"4.1 Current and emerging technologiesMF380: Figure 9.7 flickr photo by Rosenfeld Media shared under a Creative Commons (BY)license[This page should take about 1 hourto complete]The future of technology and how it can transform supply chain and supply chainmanagement is fascinating. Innovations in supply chain and enterprise resource planningsoftware, automatic identification technologies, communications systems, and Internetfunctionality have forever changed the way the supply chain works. Ultimately, theseinnovative technologies enable fast execution of supply chain strategies, helpingorganisations to leverage time as a source of competitive advantage. Some of these currentand emerging technologies are outlined below: Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID); e.g. MykiNo other technology has garnered the attention of the supply chain industry over the last threeyears than has RFID but supply chain applications were largely conceptual until majororganisations began to develop RFID mandates. RFID is an automatic identification methodwith tags consisting of a microchip and a printed antenna that can be packaged into manyforms. Unique product identification information, in the form of a universal electronicproduct code (EPC) identifying the manufacturer, product category, and individual item, isstored on these 96-bit tags. The collected information is relayed back to the supply chaininformation system, updating the location status of the associated product. RFID technologycosts must continue to decline to make product tagging economically feasible; equipmentissues such as reader range, sensitivity, and durability must improve; the case for supplierreturn on investment of RFID mandates must be made; and consumer privacy issues must beresolved.Internet of Things (IoT)Connected devices – with sensors, on/off switches, and Internet linkages – already outnumberthe world’s population and the gap is accelerating. A broad range of IoT business equipment,devices, and mechanisms are already in use. The technology will allow supply chainmanagers to intelligently connect people, processes, data, and things using IoT devices andsensors. This deeper intelligence will be used to align, synchronise, and automate supplychain activities. ReadingFollowing is a quick reading on IoT and supply chains: (10 minutes)?Westerveld, J. 2017. The internet of (supply chain) things Kinaxis. Mobile Connectivity; e.g. iTunes – SAP AppsAlthough mobile connectivity is growing, it has not reached the saturation point in themarketplace. Opportunities for wider adoption are vast as mobile technology problems havefaded away. Price points for hardware and communications have fallen, the reliability ofmobile technologies has greatly improved, and logical solutions with real ROI are beingdeveloped.Many productivity enhancing ‘apps’ are being built for the supply chain; particularlyprevalent are data collection and transmission tools. ReadingThe following reading explains the importance of mobile applications and devices for supplychain managers. (15 minutes)? Partridge, A. 2011. Mobile Communications: Managing Supply Chains on theGo Inbound logistics.Functional AutomationAutomation has long been a part of the manufacturing plant with conveyors moving productsbetween workstations and robots handling welding, painting, and other precision tasks.Warehouse automation has also gained tremendous traction as companies are opening largescale distribution centers that deploy automated storage, handling, and distributiontechnologies rather than manual labor. Fulfillment speed and accuracy – two essential "