Your Voice, Our Direction: How Member Engagement Shapes AIM’s Future

Over the last several weeks, AIM staff has been reaching out directly to members across our community as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen engagement and better understand how we can continue delivering value to the industry.

Our goal is simple: to learn what’s new with our members, understand their market challenges and opportunities, and refine how AIM supports the AIDC community as a trusted resource and advocate.

These conversations have been incredibly valuable. They not only help us stay connected to the latest developments across the industry, but they also provide important perspective on where AIM is making an impact today and where we can continue to grow.

 

What We’re Hearing from Members

It’s clear from our discussions that while AIM’s industry initiatives and resources are vital, the heart of our value lies in community. Members consistently tell us that the relationships, shared knowledge, and connections built here are what they value most.

We have also heard that AIM’s industry group and work group calls continue to be a strong benefit for many members. These forums give participants an opportunity to hear what others in the market are seeing, exchange ideas, and contribute to discussions that help shape the future of the industry.

Time and again, we hear that nothing beats face-to-face connection. Holding in-person meetings around major industry events often creates the best opportunities for engagement. Whether it’s a casual breakfast or a dedicated networking session, these moments spark candid conversations, boost collaboration, and build long-term value.

We’ve listened to your feedback and realized that we can do more to help members share their ideas for new projects. We want to make it easier for you to bring these ideas to life, ensuring everyone feels empowered to shape the future of AIM.

Finally, one area of growing interest is finding stronger ways to connect businesses seeking AIDC solutions with the companies and experts within the AIM community. As the need for traceability, visibility, automation, and intelligent data capture continues to grow, there is a real opportunity for AIM to help bridge those connections in a meaningful way.

 

What AIM Will Be Working On Next

Based on these conversations, AIM will be exploring several next steps designed to strengthen member value and engagement.

We remain committed to fostering meaningful connection opportunities—such as the May RFID Community Connect and Unwind After 5 meetup at MODEX. These initiatives allow members to maximize their time and travel, creating high-impact environments for discussion and collaboration.

We will also be looking at ways to make it easier for members to submit ideas, suggest new initiatives, and share feedback, including options that may reduce barriers for those who prefer to contribute outside of a live meeting setting.  Be on the lookout for an announcement on how to do this in the coming weeks.

AIM continues to bridge the gap between our members and organizations in need of AIDC solutions, education, and expertise. Leveraging our position as a neutral industry leader, we foster these connections while highlighting the immense value of being part of the AIM community.

Most importantly, these conversations reinforce something we already know: member engagement is essential. These discussions help inform new programs, shape future initiatives, and ensure that AIM continues to evolve in ways that directly support the needs of the industry.

 

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

If you haven’t yet connected with a member of our team, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Your input drives our mission. These conversations allow us to align our initiatives with your needs and the direction of the industry. Hearing from you directly ensures we maximize our value and know exactly where to focus our efforts next.

AIM Engages the Packaging Community on the Role of AIDC Technologies – PACK EXPO East 2026 Review

PACK EXPO East 2026, held February 17–19 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, once again demonstrated why the event has become one of the most important regional gatherings for the packaging and processing industry. Organized by PMMI, the show brought together thousands of industry professionals and more than 100 exhibitors across 125,000 square feet of exhibit space, showcasing innovations serving more than 40 vertical industries including food and beverage, life sciences, cosmetics, and industrial manufacturing.

As a regional event designed to provide hands-on access to packaging technologies and industry expertise, PACK EXPO East gave AIM some key insights into some key themes in the packaging space.

Key Industry Themes from the Show Floor

Walking the show floor and engaging with exhibitors and attendees revealed several clear trends shaping the future of packaging and processing:

  1. Increasing Automation and Digitalization
    Automation technologies, robotics, and advanced controls were prominent across the exhibition halls, reflecting the industry’s push to increase efficiency, reduce labor constraints, and enhance operational visibility.
  2. Greater Focus on Traceability and Data
    Packaging and processing operations are becoming increasingly data-driven. Solutions demonstrated at the show highlighted the importance of capturing accurate product, pallet, and asset data throughout production and distribution environments. This aligns closely with our members technologies.
  3. The Rise of 2D Codes and Connected Packaging
    Discussions around digital product information, regulatory compliance, and consumer engagement highlighted the growing adoption of 2D barcodes and smart packaging capabilities that enable more information to travel with products across the supply chain.
  4. Sustainability and Reusable Packaging
    Sustainability was a consistent theme across sessions and exhibits, including new materials and systems designed to support circular packaging models and reusable transport packaging.

These trends strongly reinforce the importance of standards-based identification and tracking technologies, an area where AIM continues to play a critical role through education, standards engagement, and industry collaboration.

Not only did we walk the show floor, but we also had a booth presence where the team had many productive conversations with packaging professionals, solution providers, and brand owners. These discussions focused on how AIDC technologies support traceability, operational visibility, and automation within modern packaging environments.  This was  particularly valuable for AIM because they bring together the broader ecosystem of packaging machinery manufacturers, material providers, and technology innovators who rely on accurate identification and data capture throughout production and logistics workflows.

AIM also was proud to sponsor a post event dinner at Del Frisco Steakhouse along with the Reusable Packaging Association and ACSIS.  I had the opportunity to briefly speak at this gathering and noted how exciting it is to see so many people within the industry in one area discussing their successes and challenges, collaborating in a way to foster a more transparent and at the end of the day more productive supply chain.

 

Industry Speaks Session: AIDC in Packaging

On the final day of the show, AIM participated in the Industry Speaks educational sessions, where attendees gathered for discussions on emerging technologies and industry best practices.

During the session, I provided an overview of how multiple AIDC technologies work together to support modern packaging operations. The presentation explored:

  • 1D and 2D barcodes for product identification and regulatory compliance
  • Passive RFID for automated inventory visibility and asset tracking
  • Active RFID and RTLS systems for real-time location tracking
  • Sensor-enabled solutions that provide condition monitoring for assets and goods

I explained how these technologies can be integrated within a packaging warehouse environment to create a connected system where materials, products, pallets, and returnable assets can all be identified and tracked automatically.

AIM Board Member John DiPalo then expanded on the discussion by sharing a compelling reusable packaging use case. The example demonstrated how multiple AIDC technologies can be combined to track reusable transport items across a supply chain, improving asset utilization, reducing losses, and increasing operational transparency.

The session highlighted a key message that resonated strongly with the audience: AIDC technologies are most powerful when deployed together as part of an integrated data ecosystem supporting packaging, logistics, and supply chain visibility.

Looking Ahead to PACK EXPO International

AIM greatly values its collaboration with PMMI and the PACK EXPO community. Following a successful event in Philadelphia, AIM looks forward to continuing this partnership at PACK EXPO International, taking place October 18–21, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

At the Chicago event, AIM plans to further engage the packaging community through:

  • A booth presence on the show floor
  • Educational discussions focused on AIDC technologies
  • Networking opportunities connecting packaging professionals with the automatic identification community

Contact me if you would like updates on the work AIM Plans to do at the PACK EXPO International event.

AIM at Manifest 2026: Observations from the Front Lines of Supply Chain Innovation

Earlier this February, AIM had the opportunity to attend Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas, one of the fastest-growing gatherings focused on supply chain and logistics innovation. Manifest continues to bring together a powerful cross-section of industry stakeholders, including technology developers, shippers, solution providers, venture capital firms, and enterprise end users. From my perspective, the event serves as a strong pulse check on where supply chain technology is heading and how Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) technologies continue to serve as a foundational layer enabling this transformation.

Walking the show floor and participating in sessions, it was clear that Manifest is intentionally designed to foster collaboration between innovators and the organizations deploying these solutions at scale. The agenda balanced strategic leadership discussions with deep technical insights, which mirrors the challenges many AIM members are working to solve every day. The event reinforced how critical accurate data capture, interoperability, and real-time visibility have become across global supply networks.

A Strong Emphasis on AI and Intelligent Automation

One of the most noticeable themes throughout the conference was the role artificial intelligence is already playing and will continue to play in supply chain operations. Across multiple sessions, speakers discussed how AI is moving beyond experimentation and into practical deployment.

Discussions centered around AI-driven predictive analytics, demand forecasting, exception management, and automated decision-making within warehouse and transportation operations. What stood out to me was how frequently these AI solutions depend on trusted, structured, and real-time data inputs. This reinforces a message AIM consistently advocates: advanced analytics and AI capabilities are only as strong as the quality and reliability of the data feeding them.

Many sessions highlighted how organizations are combining AI with sensor technologies, RFID, machine vision, and other AIDC solutions to create actionable intelligence. These integrated ecosystems are helping companies improve inventory accuracy, reduce operational disruptions, and gain end-to-end visibility across increasingly complex supply chains.

Supply Chain Visibility and Data Interoperability Remain Central

Another major takeaway was the continued focus on supply chain visibility and the importance of interoperable data sharing across partners. Conversations consistently returned to the challenge of connecting information from manufacturers, logistics providers, distributors, and retailers into unified, transparent data flows.

This is an area where AIM members continue to lead through standards development, technology innovation, and real-world deployment expertise. The emphasis on digital identifiers, connected packaging, and item-level tracking reinforced how critical AIDC technologies are in building scalable visibility platforms. Many presenters highlighted that supply chains are evolving from transactional processes into dynamic, data-driven ecosystems, which aligns closely with AIM’s mission of enabling accurate, available, and identifiable data. 

Collaboration Across the Technology Ecosystem

The networking environment at Manifest was particularly strong and created opportunities to engage with existing AIM members as well as organizations exploring AIDC solutions for the first time. The mix of startups, established technology providers, and enterprise end users created productive discussions about emerging trends and practical implementation challenges.

Several conversations reinforced how organizations are increasingly looking for guidance on standards, interoperability, and best practices. These discussions highlight the growing importance of industry collaboration and education, areas where AIM continues to play a leadership role through committees, working groups, and educational programming.

Looking Ahead to 2027

From my perspective, Manifest provides valuable insight into how rapidly supply chain innovation is evolving and how essential AIM technologies are to enabling that progress. The event highlights real-world use cases, emerging regulatory drivers, and new business opportunities that directly impact our membership community.  It also reinforces the importance of continuing to build partnerships with organizations and events that share our focus on advancing supply chain transparency, efficiency, and resilience.

AIM is excited to continue strengthening our partnership with Manifest as the event expands globally. I want to thank Manifest President Courtney Muller for meeting with AIM and seeing the benefits of this new collaboration.   We look forward to supporting their first overseas event in Lisbon, Portugal in 2027 as well as the stateside show in Las Vegas next February. These collaborations help ensure AIM remains connected to emerging trends while continuing to advocate for the technologies and standards that power modern supply chains.

 

Manifest 2026 reinforced an important reality: as supply chains become smarter and more autonomous, the need for trusted identification, data capture, and interoperability will only grow. AIM and our members remain at the center of enabling that future.

Global Collaboration and Industry Momentum Highlighted at AIM Quarterly Chapter Meeting

The most recent AIM Quarterly Chapter Meeting brought together chapter leaders and global representatives to share updates, discuss strategic priorities, and reinforce collaboration across the Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) ecosystem. The meeting reflected AIM’s continued commitment to advancing standards, education, advocacy, and membership engagement worldwide. Chapters provided insights into regional activities, regulatory developments, educational initiatives, and industry adoption trends, while AIM Global outlined strategic initiatives designed to strengthen collaboration and expand industry influence.

Below is a breakdown of key highlights from each regional chapter and AIM Global initiatives.

AIM Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (AIM-D)

AIM-D provided a comprehensive overview of its continued leadership in European standardization and regulatory advocacy. The chapter remains heavily engaged in regulatory initiatives including the Radio Equipment Directive, Cyber Resilience Act, cybersecurity frameworks, and Digital Product Passport development. The organization is also supporting frequency harmonization for RFID bands and addressing interference concerns, demonstrating strong advocacy for industry needs.

AIM-D is advancing technical collaboration through initiatives such as the Global Positioning Group focused on RTLS standardization and ongoing work in systems integration, including RFID and IO-Link interoperability. The chapter continues to expand its thought leadership through expert working groups, certification efforts, and market research activities.

From a membership and engagement standpoint, AIM-D acknowledged challenges related to regulatory pressures, workforce shortages, and market conditions. Despite these challenges, the chapter successfully launched a new website and LinkedIn presence while planning several major industry events and conferences to support community engagement and technical collaboration.

AIM Russia

AIM Russia highlighted its strong focus on standards development, advocacy, and education. The chapter continues to serve as a key contributor to national and international AIDC standardization through its participation in ISO and regional technical committees.

Recent accomplishments include the adoption of updated Data Matrix and high-capacity automatic data capture media standards aligned with international ISO specifications. AIM Russia is also playing an important role in supporting national traceability programs that leverage RFID and Data Matrix technologies to enhance product identification and supply chain visibility across multiple sectors.

The chapter remains active in providing technical training and consultation services to support implementation of these traceability initiatives, reinforcing the importance of standards adoption and user education across the region.

AIM India

AIM India celebrated significant growth and engagement as it marked its third anniversary. The chapter continues expanding awareness of AIDC technologies through webinars, exhibitions, and participation in major industry conferences across sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and digital transformation.

A major focus for the chapter moving forward is leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding to expand educational outreach and workforce development initiatives. AIM India has also demonstrated strong momentum in promoting AIDC adoption across healthcare and medical device applications, further supporting national digital transformation initiatives.

The chapter continues building partnerships with industry organizations and government bodies to promote skill development and operational efficiency through AIDC technologies.

AIM North America

AIM North America reported continued success in expanding industry collaboration and educational initiatives across multiple vertical markets. The chapter highlighted the success of its membership engagement programs, including gift membership campaigns and community networking events.

Several workgroups remain highly active, including the Food Supply Chain Work Group addressing regulatory compliance and food safety challenges, the UDI Work Group supporting medical device traceability and Sunrise 2027 transition to 2D barcodes, and the Cannabis Work Group focusing on regulatory compliance and traceability innovation.

The chapter continues strengthening partnerships with organizations while expanding podcast and educational content designed to support industry knowledge sharing and best practices.

AIM Asia

AIM Asia reported significant progress in launching its Digital Product Passport (DPP) Workgroup. The initiative focuses on key industries including garments, semiconductors, food, and pharmaceuticals, reflecting growing global demand for product transparency and lifecycle traceability.

The chapter is also developing a regional digital collaboration platform designed to improve communication, resource sharing, and engagement among members throughout the Asia-Pacific region. These initiatives demonstrate the chapter’s commitment to supporting regional digital transformation and strengthening global alignment on regulatory compliance and traceability solutions.

AIM Denmark

AIM Denmark continues to play an important role in advancing knowledge-sharing and industry collaboration around digital transformation and Digital Product Passport implementation. The chapter hosted multiple events focused on data utilization, digital labeling, and traceability.

Educational outreach remains a key focus, including AIDC web series and site visits to showcase real-world technology implementation. AIM Denmark continues to provide engagement opportunities through targeted educational programs and industry partnerships.

AIM Japan

AIM Japan continues to prioritize educational expansion and industry collaboration. The chapter is actively working with organizations to host AIDC 101 educational workshops and is pursuing sponsorship opportunities to support program delivery.

The chapter is also strengthening relationships with international organizations, including GS1 China and regional partners, to promote adoption of AIDC technologies across Asia. These initiatives reinforce AIM Japan’s commitment to education, standardization, and global collaboration.

AIM Korea

AIM Korea continues to support the transition from traditional 1D barcodes to GS1-based 2D digital link standards through its Smart Food QR initiative. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and GS1 Korea to enhance consumer access to food safety and product information.

This initiative represents a significant step toward digital labeling adoption and improved transparency across food supply chains in Korea.

AIM Europe

AIM Europe emphasized its continued leadership in regulatory advocacy and technical standardization. The chapter remains highly engaged in EU regulatory discussions, including cybersecurity, radio equipment regulations, and interference mitigation initiatives. It also continues to support Digital Product Passport implementation efforts through collaboration with standards organizations and government bodies.

AIM Global Initiatives and Strategic Direction

AIM Global reinforced its strategic priorities centered on standards development, advocacy, education, and community building. The organization continues to play a central role in global regulatory advocacy, including responses to spectrum and positioning technology proposals that may impact RFID operations and support for Digital Product Passport standardization efforts.

Educational initiatives remain a major focus, including continued expansion of AIDC 101 and 102 workshops, industry research initiatives, and publication of industry trend reports. AIM also highlighted the Case Study Competition as a platform to showcase innovative AIDC applications and industry success stories.

To support member and prospect engagement, AIM is enhancing digital resources including a new Member Hub, Prospect Gateway, improved member directories, and exploration of mobile event applications designed to strengthen networking and collaboration opportunities. 

AIM also continues expanding global community initiatives, including Women in AIDC and Young Professionals programs, which aim to foster industry growth, mentorship, and leadership development.

Looking Ahead

The meeting concluded with discussion of upcoming collaborative opportunities, continued development of the global transportation, logistics, and warehousing industry survey, and expansion of educational and advocacy initiatives worldwide.

This quarterly chapter meeting reinforced AIM’s role as a global connector across industries, technologies, and regulatory landscapes. Through continued collaboration, education, and standards development, AIM chapters are helping drive innovation, traceability, and interoperability across the rapidly evolving AIDC ecosystem.

Emerging Trends Shaping the Future of AIDC and Digital Transformation

The automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) industry continues to play a critical role in enabling enterprise digital transformation. As organizations invest in artificial intelligence, IoT infrastructure, advanced analytics, and connected supply chains, AIDC technologies are increasingly recognized as the foundation that makes these initiatives possible. Insights from the 2025 AIM Automatic Identification and Data Capture Industry Direction Report highlight several emerging trends that are shaping technology adoption, operational strategies, and market opportunities across industries.

AIDC Spending Remains Strong Despite Economic Pressure

Even as organizations balance competing technology priorities and economic uncertainty, investment in AIDC technologies remains resilient. According to our report, nearly twice as many enterprises expect to increase their AIDC spending compared to those planning reductions, demonstrating strong confidence in the long-term value of accurate data capture and identification technologies.

Most organizations anticipate maintaining or modestly increasing budgets across nearly every AIDC category. This steady investment highlights how AIDC continues to serve as essential infrastructure that supports higher-level initiatives such as AI, robotics, cloud migration, and advanced customer engagement platforms.  What though are some of the emerging AIDC trends for the future of the industry?

Sensors and IoT Drive the Next Phase of Intelligent Operations

Our research found that some of  the most significant emerging trends is the rapid growth in sensor technology and IoT infrastructure. Sensors rank as the most likely AIDC technology to receive increased investment, signaling a broader shift toward real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and intelligent automation.

Enterprises are expanding traditional data capture capabilities by integrating environmental monitoring, condition tracking, and machine-level analytics into their operations. This “sense-and-respond” model is enabling organizations to improve decision-making, increase visibility across supply chains, and support automation initiatives across manufacturing, logistics, and field service environments.  Within manufacturing, logistics and field service environments another emerging trend is prevalent.

Mobile Data Capture Continues to Outpace Stationary Systems

The continued demand for mobile data capture technologies is seen in our studies as a strong trend moving forward. Handheld barcode readers, mobile computing platforms, and integrated scanning solutions are outperforming stationary alternatives as organizations prioritize workforce mobility and real-time operational visibility.

Mobile solutions allow companies to increase productivity, reduce manual processes, and improve data accuracy in dynamic operational environments such as warehouses, retail operations, and healthcare facilities. This mobility-driven transformation is helping organizations close visibility gaps while supporting labor efficiency and workforce optimization.  All this also helps with traceability requirements, another emerging trend we found.

Traceability Requirements Are Expanding Market Opportunities

Traceability continues to be one of the strongest drivers for AIDC adoption. Regulatory programs such as the Digital Product Passport (DPP), FDA traceability initiatives, and global product identification standards are increasing demand for technologies that enable item-level visibility and lifecycle tracking.

Organizations investing in traceability solutions are significantly more likely to deploy barcode, RFID, and RTLS technologies. These initiatives are driving adoption across industries including healthcare, food safety, manufacturing, and retail while also creating new opportunities for system integration, software development, and advanced analytics services.

AIDC Enables Emerging Technologies Including AI, 5G, and Cloud

As enterprises pursue advanced digital transformation strategies, AIDC technologies are increasingly positioned as foundational enablers. Artificial intelligence and analytics systems rely on high-quality, real-time data to produce meaningful insights, while 5G and cloud infrastructure expand connectivity and processing capabilities across distributed environments.

Organizations investing in AI and IoT are also more likely to deploy RFID systems, RTLS platforms, and mobile computing technologies. These cross-technology dependencies reinforce the importance of AIDC as a critical layer within modern enterprise technology ecosystems.  Even with some of these “newer technologies” being key trends, old standbys remain very much relevant.

Barcode Technology Remains Mission Critical

While new technologies continue to gain attention, barcode systems remain one of the most widely deployed and essential data capture technologies in enterprise operations. Organizations consistently identify barcode solutions as foundational infrastructure required to support order fulfillment, inventory control, and supply chain execution.

The continued investment in barcode technology demonstrates its reliability, scalability, and interoperability with emerging digital transformation initiatives.  Some areas that do not have quite the reliability are creating new adoption trends.

Skills Shortages and ROI Justification Are Influencing Adoption

While investment momentum remains strong, organizations continue to face challenges related to workforce skill shortages, system integration complexity, and justifying technology ROI. These challenges are creating new opportunities for solution providers, industry organizations, and ecosystem partners to support education, training, and implementation guidance.

Industry collaboration and standards development remain critical factors in reducing deployment risk, simplifying integration, and accelerating adoption across sectors.

Manufacturing and Supply Chain Resilience Continue to Drive Innovation

Manufacturing remains the largest market for AIDC adoption, driven by labor shortages, supply chain disruption, and trading partner requirements. Organizations are prioritizing automation, predictive maintenance, and improved operational visibility to increase resilience and responsiveness in an increasingly volatile global market.

These pressures are accelerating the adoption of sensor technologies, mobile computing, barcode systems, and traceability solutions that enable manufacturers to operate with greater agility and efficiency.

Looking Ahead

The AIDC industry is entering a new phase of growth driven by digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and the increasing demand for real-time operational intelligence. As enterprises deploy AI, IoT, and connected infrastructure, the need for accurate, reliable, and timely data capture will continue to expand.

The 2025 AIM Industry Direction Report provides deeper analysis, market insights, and strategic recommendations for organizations looking to understand where the industry is headed and how to position themselves for future growth.

Readers interested in exploring these trends in greater detail can access additional insights within the full report available here.

AIM members are eligible to receive a complimentary copy of the report. To request access, please reach out to AIM staff for assistance.