This report is no longer available. Click here to view our current reports or contact us to discuss a custom report.

If you have previously purchased this report then please use the download links on the right to download the files.

Active RFID and Sensor Networks 2011-2021

Forecasts, players, opportunities

Updated June 2011
By
Show All Description Contents, Table & Figures List FAQs Pricing Related Content
Report summary
This IDTechEx report comprehensively analyzes the technologies, players and markets with detailed ten year forecasts, including tag numbers, unit prices and interrogator numbers and prices. Details of over 75 active RFID implementations are given along with over 100 suppliers and full technology analysis - from printed batteries to Wi-Fi RFID to UWB tags and systems. We have constructed ten year forecasts usefully segmented by frequency, application, territory, etc, and illustrated by dozens of tables and figures.
 
The active RFID market will grow to almost 10 times its present size by 2020, so whether a user or supplier, you need to keep up with this under-reported subject or get left behind.
Market forecasts
The term Active RFID incorporates many technologies including Real Time Locating Systems, Ubiquitous Sensor Networks and Active RFID with ZigBee, RuBee, Ultra Wide Band and WiFi. Active RFID, where a battery drives the tag, is responsible for an increasing percentage of the money spent in the burgeoning RFID market. It will rise from 13% of the total RFID market in 2010 to 25% in 2020, meaning a huge $6.02 billion market. If we include the market for cell phone RFID modules (another form of active RFID), the market is an additional $0.18 billion in 2010 and $1.6 billion in 2020.
 
Active RFID market forecasts*
 
*For the full forecast data please purchase this report
 
Source: IDTechEx
Factors for growth
Factors creating this growth will be Real Time Location Systems (RTLS), and ubiquitous RFID sensor systems (also known as wireless sensor networks. Conventional active RFID used where passive solutions are inadequate and RFID modules for mobile phones will make up the rest. The rapid growth of the active RFID market is being driven by such factors as:
 
  • 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, internal theft, threatened epidemics of disease, coping with increasing numbers of elderly persons and consumers demanding better service and more information.
  • 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 and other power sources will have a place. This will help to overcome constraints of lifetime, cost and size.
  • Development of Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (USN) where large numbers of active RFID tags with sensors are radio networked in buildings, forests, rivers, hospitals and many other locations.
  • Availability of open standards - notably ISO 18000-7, IEEE 802.15.4 and NFC.
  • Leveraging many newly popular forms of short range wireless communication, particularly WiFi and ZigBee and including mesh networks
  • Use of mobile phones for purchasing, mass transit and interrogating smart posters, etc.
 
Active RFID sales to 2010
To the beginning of 2010, 772 million active RFID tags have been sold with the vast majority used for car clickers (690 million). Like these, a large percentage of active RFID tags being sold in the future will replace nothing: they will perform new functions. The second biggest use for active RFID to date has been by the military, using 14 million active RFID tags so far. Both sectors have spent over $1 billion on active RFID.
 
We are now in the decade of most active tags having button batteries and being the size of a matchbox and often incorporating other radio systems, and sometimes being parasitic upon them in some cases. Overlapping this, we are starting the decade or more of active RFID in the form of a label or laminate. This has been triggered by costs of smart active labels and battery assisted passive (BAP) tags coming down, even those incorporating sensors, and their laminar batteries having enhanced power and life. Some will even have displays. That will run in parallel with matchbox-sized and smaller active RFID tags that are exceptionally capable, with such features as Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) and multiple sensing.
Strong Investment
Recently, the investment community has taken even more interest in active RFID. Of 27 recent fund raisings by RFID companies studied by IDTechEx, 37% of the companies involved are in active RFID. 22% are in the particularly popular RTLS sector. Recent acquisitions also favour active RFID companies. Indeed the largest exit, for hundreds of millions of dollars, was a company selling active RFID and RTLS systems.
Active RFID a systems business
Companies involved know that this is not like the highest volume uses of passive RFID tags where disposable labels are usually involved and the label cost can be 50% of total cost. Most active RFID (such as RTLS) is more of a systems business.
Active tag price
With over 100 companies now involved in some part of the active RFID value chain, and considerable government financing of research on low cost active RFID, unit prices will strongly erode, creating a strong growth in numbers sold. The price erosion will be more rapid in some years as new technologies come into play such as new microbatteries and printed logic.
 
Throughout the next ten years, RTLS will dominate the spend on tags but this will consist of many small orders. Mobile phone / cell phone modules will see considerable price erosion as they are increasingly incorporated into the phone circuitry and volumes increase.
 
Active tag price forecasts*
 
*For the full forecast data please purchase this report
 
Source: IDTechEx
 
In the future, we see active RFID as intimately involved with many short range radio systems and interfaces, including passive RFID.
 
Analysis of Active RFID implementations
In our analysis of 75 active RFID case studies from 18 countries, the largest number of projects we have located has been in Logistics with around double the number for each of the nearest contenders - Air Industry, Automotive/Transportation and Healthcare. Added to those as important sectors will be such things as safety of constructions and people monitored by Ubiquitous Sensor Networks in later years. Meanwhile, RTLS is being put in about 50 hospitals yearly, for staff, patients and assets. In the case studies, the items that are tagged were mainly containers, followed by vehicles, conveyances and people and this probably reflects the market as a whole.
 
This report is the only one to comprehensively cover the full picture around the world.
 
Penetration of active RFID into different application sectors
 
 
Source: IDTechEx
Free RFID Knowledgebase
Purchasers of this report obtain free access to the IDTechEx RFID Knowledgebase for one year. This is the world's largest searchable database of RFID projects, currently running at over 4400 case studies in 123 countries involving over 4440 organisations and linked to 770 relevant company slideshows and audio. It is continuously updated so new projects relevant to this report can be accessed as soon as they come in.
Analyst access from IDTechEx
All report purchases include up to 30 minutes telephone time with an expert analyst who will help you link key findings in the report to the business issues you're addressing. This needs to be used within three months of purchasing the report.
Further information
If you have any questions about this report, please do not hesitate to contact our report team at research@IDTechEx.com or call one of our sales managers:

AMERICAS (USA): +1 617 577 7890
ASIA (Japan): +81 3 3216 7209
EUROPE (UK) +44 1223 812300
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
1.INTRODUCTION
1.1.Important functions that an active RFID tag can perform
1.1.RFID range required for typical applications
1.1.Background
1.1.1.Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
1.1.2.Active vs passive RFID
1.1.3.Sub categories of Active tags
1.1.4.Three generations of active RFID
1.1.5.Many different ideal frequencies for active RFID
1.1.6.Smart Active Labels (SAL), Battery Assisted Backscatter
1.1.7.Cumulative sales active vs passive
1.1.8.Lessons from sixty years of active RFID
1.2.Active tag from Identec for anti-theft
1.2.Benefits and disadvantages of active RFID vs passive RFID
1.2.Historic active RFID tag sales 2005 to 2010
1.2.1.Progress in 2005
1.2.2.Progress in 2006
1.2.3.Progress in 2007
1.2.4.Progress in 2008
1.2.5.Progress in 2009
1.3.AIM survey of RFID user priorities
1.3.Passive RFID compared with the various types of active RFID
1.3.The active RFID value chain and paybacks
1.3.1.Value chain
1.3.2.Project costs and paybacks
1.3.3.Cost versus RFID choice
1.4.Road map of development of active RFID and allied technologies
1.4.The cumulative global sales of RFID tags active vs passive in millions to the beginning of 2010
1.4.Total Asset Visibility
1.5.Civilian logistics - Smart and Secure Tradelanes
1.5.Sales of active RFID tags from 1944 to start of 2010
1.5.RFID hierarchy
1.6.Active RFID characteristics
1.6.Value of RFID active tag market in 2005
1.6.Five key priorities for TAV
1.7.The $1 billion yearly potential in the prison service
1.7.Value of RFID active tag market in 2006
1.7.Frequency versus range
1.8.SAL-C concept of a warehouse managed using disposable SALs on packages.
1.8.Value Chain 2006
1.9.Value of RFID active tag market in 2007
1.9.An active RFID car clicker working in semi-active mode at 433 MHz
1.10.Value chain for active RFID in 2010
1.10.Value Chain 2007
1.11.Value of RFID active tag market in 2008
1.11.RFID value chain in 2021
1.12.RFID read range versus cost for different RFID systems
1.12.Value Chain 2008
1.13.Value of RFID passive tag market in 2009
1.13.Typical military deployment of active RFID tags
1.14.A military viewpoint of active RFID
1.14.Value of RFID active tag market in 2009
1.15.Value Chain 2009
1.15.Active RFID interrogator deployment in the Iraq war
1.16.Mobile interrogators in the Iraq war
1.16.Cost structure of active vs passive RFID projects
1.17.Active RFID in the prison and parole service
1.17.Write terminal and docking station
1.18.Survey of priorities in sea freight by AT Kearney
1.19.Sealing and anti-tamper capability with intermodal containers
1.20.Smart and Secure Tradelanes active RFID seal being used to lock an intermodal container
1.21.Final check of security at dock
1.22.Security check of truck at customs point - interrogator monitoring active RFID tag
1.23.Some of the potential benefits throughout the supply chain
1.24.RFID protecting keys against theft or misuse.
1.25.Wristwatch transmitters worn by inmates
1.26.Belt transmitters worn by officers and staff
2.LESSONS FROM CASE STUDIES OF ACTIVE RFID
2.1.Approximate distribution of case studies by range.
2.1.Active RFID wrist strap to protect disoriented patients
2.1.Spread of parameters and applications
2.1.1.Military, Logistics and Automotive/ transportation are dominant applications so far
2.1.2.Containers and vehicles are the main items that are tagged
2.1.3.Frequencies are varied
2.1.4.Ranges are varied
2.1.5.Totally new types of battery
2.1.6.The most important countries
2.2.Case studies of active RFID in manufacturing
2.2.TransCore system in action showing interrogators mounted on an overhead walkway
2.2.1.Volkswagen, Germany - work in progress
2.2.2.Peugeot, France - work in progress
2.2.3.Club Car, USA - work in progress
2.2.4.AM General, USA - part replenishment
2.2.5.Merrimac Industries, USA - tracking folders
2.2.6.BMW, UK - work in progress
2.3.Case studies of active RFID in transportation and automotive
2.3.EIRIS Technology IRFIDTM Components
2.3.1.30 major car companies - vehicle immobilisers
2.3.2.Shanghai Xinzhuang Bus Terminal, China - tracking buses
2.3.3.NedTrain, The Netherlands - wheel maintenance
2.3.4.Tracker/ Police, UK - locating stolen vehicles
2.3.5.Hills, UK - numberplates
2.3.6.Ford, USA - location of new cars
2.3.7.Postauto Bus, Switzerland - bus terminal management
2.3.8.Tranz Rail, New Zealand - freight management
2.3.9.General Motors, USA - containers
2.3.10.Shanghai Railway, China
2.3.11.Hamburg Metro Germany
2.3.12.Parking, Arizona State University, USA
2.3.13.Korea World Cup vehicles
2.4.Case studies of active RFID in the air industry
2.4.EIRIS Technology Tags
2.4.1.Sepang Airport, Malaysia - catering trolleys
2.4.2.Los Angeles International Airport/ Long Beach, USA - vehicle tolling & management
2.4.3.Tacoma/ Seattle International Airport, USA - vehicle tolling & management / New York Newark International Airport, USA - vehicle tolling & management
2.4.4.Orange County Airport, USA - vehicle tolling
2.4.5.Hong Kong International Airport, China - catering trolleys
2.4.6.Vienna International Airport, Austria - ground support equipment
2.4.7.Charles de Gaulle International Airport, France - taxis
2.4.8.Envirotainer, Belgium - unit load devices
2.4.9.Air Canada - food trolleys
2.4.10.Arlanda International Airport, Sweden parking
2.5.Case studies of active RFID in healthcare
2.5.EIRIS Technology : Who, What, Where and When? - WWWWTM
2.5.1.National Health Service UK social workers
2.5.2.Massachusetts General Hospital, USA people and assets
2.5.3.St Elisabeth Medical Center patients USA
2.5.4.Hospitals, Israel and elsewhere - patient and staff tracking/ alert
2.5.5.Shelby County Regional Medical Center, USA - patient tracking
2.5.6.Royal Sussex County Hospital, UK - assets
2.5.7.HCA Hospital Dallas, USA - mother baby matching
2.5.8.HCA Hospital Arlington, USA - mother baby matching
2.5.9.French Blood Agency, France - chemovigilance
2.5.10.Alexandra Hospital, Singapore - people tracking for SARS and National University Hospital Singapore - people tracking for SARS
2.5.11.Hart District, UK - alarm for elderly
2.6.Case studies of active RFID in the military sector
2.6.EIRIS System Architecture
2.6.1.Kosovo/ US Military - military assets and supplies
2.6.2.Ministry of Defence, UK - military supplies
2.6.3.NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) assets
2.6.4.Department of Defense, USA - medical supplies
2.6.5.Bosnia/ UK Military - supply chain.
2.7.Case studies of active RFID in logistics
2.7.EIRIS Technology Optimal Installation
2.7.1.NYK Logistics, USA - intermodal freight containers
2.7.2.Fluor Construction, USA pipe spools
2.7.3.Brink's, USA - transport container access
2.7.4.Felixstowe Dock & Rail Company, UK - Rubber Tyre Gantry Cranes RTGC handling intermodal containers
2.7.5.Agricultural Cooperative, France - vehicle tare weighing
2.7.6.Yard management, USA
2.7.7.Spittelau Thermal Waste Treatment Plant, Austria - trucks
2.7.8.Seattle Tacoma Sea Port, USA - intermodal container seals
2.7.9.Royal Mail, UK - roll cages
2.7.10.Parcelforce, UK - postal trailers
2.7.11.Mercator Transportation, USA - intermodal container tracking
2.7.12.Lynx Express, UK - roll cages
2.7.13.London Waste, UK - vehicles
2.7.14.J.A.M Distribution and Cemex, USA - vehicle loading and fuelling
2.7.15.HiroCem, Slovakia - trucks
2.7.16.DHL and Nokia, UK/ Finland - cases
2.7.17.Intermodal Cargo Shipments
2.7.18.Carlisle Carriers, USA - tractors and trailers
2.7.19.Alliant Atlantic Food, USA - access control
2.7.20.Somerfield Supermarkets, UK - trucks
2.7.21.Argos, UK - conveyances
2.7.22.Paramount Farms, USA - farming vehicles
2.7.23.Meat producer, Canada - case monitoring
2.8.Case studies of active RFID in Retail
2.8.ELPAS' System Architecture
2.8.1.Selfridges, UK - food containers
2.8.2.Safeway Supermarkets, UK - trolleys
2.9.Other
2.9.ELPAS' Healthcare Applications
2.9.1.HM Prison Service, UK - keys
2.9.2.Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino, USA - keys
3.COMPONENTS OF AN ACTIVE RFID SYSTEM
3.1.Summary of today's RFID physical configurations
3.1.Basic operation of an active RFID system
3.1.The tag
3.2.The interrogator
3.2.RFID - basic operation
3.2.The spectrum of choice between stand alone and networked RFID systems
3.3.The spectrum of choice between basic number plate tags and those with high data retention
3.3.Short range semi- passive tags
3.3.Other system components.
3.4.Multi-tag reading (anti-collision)
3.4.Active beacon tags - long range
3.4.Spectrum of choice from short to long range
3.5.Choice of active RFID tags - typical cost, range, memory
3.5.Antenna hierarchy of Savi EchoPoint active RFID system
3.5.Choices of physical configuration of active RFID systems
3.5.1.RFID - basic operation
3.5.2.One at a time or many at a time
3.5.3.Active beacon tags - long range
3.5.4.Signpost system for long range active tag configurations
3.5.5.Real-time locating systems - long range
3.6.Options on range
3.6.Savi EchoPoint active tag
3.6.The commonly used licence free frequencies for active RFID
3.7.Various semi-active tags from Axcess Technologies
3.7.Systems aspects
3.7.1.Network vs stand alone
3.7.2.Stand alone - polled vs not polled
3.7.3.Networked - on-line
3.8.Networking at tag, reader or system level
3.8.Real Time Locating Systems - long range triangulation
3.9.WhereNet/Zebra System Components
3.9.Data on the device or network
3.9.1.Spectrum of choice
3.9.2.Data capture on the tag or not - a summary
3.9.3.Continuous monitoring or not
3.10.Open and closed service provider access
3.10.Networks within networks - the "Russian Doll" approach
3.11.Three generations of active RFID
3.11.Networks within networks
3.12.Ad hoc / mesh networks
3.12.Technical performance for active RFID in crowded environments as a function of frequency in the view of Savi Technology
3.13.UWB frequency spread compared with some alternative active RFID bands in the microwave region.
3.13.The importance of interoperability
3.14.Choice of frequency
3.14.A Ubisense healthcare application of UWB active RFID.
3.14.1.Licence free frequencies
3.14.2.Ultra Wide Band
3.15.Supplier case studies
3.15.The elements of the Parco Wireless UWB RFID system
3.15.1.Parco Wireless
3.15.2.Ubisense
3.15.3.DSRC Industry Consortium
3.15.4.TagMaster
3.16.Impressions from the IDTechEx Active RFID and RTLS Conference
3.16.Parco UWB RFID tags
3.17.Asset tags from Axcess
4.ACTIVE TAG CONSTRUCTION
4.1.Shapes of battery for small RFID tags advantages and disadvantages
4.1.The Power Paper battery
4.1.Overall construction
4.2.Batteries
4.2.The Infinite Power battery is very small
4.2.The spectrum of choice of technologies for batteries
4.2.1.Battery overview
4.2.2.Coin type batteries
4.2.3.Power Paper
4.2.4.Solicore, USA
4.2.5.Infinite Power Solutions, USA
4.2.6.Cymbet, USA
4.2.7.Blue Spark
4.2.8.Research
4.3.Examples of potential sources of flexible thin film batteries
4.3.Infinite Power batteries ready for use
4.3.Fuel cells
4.4.Photovoltaics
4.4.Cymbet lithium thin film flexible battery
4.4.Examples of universities and research centres developing laminar batteries.
4.5.Comparison of conventional active RFID with temperature/ time recording and Smart Active Label (SAL) versions.
4.5.Relative performance claimed by Cymbet for its flexible batteries
4.5.Other power sources for active RFID - energy harvesters
4.5.1.Case Study of Energy Harvesting powered Active RFID Sensors
4.5.2.An Interview with EnOcean
4.6.Carbon-zinc thin film battery from Thin Battery Technologies.
4.6.Photocapacitors and supercapacitors
4.7.Active RFID with sensing
4.7.Konarka photovoltaic flexible film
4.8.Self-powered Wireless Sensor Technology from EnOcean
4.9.Solar powered wireless sensor node
4.10.Smart label road map
4.11.Semi-passive RFID label from KSW Microtec
5.STANDARDS, PRIVACY AND ALLIED TECHNOLOGY
5.1.Standards
5.1.The most important standards for active RFID
5.1.Layers of logistic units
5.1.1.Standards for active RFID systems
5.1.2.Benefits of standardisation
5.1.3.Types of standard
5.1.4.Open and closed application systems
5.1.5.Standards organisations
5.1.6.Types of standard relating to item level RFID
5.1.7.When long range is a problem
5.1.8.Summary of the essential standards issues and opportunities
5.2.The relative benefits and disadvantages of IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.3a, IEEE 802.15.4 (WPAN)
5.2.The permitted frequency bands for RFID by territory
5.2.Radio regulations
5.3.Privacy issues
5.3.Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee and Active RFID compared
5.3.Examples of 802.11 and 802.15.5 tags and readers from Tagsense
5.4.ZigBee hierarchy
5.4.Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, Active RFID and NFC compared and combined
5.4.1.Bridging the gap
5.4.2.Bluetooth and WiFi
5.4.3.ZigBee
5.4.4.Conventional active RFID
5.4.5.Combinations
5.4.6.Near Field Communications (NFC)
5.4.7.RFID and communications interfaces
5.4.8.A virtual connector
5.4.9.Link to RFID smart cards
5.4.10.NFC Forum
5.4.11.Standardization of NFC
5.5.Siemens hierarchy of networks
5.6.ISO 18000-7 devices
5.7.X-Mark Systems prevent mismatching in hospitals
5.8.Identec Solutions semi-active RFID personnel tag.
5.9.Identec Solutions secure access configuration
5.10.Verichip (X-Mark Systems) wander prevention system for disoriented elderly in care homes and hospitals
5.11.Some applications for NFC, usually in the form of second generation (active RFID reader) cellphones
5.12.Vending and ticket machine payment
5.13.Smart posters
5.14.Music downloads
5.15.Frequent payments for less than £UK7 ($12.5) in a city such as London UK
6.REAL TIME LOCATING SYSTEMS (RTLS) AND WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS (WSN)
6.1.Defining features of the three generations of active RFID
6.1.AeroScout WiFi RTLS tags
6.1.Triangulation, radio fingerprinting and multilateration
6.2.GPS
6.2.AeroScout WiFi armbands
6.3.Ekahau WiFi tag
6.3.WiFi RTLS from AeroScout
6.4.Supplier case study: Ekahau USA
6.4.MicroStrain WSN node with 55 day battery life
6.5.WSN compared with Bluetooth and WiFi in respect of power and data rate.
6.5.Another form of RTLS
6.6.Near Field Electromagnetic Ranging (NFER)
6.6.WSN compared with other short range radio in respect of range and data rate typically available
6.7.Detailed view of range vs data rate
6.7.Ultra Wide Band
6.8.Shakeout in Real Time Locating Systems
6.8.A basic wireless mesh network
6.9.WSN backhaul
6.9.Third Generation Active RFID is WSN
6.9.1.Managing chaos and imperfection
6.9.2.The whole is much greater than the parts
6.9.3.Achilles heel - power
6.9.4.View from UCLA
6.9.5.View of Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers
6.9.6.View of the International Telecommunications Union
6.9.7.View of the Kelvin Institute
6.9.8.Contrast with other short range radio
6.9.9.A practical proposition
6.9.10.Wireless mesh network structure
6.10.Diagrammatic illustration of the three waves of adoption of active RFID.
6.10.Three waves of adoption
6.10.2.Subsuming earlier forms of active RFID?
6.11.Possible area of deployment vs system cost
6.11.Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (USN) and TIP
6.12.Defining features of the three generations
6.12.Tolerance of faults and unauthorised repositioning vs system cost
6.13.Tag cost today vs system cost
6.13.WSN paybacks
6.14.Supply chain of the future
6.14.Number of tags per interrogator vs system cost
6.15.Infrastructure cost vs system cost
6.16.RTLS progress towards the ultimate supply chain
7.MARKETS
7.1.Price sensitivity
7.1.Global active RFID by value 2010-2021, tag vs non-tag (readers, software, services) in $ million
7.1.The future lower tag price - larger yearly numbers and the new tag technologies that will make it possible
7.2.Market opportunity for disposable electronic displays
7.2.Global market for active tags in millions 2010-2021
7.2.Many bridges to cross
7.3.Forecasts for tags 2011-2021
7.3.Global market for active tags - unit prices in cents 2010-2021
7.3.Global active RFID by value and type 2010-2021
7.4.Overlapping eras of evolution of active RFID in its new, broader definition, including use of the new radio systems for active RFID 1990-2025.
7.4.Tag market value of global market in millions of dollars 2010-2021
7.4.RFID Enabled Cellphones
7.5.Forecast for total systems plus tags
7.5.Global market for readers, software and services in millions of dollars 2009-2019
7.5.Global market for active tags in millions 2010-2021
7.6.Global market for active tags - unit prices in cents 2010-2021
7.6.Sales of active RFID tags from 1944 to start of 2010
7.6.Active RFID suppliers
7.7.Forecast for systems excluding tags 2011-2021
7.7.Main frequencies by type
7.7.Tag market value of global market in millions of dollars 2010-2021
7.8.Global market for readers, software and services in millions of dollars 2009-2019
7.8.The value of the RFID enabled active RFID cellphone market
7.8.Forecast of systems including tags 2011-2021
7.9.Total RFID market
7.9.Some substantial opportunities for active RFID systems including tags in the next ten years
7.9.An active RFID cellphone module
7.10.Main present and future locations of active RFID tags
7.10.WSN history and forecasts
7.11.Number of suppliers 2011-2021
7.11.The IDTechEx forecast for active RFID systems excluding tags 2010-2021
7.12.The total global spend on active RFID systems plus tags in US$ millions
7.13.Total active market as a portion of the total RFID market
7.14.IDTechEx WSN Forecast 2010-2020 with RTLS for comparison
7.15.Number of suppliers of active RFID doing serious business 2011, 2016, 2021
APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY
APPENDIX 2: ACHIEVING EFFICIENT GLOBAL LOGISTICS EXECUTION
APPENDIX 3: IDTECHEX RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY
TABLES
FIGURES
 

About IDTechEx reports

What are the qualifications of the people conducting IDTechEx research?

Content produced by IDTechEx is researched and written by our technical analysts, each with a PhD or master's degree in their specialist field, and all of whom are employees. All our analysts are well-connected in their fields, intensively covering their sectors, revealing hard-to-find information you can trust.

How does IDTechEx gather data for its reports?

By directly interviewing and profiling companies across the supply chain. IDTechEx analysts interview companies by engaging directly with senior management and technology development executives across the supply chain, leading to revealing insights that may otherwise be inaccessible.
 
Further, as a global team, we travel extensively to industry events and companies to conduct in-depth, face-to-face interviews. We also engage with industry associations and follow public company filings as secondary sources. We conduct patent analysis and track regulatory changes and incentives. We consistently build on our decades-long research of emerging technologies.
 
We assess emerging technologies against existing solutions, evaluate market demand and provide data-driven forecasts based on our models. This provides a clear, unbiased outlook on the future of each technology or industry that we cover.

What is your forecast methodology?

We take into account the following information and data points where relevant to create our forecasts:
  • Historic data, based on our own databases of products, companies' sales data, information from associations, company reports and validation of our prior market figures with companies in the industry.
  • Current and announced manufacturing capacities
  • Company production targets
  • Direct input from companies as we interview them as to their growth expectations, moderated by our analysts
  • Planned or active government incentives and regulations
  • Assessment of the capabilities and price of the technology based on our benchmarking over the forecast period, versus that of competitive solutions
  • Teardown data (e.g. to assess volume of materials used)
  • From a top-down view: the total addressable market
  • Forecasts can be based on an s-curve methodology where appropriate, taking into account the above factors
  • Key assumptions and discussion of what can impact the forecast are covered in the report.

How can I be confident about the quality of work in IDTechEx reports?

Based on our technical analysts and their research methodology, for over 25 years our work has regularly received superb feedback from our global clients. Our research business has grown year-on-year.
 
Recent customer feedback includes:
"It's my first go-to platform"
- Dr. Didi Xu, Head of Foresight - Future Technologies, Freudenberg Technology Innovation
 
"Their expertise allows us to make data-driven, strategic decisions and ensures we remain aligned with the latest trends and opportunities in the market."
- Ralf Hug, Global Head of Product Management & Marketing, Marquardt

What differentiates IDTechEx reports?

Our team of in-house technical analysts immerse themselves in industries over many years, building deep expertise and engaging directly with key industry players to uncover hard-to-find insights. We appraise technologies in the landscape of competitive solutions and then assess their market demand based on voice-of-the-customer feedback, all from an impartial point of view. This approach delivers exceptional value to our customers—providing high-quality independent content while saving customers time, resources, and money.

Why should we pick IDTechEx research over AI research?

A crucial value of IDTechEx research is that it provides information, assessments and forecasts based on interviews with key people in the industry, assessed by technical experts. AI is trained only on content publicly available on the web, which may not be reliable, in depth, nor contain the latest insights based on the experience of those actively involved in a technology or industry, despite the confident prose.

How can I justify the ROI of this report?

Consider the cost of the IDTechEx report versus the time and resources required to gather the same quality of insights yourself. IDTechEx analysts have built up an extensive contact network over many years; we invest in attending key events and interviewing companies around the world; and our analysts are trained in appraising technologies and markets.
 
Each report provides an independent, expert-led technical and market appraisal, giving you access to actionable information immediately, rather than you having to spend months or years on your own market research.

Can I speak to analysts about the report content?

All report purchases include up to 30 minutes of telephone time with an expert analyst who will help you link key findings in the report to the business issues you're addressing. This needs to be used within three months of purchasing the report.

What is the difference between a report and subscription?

A subscription from IDTechEx can include more reports, access to an online information platform with continuously updated information from our analysts, and access to analysts directly.

Before purchasing, I have some questions about the report, can I speak to someone?

Please email research@idtechex.com stating your location and we will quickly respond.

About IDTechEx

Who are IDTechEx's customers?

IDTechEx has served over 35,000 customers globally. These range from large corporations to ambitious start-ups, and from Governments to research centers. Our customers use our work to make informed decisions and save time and resources.

Where is IDTechEx established?

IDTechEx was established in 1999, and is headquartered in Cambridge, UK. Since then, the company has significantly expanded and operates globally, having served customers in over 80 countries. Subsidiary companies are based in the USA, Germany and Japan.

Questions about purchasing a report

How do I pay?

In most locations reports can be purchased by credit card, or else by direct bank payment.

How and when do I receive access to IDTechEx reports?

When paying successfully by credit card, reports can be accessed immediately. For new customers, when paying by bank transfer, reports will usually be released when the payment is received. Report access will be notified by email.

How do I assign additional users to the report?

Users can be assigned in the report ordering process, or at a later time by email.

Can I speak to someone about purchasing a report?

Please email research@idtechex.com stating your location and we will quickly respond.
 
The active RFID market will grow to almost 10 times its present size by 2021

Report Statistics

Pages 328
Tables 59
Figures 115
Companies 100+
Forecasts to 2021
 

Customer Testimonial

quote graphic
"The resources provided by IDTechEx, such as their insightful reports and analysis, engaging webinars, and knowledgeable analysts, serve as valuable tools and information sources... Their expertise allows us to make data-driven, strategic decisions and ensures we remain aligned with the latest trends and opportunities in the market."
Global Head of Product Management and Marketing
Marquardt GmbH
 
 
 

Subscription Enquiry