RFIDs: from invention to innovation

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology was invented nearly 60 years ago during the 2nd World War. However it has only been relatively recently that RFID technology adoption has been headlined in the popular press. With strategic business drivers such as supply chain management and e-commerce initiatives, and the need for increased value from improvements in product tracking, together with a push from consumers and regulatory demands for safe product handling, attention has focused on the adoption of RFID technology. This paper reviews the available literature on RFID technology and develops a fourphase RFID innovation diffusion adoption model which builds on Rogers (1995) innovation adoption literature. The paper will conclude with managerial implications and future directions for RFID research.