Zebra launches first XML-enabled RFID solution

The concept has been designed for companies using ERP, warehousing and supply chain/logistics software, such as those offered by Oracle and SAP. These software solution providers are developing XML-based platforms to support customers who must meet RFID compliance mandates or other business improvement initiatives.

Stringent legislation, consumer concerns about food safety and growing pressure from retailers have forced food manufacturers to look at every possible means of ensuring traceability and efficiency throughout the supply chain. As a result, RFID has fast become the de facto technology for ensuring speed, efficiency and reliability of data for food suppliers and manufacturers.

Full-scale implementation of RFID is already being carried out be a number of retailers and suppliers, many of whom are rushing to meet industry mandate deadlines as early as January 2005. Zebra hopes that the XML-enabled solution will help companies integrate their businesses better.

"The XML-enabled R110Xi removes layers of integration complexity for our customers, and is another example of Zebra's commitment to co-develop innovative solutions with leading enterprise software developers, such as Oracle and SAP,"​ said Zebra marketing vice president Stuart Itkin.

"By providing embedded support for an XML data feed, we are able to deliver an affordable and tightly integrated compliance path for companies that reduces their expenditures on middleware and server hardware, while providing the inherent flexibility of XML-based integration and interoperability, now and into the future."​

Zebra​ claims that XML is increasingly being used to provide more flexible and adaptable information identification for the open exchange of data between applications, peripherals and trading partners. As a result, XML is becoming the standard for business-to-business and application-to-application transactions, and is gaining use in EDI, ERP, and manufacturing systems.

These applications are driving the need for a simple, flexible, efficient interface to on-demand printers.

By adopting Zebra's XML-enabled printers for enterprise and business process improvement applications, companies can take advantage of open standards, which can simplify and speed integration of on-demand bar code and RFID label printing, and eliminate or reduce costs for middleware, licensing, print server hardware, and maintenance fees.

"XML-enabled printers provide significant advantages wherever the need exists for high-volume bar code and RFID label printing,"​ said Jon Chorley, senior director, Oracle Inventory and Warehouse Management. "Zebra's innovative hardware provides an excellent option for generating labels on demand, without requiring additional hardware and middleware. It provides easy integration with both Oracle Warehouse Management and Oracle sensor-based services."​

Retailers such as Wal-Mart believe that the widespread implementation of RFID technology marks a sea change in the supply chain, much as the introduction of bar codes was as seen as revolutionary two decades ago. But while bar codes can tell a retailer that it has two boxes of product XYZ, Wal-Mart's EPCs can help distinguish one box of product XYZ from the next. This allows retailers greater visibility in monitoring product inventory from supplier to distribution centre to store.

The XML-enabled R110Xi is the latest addition to Zebra's available line of HF and EPC-compatible UHF printer/encoders. Zebra claims to offer a broad range of bar code printers and RFID printer/encoders, supplies and connectivity software in the automatic identification industry.