RFID Growing to $6.78B

CAMBRIDGE, U.K. -- The value of sales of active radio frequency identification (RFID) systems will grow very rapidly from 0.55 billion dollars in 2006 to $6.78 billion 2016, according to a report from analysts IDTechEx, titled Active RFID 2006-2016. The primary factors creating this growth will be Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) and disposable RFID sensor systems, including ones in the form of Smart Active Labels (SALs). IDTechEx forecast this rapid growth due to four major factors.

The first is the much stronger market demand for tracking, locating and monitoring people and things. This is driven by security, safety, cost and customer satisfaction, for example. Important factors are increased competition in consumer goods, the new terrorism, threatened epidemics of disease, coping with increasing numbers of elderly persons and consumers demanding better service and more information.

The second driver is the reduction in cost and size of the tags and systems. With lower power circuits, button batteries are now adequate for most applications and even printed batteries are gaining a place. In future, miniature fuel cells, printed photovoltaics – including the new power storage photocapacitors - and other power sources will have a place. This will help to overcome constraints of lifetime, cost and size.

IDTechEx