of Business, will be writing an ongoing column for RFID Journal's bimonthly digital magazine. Hardgrave, a thought leader in the radio frequency identification industry, recently received a 2012 RFID Journal Award for Special Achievement, for his pioneering research into the real-world impact that the technology has on apparel retailing (see Giving RFID Credibility).
In 2005, Hardgrave founded the University of Arkansas' RFID Research Center. The 10,000-square-foot lab was located within a manufacturing and warehouse facility in Fayetteville, Ark., owned by a business called Hanna's Candles. Since then, the center has worked with many retailers and manufacturers to carry out numerous RFID projects, and its research has been vital in helping companies understand the value RFID can deliver.
In August 2010, Hardgrave was named the dean of the College of Business, a prestigious and well-deserved position. He has continued to remain involved in the RFID industry, and speaks regularly with retailers, manufacturers, solutions providers, academics and others involved in RFID deployments. He has a deep knowledge of what RFID can and can't do, as well as an understanding of the business value that the technology can create (see Reflections From RFID Leaders: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Store).
"I plan to base my columns on the many conversations I have with retailers, suppliers, solution providers and others," Hardgrave says. "I want to offer practical advice and real-world insights that will help companies make smart decisions about how and where to use RFID technologies."
Hardgrave's column, titled "Tuned In," will be a great addition to our electronic magazine, which is read by end users and RFID technology providers worldwide. I look forward to his first article, which will be featured in our September/October 2012 issue.
Mark Roberti is the founder and editor of RFID Journal. If you would like to comment on this article, click on the link below. To read more of Mark's opinions, visit the RFID Journal Blog, the Editor's Note archive or RFID Connect.