As enterprises set up readers and printers to enable tagging and reading of material, the software that they use to manage both the hardware and the information flowing to it is called RFID Middleware.

RFID middleware is the layer of software that implements the most standards from EPC Global. On one side, it must implement protocols for managing readers and printers, and for handling inbound event information that is sent when tags are read. On the other side, the software must send application level information to other systems, and sometimes provide the ability to query the history of read events. The communications with hardware are the standard, terse “on the wire” type protocols, while application communications make use of XML messages over standard corporate networks.

Vendors in this space include epcSolutions, GlobeRanger, OAT Systems, and many others. Their software must be certified—not just for standards compliance, but also with as many readers and printers as possible. This is a specialised field, and many companies (including GXS) partner to acquire this capability. As an example, the GXS RFID Starter Kit package includes a bundled copy of the epcSolutions RFID middleware.

GXS has evaluated and selected a proven middleware partner. You gain by:

• Leveraging cost-effective, specialised software
• Getting a complete, integrated solution from one vendor
• Working with a partner that has evaluated and optimised the entire supply chain management process