Before a company can take full advantage of RFID technology, an IT department needs to upgrade its infrastructure on a number of levels, including:

• Data Management—The data model must be expanded to capture additional information around surrounding events: the state before, during, and after each step, person and asset involved, as well as the conditions at the time and the key measurements.

• Network and End-User Device Management—A large number of data extracts and information views will need to be made available throughout RFID-impacted operations. Most of the end-users will be mobile, which will require the deployment of wireless LANs and other remote connections.

• Sensor Management—IT departments need to ensure that standards are set for tags and readers, and how the tags and readers are deployed.

• Systems Integration—IT professionals must fully understand RFID and the business operations to which the technology will be applied.