Alien Technology Corporation today announced it is collaborating with Unisys Corporation (NYSE:UIS) to develop an end-to-end, vendor-neutral solutions environment for RFID configuration and demonstration, named FLIER (Flexible Logistics Information Environment for RFID). The dashboard-driven FLIER environment is designed to help enable organizations to quickly construct state-of-the-art, RFID-enabled supply chain management processes from a broad spectrum of industry-standard software and RFID hardware components, and demonstrate them across a variety of typical use scenarios for easy visualization and experimentation.

     "Unique in the RFID landscape, FLIER is designed to help enable organizations to flexibly mix and match enterprise software packages, RFID devices and business processes, thus greatly simplifying and accelerating RFID discovery, modeling, testing and maintenance,” said Damon Bramble, General Manager, RFID Solutions Center Dayton. “FLIER can be used to help determine exactly how RFID will work with your business processes and which mix of components is ideal in your application, while anticipating and resolving potential hurdles. The end goal is optimized solutions designs, more effective and lower risk RFID implementations, and lower total cost of ownership.”

The FLIER environment encompasses an end-to-end architecture for RFID, from the enterprise edge to the ERP system. Using the web-based FLIER dashboard, a complete solution can be configured from a broad choice of interchangeable hardware devices and software packages spanning edgeware applications, warehouse management systems, ERP applications and RFID components such as readers, applicators, printers as well as RFID-enabled carts and forklifts.

     In addition, organizations can use the FLIER dashboard to select demonstrations of their potential solutions across a variety of industry-standard use case scenarios. Twenty-two scenarios are currently embedded in the FLIER environment including applications for retail compliance or defense policy adherence, retail promotions management, pharmaceutical e-Pedigree, packaging, distribution, transport, asset management and more. FLIER’s underlying architecture, designed and integrated by Unisys, enables the easy addition of new scenarios as well as new software and hardware components to the FLIER environment over time.

     "As a RFID Solutions Center partner, we are pleased to have collaborated with Alien on the creation of this RFID configuration and demonstration environment,” said Laura Osburnsen, Director, Global Commercial Industries, Unisys Corporation. “FLIER will be a vital resource to enterprises, governmental entities, universities and RFID industry participants as they visualize, build and evaluate state-of-the-art RFID solutions.”

     "During our end-to-end RFID pilot last year, the RFID Solutions Center’s supply chain simulation capabilities helped us streamline and test the installation of RFID equipment into our business processes,” said Julie Kuhn, vice president of operations technologies at Cardinal Health. "We now also look forward to seeing how the new FLIER solution will help us to integrate RFID technology into real-world systems.”

     The FLIER environment is hosted at the RFID Solutions Center Dayton. The RFID Solutions Center Dayton, a division of Alien Technology, is dedicated to driving RFID technology innovation and adoption of RFID solutions worldwide through collaboration with RFID end-users, key participants in the RFID industry, and academic institutions focused on RFID research and application. Infrastructure and equipment at the center enable technical services and applications engineering teams to simulate key stages in “real world” supply chains, and work closely with RFID customers to evaluate, design, specify, and deploy RFID systems. The center’s simulated environment, which includes shipping dock doors, material handling equipment and conveyors, shipping stations, a store backroom and a retail store floor, offers a comprehensive engineering laboratory and educational RFID environment. More information regarding the RFID Solutions Center is available at www.rfidsolutionscenter.com.

About Alien Technology

     Alien Technology Corporation is a leading provider of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) products for global customers in government, retail, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, transportation, and other industries. Using its patented manufacturing process, Fluidic Self Assembly (FSA?), Alien manufactures EPC tags in very high-volumes and at low cost. The company provides a family of RFID readers for a variety of applications including supply chain management, logistics, and anti-counterfeiting, to improve inventory management and reduce operating costs. Alien is an active member of EPCglobal. More information about Alien Technology Corporation can be found on the Company’s website at www.alientechnology.com.

     Alien, Alien Technology, the Alien logo, RFID Solutions Center and FSA, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Alien Technology Corporation in the United States and other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

 

                                                               

                                                                                                                         Extract From Business Wire