The global market value of RFID systems, including tags, in the postal and courier sector is forecast to reach some US$3 billion in 2016, according to the ''RFID for the Postal and Courier Service'' report, available from Research and Markets.

     The market could actually be much bigger if current efforts to tag individual items gain widespread acceptance. In due course, more than 1 trillion postal items will be tagged each year, making this the second largest application of RFID in the world (after the retail supply chain, assuming item-level tagging also sees widespread adoption). 116.30.142.201 This article is copyright 2005 UsingRFID.com.

     The report provides a ten year forecast and a full explanation of the technologies involved. There are also 30 new case studies of RFID in action in the postal and courier service in North America, Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. The breakthroughs that are most likely to provide future success in the sector are also discussed.

Time has come
     RFID is a technology whose time has come in the postal, courier and high-volume light logistics markets, the report says. In the past, RFID has been used in the sector for very little more than the evaluation of postal performance, using tags in a small percentage of letters and the tracking of a small number of conveyances and vehicles. But with DHL taking bids for RFID labels on 1 billion packages, and Saudi Post tagging postal boxes, it can be argued that all major players in the market (worldwide) will soon have to take more innovative steps to stay competitive.

Working example
     There is already a postal RFID system that completely automates the whole process of mail delivery, from accepting a package to classification and dispatching. It has been successfully tested in Korea during 2005. Indeed, the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has demonstrated the system to representatives from the Ministry of Information and Technology as well as private sector representatives. When perfected, it will replace the barcode system that''s currently in use.

     The current postal package unified information system uses barcodes, requiring human involvement at every mail centre to input or scan mail numbers into the system. The RFID system developed by ETRI  aims to reduce the costs, errors and human intervention involved. Real-time data automation - almost impossible with existing systems - should then be possible.

When''s the future?
     According to the report, it is difficult to estimate when pervasive RFID tagging of most of the courier and letter post is likely to occur - but RFID-enabled parcels, conveyances, vehicles and trailers are now commonplace, with multiple paybacks often being enjoyed.

     Companies and industry players identified or examined in the report include: DHL, UPS, FedEx, La Poste, ParcelCall, Royal Mail, Deutsche Post, Home Office, TRI-MEX International, Nokia, Brinks, Parcelforce, Veronique Delachaux, and Cypak.

 

 

 

 

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