Guard Against Employee Sabotage of RFID
Filed in archive Implementation on March 29, 2006
Employee sabotage of RFID trials and deployments was a sub-theme that several different speakers brought up at Smart Labels USA.
The word "sabotage" is a loaded one, of course. So let's take a moment to put this into perspective. Sabotage of RFID deployments and tests occurs when employees think RFID has been implemented to spy on them -- or they simply are afraid of change, or resistant to having to learn new processes. So "sabotage" can mean passive resistance or active steps to make sure an implementation or trial fails.
Some examples of RFID sabotage that various speakers reported, include:
- dunking tags in water;
- running over them with trucks;
- zapping RFID systems with magnetic or electrical charges
One speaker, from general electric, noted that processes WILL change with RFID -- and you should recognize it up front and anticipate it. She also noted that if RFID is going to fail it will be due to people, not because the technology fails. Her advice: make sure you have a strong internal champion for an RFID deployment.
Another speaker emphasized that employee education was critical. People are still learning what RFID is -- take the time to make sure the staff who must work with RFID understand it.
Permalink: Guard Against Employee Sabotage of RFID
Tags: RFID smart+labels rfid sabotage technology sabotage+rfid employee+sabotage guard+against
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Response from:
Chris Kapsambelis
(03/29/06 11:11am)
Response from:
Dave Piasecki
(03/29/06 2:31pm)
I’m with Chris (the previous responder) on this one. Sabotage? Are you kidding? There are many reasons for RFID tags to fail, especially the low cost unprotected tags embedded in paper labels. While I’m sure there are some employees doing some “what happens if …” experimenting, I really doubt this is a significant factor in tag failure.
The proponents of RFID need to be a little more honest in their assessments of the technology. While RFID is not a new technology, it is not a mature technology either. And although RFID (as a technology) is capable of much of what is being reported, there are a lot of technical and performance issues with the low cost tags that are the cornerstone of the big RFID pushes in recent years.
If RFID systems fail, you’re right, it probably will be because of people. Primarily, the people that pushed the technology beyond its capabilities, the people that misrepresented the technology, the people implementing the technology in the wrong application, and the people (victims) that purchased the technology without really understanding it.
The proponents of RFID need to be a little more honest in their assessments of the technology. While RFID is not a new technology, it is not a mature technology either. And although RFID (as a technology) is capable of much of what is being reported, there are a lot of technical and performance issues with the low cost tags that are the cornerstone of the big RFID pushes in recent years.
If RFID systems fail, you’re right, it probably will be because of people. Primarily, the people that pushed the technology beyond its capabilities, the people that misrepresented the technology, the people implementing the technology in the wrong application, and the people (victims) that purchased the technology without really understanding it.
Response from:
Ubicomp+Shopping
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There is another explanation. How about PARANOIA!
First of all water and dampness is a common problem in the supply chain. Damage in shipments is not unusual, and all electronic components must be protected from static discharge. Sabotage would not be my first suspect. I hope those making the charges have direct and irrefutable evidence to support them. Otherwise, they are paranoid.
Those who truly believe that RFID failure can only be attributed to people have an unrealistic view of the technology. What ever happened to the old saying “If you build a better mouse trap, people will flock to your door”.
If RFID is as useful a tool as its proponents claim, there is nothing to fear, because people will demand its use. That is the only way technologies rise to the top.