REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

• The global forecast RFID hardware, middleware, and IT market was worth $640 million in 2005. In 2006, this number will grow to more than $713 million, and is projected to reach more than $1.0 billion by 2011 at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 8.0%
• The RFID market is anticipated to continue to grow rapidly in these and many other market sectors and industries including the food and drug industry, propelled by United States FDA mandates. The technical issues that have made standardization more challenging are heading toward resolution with the emergence of the second-generation of UHF RFID.
• Retail RFID is estimated currently at just under 27% of the overall RFID market, and supply chain management (SCM) applications, when considered as separate from warehouse and distribution and transportation, represents just over 15% of the overall RFID market. These distributions will undoubtedly change rapidly, and should be reconsidered at regular time intervals as the RFID technology and established and emerging markets mature.

REPORT SCOPE

INTRODUCTION

BCC's goal in conducting this study is to determine radio frequency identification (RFID) market revenue and to explore various market forces influencing the different emerging technologies. We were particularly interested in determining measurable market size and revenue growth in order to provide more accurate predicted market growth for RFID technologies in various applications. In addition, BCC wanted to examine vastly different market forecast contradictions in industry market revenue figures from various other industry analysts.

Our key objective is to present a comprehensive analysis of current RFID technology and market growth, and the size and growth of RFID usage in multiple applications.

SCOPE OF STUDY

This report:

• Examines the different types of RFID technologies and their applications in fifteen different industries
• Analyzes each technology, determines its current market status, examines its impact on future markets, and presents global forecasts of growth through 2011
• Addresses regulatory, consumer, and other emerging issues including the latest market trends such as privacy, security issues and RFID deactivation
• Reviews the current regulatory agencies, standardization and the issues involved with the lack of a single global RFID standard and activities in major regions of the world
• Provides profiles of important companies as well as a detailed patent analysis. 

METHODOLOGY

BCC presents an analysis across the entire RFID industry, based on reported revenue dollars and units shipped reported to the SEC and/or other governmental agencies. We also analyze data gathered from various research sources via the Internet, including large databases such as the United States Patent Office (USPTO) databases of U.S. Patents and Patent Applications, Micropatent's searchable databases for U.S. and international patents and other IP issues, and the searchable database available on the Internet from the European Patent Office for World and U.S. patents and patent applications. Based on gathered industry revenue and expenditure information, we estimated a full year of RFID market revenue for 2006 and forecast RFID revenue for 2007 through 2010. We also analyzed RFID by technology application according to reported market numbers.

INFORMATION SOURCES

BCC analyzed public documents, SEC filings, corporate white papers and other technical documentation for more than 65 companies directly involved in manufacturing, distributing or directly utilizing RFID technology products. Additionally, BCC analyzed greater than 4,600 utility patents filed in the U.S. and throughout the world on RFID-related technology inventions.

AUTHOR'S CREDENTIALS

Jordan Sheridan is a technology analyst and writer with more than 20 years of experience, and has spent several years analyzing information technology patents, technology and market trends for medium and large international companies and financiers.

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