Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is becoming more valuable to IT managers and their data centre operations, according to ABI Research.
The Oyster Bay, Ny-based consultancy said that as IT assets become more important to enterprises, IT managers will need to ensure certain equipment is documented, traceable and secure. ABI Research estimated that IT asset tracking, currently just a fraction of a percent of the worldwide RFID market, will grow to take more than 10 per cent by the end of 2013.
“RFID IT asset tracking is starting to gain momentum in data centers. Managing and auditing this equipment is a serious pain point for IT departments, and automating those applications with RFID can drive clear ROI,” Jonathan Collins, ABI Research principal analyst, said. “The environment also suits RFID: the density of valuable equipment within a restricted area limits the cost and increases the efficiency of an RFID deployment. Once RFID is deployed in the data center there is a base for RFID tagging to extend further within IT asset management across an organization’s IT infrastructure.”
The firm added that RFID vendors and system integrators have begun offering products ranging from specialized tags and software to systems design and integration. Major vendors such as HP Inc. and IBM Corp. have also begun offering RFID specific products.