The Diffusion and Use of RFID Technology in India

Radio frequency identification(RFID) is a system of technology that transmits digitally coded identity information in the form of a unique serial number of an object or person wirelessly, using radio waves. The primary use of RFID has been in asset tracking. This makes it highly useful across various industries for effective and efficient conduct of different business processes like supply chain management (SCM). As the use of RFID expands, the use of this technology is observed in such industries as transportation, traffic payment, hospital and medical care, education, and retail. Although this technology offers immense potential, it faces multifarious roadblocks, particularly in developing countries like India. Under this backdrop, this paper attempts to present an overview of the use and application RFID technology in India with a highlight on business-ecosystem for RFID in India. We also present various technical and non-technical challenges in the implementation of RFID in India.