IoT & Business Technology Transformation
eChain Technology, a US-based RFID technology and solutions company, is working with Invengo to provide affordable samples and small-quantity options for purchase to sample and test Invengo RFID tags. Check out our shopping cart for our Invengo RFID tag options.
At eChain Technology, we provide best in class application and data security, reliability and performance by implementing our 3-tier approach to ensure our systems and client data are as secure as possible.
Even the best companies are challenged by systems and processes that don’t work together. eChain Technology has focused on connecting businesses, systems and processes for over 15 years.
Who hasn’t been to the doctor and find you are required to fill out 7 forms – and 90% of the information is the same on each form? You have to enter the same information again and again. Come back a year later and fill out the same forms again! Insanity, right?
Now imagine this is the frustration that you sales person has when entering lead information from lead system into the CRM system. Or your accountant’s frustration at having to enter that information again into the accounting system once the sale is closed. Then the manufacturing manager enters the sale information into the manufacturing execution system from a printed form (or email). Then the shipping manager enters the shipping information into the FedEx terminal from another printed form. You hope the shipment is delivered on time and without problem, because you don’t check again until the customer calls to complain.
Would you like to know the stock levels available from your suppliers in real time? What about their capacity to deliver critical products you suddenly need for that huge order? How about amount of stock available in each distribution center in your sales channel – even though some of those DC’s are not owned by you and run on completely different systems. How about mobile alerts to your key team members when something goes wrong (or right?). Would you like to know what items in your warehouse are expired (or expiring) in enough time to sell them at a discount?
These are just some of the problems that System Integration solves for many companies.
This is worth saying again. System Integration provides the largest return for the investment. In 20 years of consulting, I have had the pleasure of working with many companies on even many more challenges. In most cases, companies already own the applications and solutions they need to solve their problems – no need to invest millions in new systems. They just need to make the systems they already own work better. In some cases, this simply requires enabling currently unused features. However, in many cases, connecting existing systems to better support workflow solves the problems.
The amazing thing is, I have seen small companies hire 2-3 extra resources to perform the manual data entry and manual reporting/oversight that could have been fixed with less than $5,000 in integration work. Large companies engage the entire accounting department for a month to accumulate financials across all locations and divisions when these numbers should be available the next day. Companies lose 5-10% sales because they sell items they aren’t sure they actually have in stock.
These business challenges can be solved easily, quickly and with minimal risk with low cost. System Integration initiatives save companies millions, reduce employee frustration and redundancy, and better service their customers. Whether large or small, companies can achieve huge benefits from integration.
At eChain, we are experienced integrating many kinds of systems using many technologies. Maybe these examples can help you understand what is possible.
It is hard to deny that the Internet of Things (IoT) has reached a critical mass of sorts and is now feeding and growing on its own momentum. Every day there is news from all over the world of companies adopting and utilizing IoT technologies in very interesting ways that improve their business, reduce problems and risks, and provide automatic accountability in a world of global availability. And IoT is finding its way into the consumer market as well, providing home safety and automation, secure access and accountability for school children, and the capability to locate indispensable items like bikes and car keys.
Every technology used in IoT is different. Primary technologies in IoT include RFID, Bluetooth and Wifi. These technologies have extremely different capabilities, strengths and weakness that ensure the best technology is available for specific scenarios. For example, do you want to track many things (clothing in a department store) or a few things (car keys)? Do you need extremely short range (contact-based access control, contactless secure payment system with read distance of a few millimeters). Medium-range (retail checkout scan of a few inches), or long-range (employee/patient tracking, long-range stock tracking at 30-50ft). Or do you need extremely long range sensors that indicate a mechanical failure or issue (lead level in water supply, miner experiencing oxygen issues in a mine shaft) at a distance of a quarter mile or more?
RFID Tag Serial Output
Each technology communicates using different comm protocols, timings, ranges, security levels, etc., and each technology requires a unique system to interpret and process the data to ensure relevant information is immediately communicated, while non-relevant information (redundant status updates) are filtered out.
00:16:25:11:22:C3 4 0C210501607131472202319F 1434760116623735 61
Unlike EDI or XML, each IoT technology communicates differently with no existing standard. Here is a great article by Sanjay Sarma of MIT Technology Review titled The Internet of Things: Roadmap to a Connected World. Data from IoT sensors typically includes a sensor/tag identifier (in Hexadecimal) and sometimes a sensor data element (on/off or sensor reading like 121 degrees). Some IoT items communicate directly with the internet (onboard Wifi or Bluetooth). Others need a device to read the signal from the sensor/tag (Reader) and relay the signal to the internet (or server application). The Reader will add additional metadata to the tag/sensor data (reader identifier, timestamp, signal strength, etc.), translate the tag signal and transmit the enhanced signal data to a local application or to the internet.
The resulting data string might look something like this: “00:16:25:11:22:C3 4 0C210501607131472202319F 1434760116623735 61”
Professor Plum
In the end, all you really want from your IoT device is the WHAT (Professor Plumb), the WHERE (Library), the WHEN (9:36PM) and possibly a sensor reading (Alive/Dead?). You expect your IoT application to monitor other tracked items in the vicinity (Candlestick Holder) and the relationship of items that would make the game of Clue extremely short if played using IoT technology. Of course, we would also know that Mrs. Peacock “expired” at 9:36PM in the Library… This status would trigger an alert to the designated authorities with the relevant information.
Sensors and machine-to-machine interaction is just the beginning of the IoT revolution. The real value lies in integrating these disparate data feeds into your day-to-day operations. Ask yourself – do I want to maintain a bunch of new applications and interfaces?
eChain Technology Advanced Solutions that Automate Global Commerce
Do I want to deploy and maintain internet and “Edge” servers to reduce thousands of data records continuously generated (per minute) to extract the one relevant record (item x has stopped)? Do I want to spend the next 2 years experimenting with IoT and RFID technology to find out what works for me and my specific business scenario? How do I leapfrog existing legacy systems to take advantage of emerging IoT technologies and other related technology?
Ask yourself, would it be valuable for me to have multiple systems working together to provide a single view of the entire history of an item – including assembly steps and components, warehouse locations and movements, shipping updates from multiple carriers, quality inspections, service records, and record of employees who touched the item? In the case of catastrophic item failure (airliner crash, food poisoning) knowing where each component has ever been will be extremely important.
eChain Technology was founded in 2001 to design, develop and deliver innovative supply-chain solutions and enterprise project execution that improves efficiency and maximizes operational performance. We have a 100% success rate delivering more than $150 million in net income and value to Fortune-500, multi-national companies and government agencies. eChain Technology specializes in RFID, supply-chain and enterprise solutions that immediately address business cost areas and improve operational performance. We provide full service consulting, system integration and application development.
eChain Technology had a great showing in the first annual Atlanta IoT Showcase held at Tech Square Labs. This turned out to be an incredible event that sold out three times! Attending were representatives from some major companies and influencers like Coca-Cola, Intel, AT&T, Georgia Tech and more! Attendees were able to see next-generation technology being developed by many of Atlanta’s leading technology startups. For several participants, this was the first public demonstration of their solutions.
eChain at ATL IoT Showcase
ATL IoT Showcase Crowd
Special thanks to our Sponsors, participants and attendees who took time from their busy day to make this first Internet of Things Showcase such a success! Stay tuned – we will be putting on another showcase in around 6 months. Can’t wait to see how things evolve between now and then.
ATL IoT Showcase
If you are in Atlanta on May 4th, please make time to see our demo at the Atlanta Internet of Things Showcase. Enjoy complimentary brews and snacks and spend a couple hours seeing and learning what’s happening in Atlanta with the Internet of Things. IoT speakers, demos from IoT companies and networking with members of the IoT community. Sponsored by: AIG, Tech Square Labs, Invest Atlanta, ATDC. Wednesday, May 4 at 4:00pm. Download Flyer
eChain Technology will be demonstrating our low-cost RFID technology capabilities … physical item movements trigger automatic updates to our cloud inventory management application providing unique item traceability and real-time visibility. We will also have hands-on display of various RFID technologies used for different tracking scenarios.
ATL IoT Showcase Tickets, Wed, May 4, 2016 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/atl-iot-sowcase-tickets-24564669588?aff=es2
“What the Heck is IoT?
Bill Eason and Russ Clark (Research Scientists at Georgia Tech)
Whether you’re 15 or 75, your life is increasingly affected by “smart” devices that we use to understand and control what’s going on around us. Come learn about the “sensorification” of our world and the impact that the interconnection of these devices will have on every person, building, city, industry, and company.
The Emerging Risks and Benefits of IoT
Forrest Pace, AIG
Sensors will transform how businesses make data-driven decisions. What factors should companies consider when deploying sensors in the workplace? Can a worker be punished because of data collected from an IoT object? We’ll examine these questions and much more.
Pure Integration
A product and systems integration company serving leading-edge clients in the communications, technology, and federal industries.
Demo: Wireless security penetration testing and the tools utilized in the 2.4 MHz range, a multi-radio concept, and voice control of multiple retail IOT products and integration to other platforms.
Polyglot Programming
A boutique consultancy specializing in mobile and wearable solutions.
Demo: Smartphone controlled, low power, sensor based wearable solutions ranging from a Twitter controlled smart shirt to a custom heart rate sensor.
eChain Technology
Advanced RFID solutions that automate inventory and asset management and provide real-time asset visibility worldwide.
Demo: Low-cost RFID technology capabilities. Physical item movements trigger automatic updates to our cloud inventory management application, providing unique item traceability and real-time visibility.
EngeniusMicro
Delivering connected sensor solutions to industrial and automotive customers.
Demo: A special collaboration with Movinture to demonstrate a visualized transportation solution that includes inputs from discrete and connected sensors.
Movinture
IoT-enabled, cloud-based work ow business applications. Developed iMtrack – a cloud-based visualization & informatics application delivering insights into instrumented real time data for vehicles, equipment, assets, and resources
Cytilife
A sensory network using xed and mobile sensors across college campuses to offer a suite of “every day” services that are hyper-personalized and hyper- localized using our advanced analytics platform.
Demo: GTlyfe Application that is being rolled out at Georgia Tech. Additionally, a broader prototype that simulates services based on data received from xed and mobile sensor
eChain Technology is proud to announce the 2016 opening of the first Internet of Things (IoT) and RFID interactive showcase in Atlanta, conveniently located at prestigious Colony Square office location in Midtown Atlanta!
eChain RFID Atlanta Showroom
eChain Technology in partnership with ThoughtWorks has constructed an interactive showcase exhibit that demonstrates how items affixed with inexpensive passive RFID labels can be automatically tracked as they move throughout the showcase area, how certain movements change the item status or generate alerts. You will see how an enterprise inventory management solution processes the automated updates to provide real-time system updates with no human input, and maintains a complete history of item movements and locations. Experiment to see just how far a passive RFID system can read $0.10 labels (50 ft?), which tags work best, how different materials affect RFID reads. See the Hitachi Small Package RFID Tag (used to track honey bees) and how to make the 2.5mm tag scan at 12 ft. Review USB desktop RFID readers – how do they compare to fixed infrastructure systems? What is the difference? Bring your business challenge or a scenario you would like to test with this technology. Our engineers can work with you to see just how effective these solutions can be for you.
By appointment only please. To schedule, please contact Lewis Kilby at eChain Technology. lkilby@echaintechnology.com
eChain Technology is offering a cloud-based, graphical and easy to use solution that provides low-cost inventory management for real-time asset visibility utilizing long-range RFID sensor technology to automate transactions and interactions for all your business assets in every facility anywhere in the world.
The application and real-time information are securely accessed by your team, your clients and suppliers in native language and currency from internet browser or mobile. Our solution, eChainRF AIM (RFID Automated Inventory Management) provides comprehensive, cloud-based enterprise stock and stock value management and control plus B2B web-based quotes, orders, sales, returns, purchases, transfers, invoices and rich reporting and metrics.
eChain Technology Advanced Solutions that Automate Global Commerce
The business implication of our solution is amazing!
ThoughtWorks
We work with people and organizations who have ambitious missions – whether they are in the commercial, social or government sectors. We set up smart teams who love challenges and think disruptively to help our clients succeed. We are focused on helping our industry improve, and believe in sharing what we learn. We are strong believers in the power of software and technology as tools for social change. Through our Social Impact Program, we collaborate with organizations with a humanitarian mission and broad reach, helping them use technology to make an impact. http://thoughtworks.com
Contact ThoughtWorks at: https://www.thoughtworks.com/contact-us, email: info-us@thoughtworks.com
eChain USB Desktop RFID Reader
eChain Technology adds an inexpensive Plug and Play Desktop RFID Reader to our comprehensive RFAST Cloud Asset Management solution. Our eChain USB Desktop RFID Reader connects to computer USB port for instant RFID tag reads. Experiment and test reading various RFID tags to understand the capabilities and limitations of this fascinating technology. This is one of the highest power USB desktop readers available, with max power output of 26 dBm and ability to read UHF EPC Gen2 tags up to 3 meters (9 ft). Adjustable frequency means you can legally use this reader in most countries in the world.
eChain Connect
For most RFID experiments, this is there the fun ends. You realize that the tag data is displayed on your computer and goes no further. You can’t map the data to an actual asset or location. You can’t even get the data into another system. It simply displays on your computer in its own proprietary application.
So eChain Technology has created a communication app that installs onto your computer and interfaces with the desktop reader. eChain Connect takes the tag data streaming from the reader and securely transmits it using HTTP Post method to the internet where it is loaded into our RFAST application. Now, those seemingly random RFID tag reads become a real-time sensor feed to an enterprise asset management application tracking location and location history of your key assets up to the second.
eChain is well established in the global technology scene and member of associations like GS1, Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC). We have been in business since 2001, and have seen RFID capabilities and technologies explode in the last two years, partly due to the focus brought by the Internet of Things (IoT).
RFID is no longer a glorified barcode scanner, but is a true game-changing technology! Low cost tags and antenna technology for long-range reading means that you can literally tag and track anything and everything of value or importance. Read hundreds of item tags at 35 – 50 ft. (instead of 1-5 inches) Count items inside boxes and boxes on pallets automatically. There are literally hundreds of uses for RFID technology.
With UHF RFID, you can see tags inside boxes or drawers. Notice that some tags can be read much further than others. Play with signal strength (RSSI) and frequency bandwidth. How do these settings affect read range? Notice the number of tag reads per second/minute. Can you hide a tag from RFID? Is there anything in your wallet that RFID can scan? How about your toll sticker in your car? Do the tags work on metal, people or liquid? It is really fun to test all these capabilities to fully understand the power and limitations of RFID.
Arduino Linksprite RFID AS3992
A significant contributor to RFID visibility and adoption has been the low cost AS3992 UHF RFID Passive Reader Module Kit by Arduino and Cottonwood/Linksprite. At around $220 on eBay, an aspiring engineer can purchase this kit and experiment with UHF RFID. Many emerging tech companies are developing custom applications using the AS3992 for RFID tracking, access control and sensor-based applications.
However, because the AS3992 is actually a science project (circuit board/development kit), moving your work into a real-life production environment requires significant effort including manufacturing enclosures, finalizing software and applications, upgrading power and interface and many other challenges. This is where the eChain USB Desktop RFID Reader proves superior. In addition to being a complete, production-ready RFID reader and solution, the eChain USB Desktop RFID Reader is more powerful and flexible than AS3992.
eChain USB Desktop RFID Reader
eChain RFAST is designed to work quickly in your environment so that ROI can be generated immediately. No development required! Use the eChain USB Desktop RFID Reader reader to familiarize yourself with RFID technology and capabilities while configuring the RFAST Cloud application to monitor real asset and workflow movements. Test from the hundreds of RFID UHF tag options to find the best tags for your particular environment.
UHF RFID and eChain RFAST Asset Management supports Unique Device Identifier (UDI) regulations, eliminates expired goods and lost inventory, enforces FIFO stocking policies, identifies specific stolen goods and returns, and provides to-the-second tracaebility across the globe and in different languages. Customers use RFAST to help anti-counterfeiting, ensure critical stock is always available, track chain of custody, and to quickly identify, locate and remove recalled products. Perform mobile inventory count sweeps simply by walking through a truck or stock room. The uses for this technology are absolutely countless.
Get started today learning how this disruptive technology can work for your business. The eChain USB Desktop RFID Reader is a great way to better understand RFID, and it comes with an easy upgrade path to a production RFID solution for your business. Contact us today. Our RFID Experts are glad to work with you on your specific business challenges and show you what is possible with RFID automation.
BJC HealthCare has achieved incredible results during the first year pilot of BJC SuppyPlus End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility (E2ESCV) project, partnering with Cook Medical and Cardinal Health,
eChain Executive Mobile Device Slideshow
http://echaintechnology.com/solutions/mobilerf/
The eChain MobileRF solution is a phone-based Android Application Platform with integrated UHF RFID and Barcode Scanner.
This is not your typical ruggedized warehouse scanner. This is an elegant smart device platform for executive and in-office use, integrated into the eChain RFID Portal platform. Our mobile solution completes your eChain Technology Automated Asset Management needs for Critical Asset, Item and Parts Visibility. Use to scan, interrogate, inspect and add/update your UHF RFID-tagged assets, or use the on-board industrial Honeywell bar-code scanner for barcode tags.
Our advanced solutions allow your business systems to automatically maintain visibility and control of thousands of critical parts, individually, across their entire operation or supply chain without human intervention or input.
