Cisco, Intel Bring EPC/RFID to Hong Kong Region

Online staff -- Electronic News, 9/27/2005

Cisco and Intel are teaming up to support EPCglobal Hong Kong’s EPCnetwork initiative designed to bring end-to-end supply chain visibility to the Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region.

The companies are developing electronic product code/radio frequency identification (EPC/RFID) systems for the region’s EPCnetwork infrastructure, which will connect manufacturers and logistics companies in the PPRD with retailers worldwide.

Intel and Cisco said in a statement that the collaboration is “one of many programs underpinning the two companies’ allied vision of enabling organizations and consumers to improve the way they do business, interact and stay connected through innovative, standards-based solutions.”

The program uses unique electronic product codes stored on RFID tags, which can be attached to or incorporated into an item for shipping.  Once the EPC is retrieved from the tag, the companies said, it can be associated with dynamic data such as where the item originated or the date of its production.

The system is designed to improve issues with inventory management, shrinkage, fraud and theft that often face distributors and retailers.  For example, an out-of-stock average of 9 percent for retailers worldwide translates into $69 billion in lost sales each year, the companies pointed out. 

EPCglobal Hong Kong is the only organization in Hong Kong authorized to issue EPC Manager numbers and is championing the EPCnetwork initiative to create end-to-end supply chain visibility for PPRD-based suppliers.

"I'm pleased that Cisco and Intel have provided tremendous support to our EPCnetwork infrastructure initiative," said Anna Lin, chief executive of EPCglobal Hong Kong, in a statement. "In close collaboration with EPCglobal Hong Kong, Cisco and Intel will build on their technology leadership and expertise in delivering EPC/RFID-based solutions. The experience that Cisco and Intel exchanges with us will be valuable for the development and implementation of our EPCnetwork initiative for creating supply chain visibility that connects Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta manufacturers with global retailers."