In this exclusive interview, Kirsten Newquist, CEO of identity, examines the foreground of IoT innovation, while they discuss the challenges, solutions and future trends in tailor-made IoT tags and names.
Biz Innovates: While the IoT industry has made progress with standardized RFID and wireless solutions, where do you see that these off-the-shelf options are neglected?
Kirsten Newquist: In the early days of the IoT, standardized RFID inlays were designed for simple use cases, especially for retail clothing. Now that the IoT Internet extends more complex product categories and applications, these standard solutions will be neglected in order to meet these developing requirements.
Many objects such as small bottles, metal containers or packaging filled with liquid are difficult to digitize with off-the-shelf tags due to the form factor, materials or environmental conditions. At the same time, companies are calling for more intelligence than just product ID and location-they want sensor data and real-time inspections. Special IoT comes into play here: We design and produce earmarked IoT solutions that take physical restrictions into account and provide reliable performance under all possible conditions.
Identive specializes in tailor -made inlays and tags. Can you lead us through the process of developing a custom inlay, from the first concept to production on a full scale? What are the most important considerations in every phase?
In the case of identity, the development of a custom inlay is a structured, collaborative process that ensures high -quality, application -specific solutions. From the first concept to complete production, we follow a clear path with defined checkpoints and customer participation in every step:
Collect first engagement and requirement: We initially work closely with the customer to fully understand his application and technical requirements. This includes a cross -functional team of F&E, product management, project management and sales. Our goal in this phase is to collect all the necessary details to recommend the most effective and efficient solution in the skills of RFID/BLE technology.
Design and development: As soon as the requirements are clear, our F&E team begins with the design of the custom inlay. During the entire design phase, the customer is kept up to date by regular updates from sales or project managers. If questions arise or challenges arise, we proactively plan to develop solutions together with the customer.
Prototyping and qualifications: After completing the design, we offer the customer handmade prototypes for evaluation and qualification. This step is crucial for the validation of the performance and compatibility of the inlay in the intended use of the customer.
Pilot production and scaling: As soon as the prototypes are approved, we move into pilot production in our production facility. This enables us to optimize the process and to ensure quality and consistency before we switch to complete production.
Quality assurance and stage -gate reviews: During the entire project, we apply the internal gate process from identifier to ensure quality assurance for the most important milestones. Each phase includes formal checks and permits that increase the accountability and orientation.
Risk management in all phases: Risk management is integrated over the entire life cycle of the project – from concept to production. This proactive approach helps us to expect and alleviate potential problems at an early stage, which ensures more smooth execution and reliable provision.
A central distinguishing feature in our process is the way we integrate into our customers’ teams: We don’t just see each other as a supplier – we see ourselves as a real partner. Our customers often emphasize this collaborative approach as a significant advantage of working with identity. Our joint commitment to the search for the best possible solution is the basis for long -term success.
What are some of the most challenging form factors or materials you had to work with and how did you overcome them?
Applications with metal or liquids are among the most difficult because these materials can impair the HF output. In many cases, the biggest hurdle is not only signal disorders, but the durability in real environments. For example, plastic pallets in the food supply chain must endure intensive hygiene processes after each use. We work closely with our partners to develop solutions that not only meet the strict customer requirements, but also maintain performance and reliability during their entire life cycle.
How does the performance and reliability in environments with RF challenges such as metal surfaces, liquids or temperature extracts guarantee identity?
Since there is no “one day meets all requirements” in this industry, we develop application -specific solutions to meet the environmental needs of the individual application. Our team is based as a starting point on a wide range of previous customer projects. We select adhesives that meet the respective surface, temperature and other requirements. Some tags have to peel off easily, while others should not pull off at all. We tackle topics such as surface materials and shapes. Round and cylindrical objects that need to be marked are difficult and need a certain shell thickness.
If our products are exposed to hard environments such as liquids, chemical treatments or extreme temperatures, we use certain top layers and lamination techniques. This ensures that the underlying antenna and the underlying chip are protected and prevents the different layers from having the delamination. To check this protection, we carry out immersion tests, washing cycles and other quality assurance processes that are tailored to the specific requirements of each application.
Metal surfaces may be the most difficult due to the possible disturbance of the HF field. We have developed a number of ways to tackle this problem, e.g. B. the use of ferrite materials or spacer materials. Most solutions require a certain level of adaptation to ensure optimal performance in the specific application and the specific environment of the customer.
The solutions of identity are used in sectors such as pharmaceutical, healthcare and logistics. How do the needs of these industries differ and how does the approach adapt to your approach accordingly?
It depends on where the solution is provided – as different as the application. Pharmaceutical and medical devices as part of the health ecosystem are regulated industries. Every product used in the immediate vicinity of the patient has clinical, security and quality requirements that are aware of identity and that must meet. For example, a label may have to have an adhesive that is safe for the use of patients.
Logistics are imposed in connection with health care requirements that relate to the safe transport of medicines according to the manufacturer’s quality and regulatory specifications. For example, the manufacturer can request that the product be transported within a very specific temperature range to ensure the stability of the drug.
In all cases, proactively works with the manufacturer and understands the requirements in advance as part of the design and development process. If we have an impact on our expertise for deep engineering, we can ensure that the product corresponds to all the necessary standards as part of the manufacturer’s specifications.
Custom engineered solutions sound more complex. How can you compensate for the adjustment with scalability and cost efficiency?
We achieve a balance between adaptation and scalability by using a double strategy a robust core channel company based on our standard product designs and targeted growth initiatives in high-quality segments such as healthcare and logistics. We work closely with our partners and customers to deliver tailor -made solutions based on the latest RFID and BLE technologies. This customer -oriented approach, which is supported by our first -class production in Thailand and first -class F&E, ensures both cost efficiency and scalable growth.
What recent trends or customer requirements do innovations in specialized IoT tags and names?
There are several macro trends that drive the IoT introduction to industries, including the digital transformation, the modernization of the supply chain and the increasing demand for consumers for transparency. Companies and consumers can use the advantages of special IoT solutions from increasing efficiency and visibility to improved product safety, quality and sustainability.
With regard to the future, you see application -specific IOTs in the broader development of connected devices and intelligent products?
With regard to the future, the application -specific IoT plays a decisive role in the design of the next generation of connected devices and intelligent products. When more products are digitized, they create increasing amounts of raw data that drove more advanced analyzes and knowledge.
This process enables more intelligent products that react to their surroundings, optimize performance and offer a higher value during their entire life cycle. Application-specific designs also offer precision and context that is required for the training of more effective AI models and the industry helps to develop from simple connectivity to real operational intelligence.