IT Asset Tracking: Active and Passive RFID Solutions

Targeting Data Centers and Distributed IT Environments

Research Report

Currently, a perfect storm of factors is driving end-user evaluation, pilot testing, and deployment of RFID IT asset-tracking solutions to record levels. Early adopters in the finance/banking sector have proven a unique and irresistible business case for implementation that translates into any large data center environment. Recent technological advancements have transformed RFID into a leading solution for accurately monitoring and protecting IT equipment and data. Future improvements to both the cost and functionality RFID will position vendors to command a larger share of the massive addressable market for electronic tracking of enterprise IT equipment which some industry participants have estimated to be worth $5 billion annually.

The need to achieve the lowest total cost of ownership for assets, improve visibility, and protect sensitive information is not unique to the financial services industry or the data center environment. Nor are the many benefits associated with the use of RFID to track corporate IT assets. As IT equipment becomes more flexible, mobile, and subject to greater government scrutiny, demand for RFID-based tracking solutions is expected to grow significantly over the next five years.

Table of Contents

  • Executive Summary: Top-Line Forecast
  • Executive Summary: High-level Market Trends
  • Executive Summary: High-level Market Trends, continued
  • Executive Summary: Key Market Barriers
  • 1. Executive Summary
  • 2. Market Opportunity and Key Considerations
    • 2.1. Market Opportunity and Sizing
      • 2.1.1. Market Sizing and Growth Forecasts
    • 2.2. RFID within the Data Center
      • 2.2.1. Government Legislation/Sarbanes Oxley Compliance
      • 2.2.2. Surging Data Center Demand
      • 2.2.3. The Growing Need for Automation and Energy Efficiency
      • 2.2.4. Consolidation Driving Opportunity
    • 2.3. RFID outside the Data Center (Distributed Environment Tagging)
      • 2.3.1. Proliferation of Low-End and Blade Servers
      • 2.3.2. Mobilization of IT Assets and Personnel
      • 2.3.3. Corporate Offices and Banking Environments
      • 2.3.4. Laptop Security
      • 2.3.5. Disk Drive Destruction/Portable Media Tracking
      • 2.3.6. Leading Portable Media Tracking/Destruction Solutions
        • 2.3.6.1. The Imation DataGuard rf Tape Tracking System
        • 2.3.6.2. The Omni-ID Prox Tag
    • 2.4. Key Drivers
      • 2.4.1. Source Tagging
      • 2.4.2. Maturation of RFID, Particularly Passive Technology
      • 2.4.3. Inventory Optimization
      • 2.4.4. Demand Growing for Market-Specific End-To-End Solutions
    • 2.5. Market Barriers
      • 2.5.1. Difficulty of the Data Center Environment
      • 2.5.2. Economic Recession
      • 2.5.3. Lack of Integrator Experience
      • 2.5.4. Scalability
      • 2.5.5. End User Knowledge
  • 3. Technology Trends
    • 3.1. Tags
      • 3.1.1. Active versus Passive
      • 3.1.2. Active Solutions Are Becoming Cheaper and More Functional
      • 3.1.3. Future Developments and Competitive Trends
    • 3.2. Readers
    • 3.3. Software/Services
  • 4. Vertical Market Trends
    • 4.1. Financial Services
    • 4.2. Insurance Companies
    • 4.3. Investment Firms
    • 4.4. Government
    • 4.5. Telecommunications
    • 4.6. Healthcare
    • 4.7. Outsourced Managed IT Services
  • 5. Key Industry Players
    • 5.1. Tags
      • 5.1.1. Omni-ID
      • 5.1.2. Confidex Ltd
      • 5.1.3. William Frick & Company and TROI
      • 5.1.4. Metalcraft Inc
      • 5.1.5. RF Code Inc (Active RFID)
      • 5.1.6. Wavetrend (Active RTLS)
      • 5.1.7. Axcess International (Active RFID/Micro Wireless/RTLS)
      • 5.1.8. AeroScout Inc (Active RFID/Wi-Fi RTLS)
      • 5.1.9. Newbury Networks (Active RFID/Wi-Fi RTLS)
      • 5.1.10. Emerging Tag Vendors
    • 5.2. Readers
      • 5.2.1. Motorola
      • 5.2.2. Convergence Systems Limited
      • 5.2.3. Additional Reader Vendors
    • 5.3. Software
      • 5.3.1. Microsoft
      • 5.3.2. Xterprise
      • 5.3.3. InSync Software Inc
      • 5.3.4. Other Software Providers
    • 5.4. Systems Integrators
      • 5.4.1. ODIN Technologies
      • 5.4.2. Hewlett Packard
      • 5.4.3. IBM
      • 5.4.4. Other Systems Integrators
  • 6. Company Directory
  • 7. Acronyms

Tables

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  1. RFID Systems Revenue for IT Asset Tracking by Product Category, World Markets, Forecast: 2009 to 2014
  2. Transponder Shipments for IT Asset Tracking by Product Category, World Markets, Forecast: 2009 to 2014
  3. RFID Systems Revenue for IT Asset Tracking by Primary Tagging Environment, World Markets, Forecast: 2009 to 2014
  4. Discussion/Quantification of Benefits Associated with Data Center Adoption,