This past Monday, AIM chapter leadership convened to discuss exciting developments across the industry, including digital labeling platforms, webinar successes, and strategies to enhance member engagement.

Peter Meng from AIM China kicked things off by presenting a groundbreaking prepackaged food digital label platform. Utilizing the GS1 Digital Link format, the platform has already been adopted by over 60 companies. Peter also highlighted upcoming training events in Beijing, demonstrating the growing momentum behind this initiative.

Sanjive Mehta from AIM India shared the impressive success of recent webinars, with 211 registrations for the second event and a surge in potential new members. Looking ahead, the next webinar, set for October 8th, will focus on patient safety. Sanjive emphasized the potential for barcodes to revolutionize patient care through centralized tracking systems, though noted that implementation in government hospitals remains limited.

Global initiatives were another key topic of discussion. Peter Altes and Frithjof Walk from AIM-D e.V. shared updates on EU-level cybersecurity regulations and the merger of RFID/EREG and NFC groups, which are addressing issues like frequency harmonization and the ETSI/EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED). They also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the chapter, marking a significant milestone in AIM’s journey.

In Russia, AIM is collaborating with GS1 Russia on a national traceability system. This project, which uses AIDC technologies like UHF RFID and DataMatrix codes, tracks a wide range of products, from food to non-perishables. AIM Russia’s role includes offering expert support, conducting consultations, and providing training for project users. The initiative is expanding to cover even more product categories.

Jeanne Duckett from AIM North America outlined several third-quarter initiatives, including webinars and comments on “Data and Technology in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety.” She also highlighted upcoming podcast series from the Cannabis and UDI work groups and AIM’s participation in major events like PACK EXPO and RFID Journal LIVE!

Chuck Evanhoe provided an overview of AIM Global’s industry groups and the important work they’re doing, all of which can be explored in greater detail through AIM’s resources. He also underscored the numerous benefits of AIM membership, ranging from educational opportunities—such as webinars and podcasts—to event discounts.

Speaking of events, the chapter meeting also touched on exciting upcoming events. Henrik Granau from AIM Denmark discussed the RFID & IoT in the Nordics event, scheduled for June 12, 2025, at the IT University in Copenhagen. Anna Lau from AIM Asia highlighted the AIM Asia Annual Meeting and AIDC Connect Asia 2024 exhibition, set for November 18-20 in Macau. These events will unite AIDC organizations, industry innovators, and academic experts specializing in automated data capture technologies.

The meeting concluded with updates on webinars, member engagement strategies, and social media outreach, presented by Bethany Deane and myself.

It’s clear that AIM is on the path to growth, and we’re excited to continue driving innovation across the industry. We look forward to our next meeting in December as we work together to expand opportunities for the AIDC community.

Stay tuned for more updates as we enter the autumn event season, and keep up with AIM’s mission to support the global AIDC community!

As technology continues to evolve, terms like Ambient IoT and RFID Gen 2 are becoming more prevalent in discussions about the future of interconnected systems and supply chain visibility. Both technologies are transforming industries and driving more efficient operations, but they do so in distinct yet sometimes overlapping ways. AIM is actively educating on and exploring the similarities and differences between Ambient IoT and RFID Gen 2, with the goal of shedding light on how each is uniquely positioned to enhance the capabilities of the Internet of Things (IoT).

What is Ambient IoT?

Ambient IoT refers to a network of interconnected devices and sensors that operate in the background to gather, process, and transmit data with minimal or no human intervention. These devices are designed to optimize systems, automate tasks, and enhance user experiences seamlessly. Ambient IoT relies on features such as ubiquity, context-awareness, and energy efficiency. For instance, it uses battery-free technology like Bluetooth tags that can harvest energy from the environment, making them ideal for long-term deployment with low maintenance needs. This enables devices to interact autonomously, communicate with cloud networks, and sometimes even with each other, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with traditional IoT frameworks.

Understanding RFID Gen 2: A Foundational Technology

RFID Gen 2, particularly RAIN RFID, has been a cornerstone of the Auto-ID industry, attaching unique identification to inanimate objects to connect them to the internet. Unlike Ambient IoT, which focuses on continuous data transmission in a broader context, RFID Gen 2 typically operates by transmitting data when it is within the range of a reader, powered by radio waves. This technology has proven its value for various applications, such as inventory management and asset tracking, where high-speed data capture and accuracy are paramount. One of the critical advantages of RFID Gen 2 is its well-established ecosystem, which includes standardization efforts like the GS1 GTIN, making it a trusted choice for many industries.

Bridging the Gap: Complimentary, Not Competing Technologies

While Ambient IoT and RFID Gen 2 differ in their operational focus, they are not necessarily competing technologies. In fact, they are more like different tools in an engineer’s toolkit. Ambient IoT builds upon the foundation laid by RFID Gen 2, using advancements in energy harvesting and low-cost tags to extend IoT’s reach. As both technologies continue to evolve, professionals in the field of Auto-ID will find that the knowledge and experience gained from RFID Gen 2 will be highly transferable to Ambient IoT. Understanding how to leverage each technology’s strengths—whether it be the low-cost, ubiquitous deployment of Ambient IoT or the high-accuracy, high-speed data capture of RFID Gen 2—will be essential in architecting future-proof solutions.

Learn More: Watch the AIM Webinars on Ambient IoT and RFID Gen 2

To dive deeper into these transformative technologies, AIM hosted two webinars focusing on Ambient IoT and RFID Gen 2. These webinars explored how these technologies are scaling, their future in the IoT landscape, and practical applications that can drive real-world impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts like Steve Statler of Wiliot, Jeanne Duckett of Avery Dennison and Scott Austin of Zugang Technology Connections and discover how industries are leveraging both Ambient IoT and RFID Gen 2 for smarter, more efficient operations.