Korean electronics and home appliance firm Dongbu Daewoo Electronics is selling a near field communication-enabled refrigerator in Korea that allows users to track the condition and efficiency of their kitchen appliance, by means of an NFC smartphone loaded with a Dongbu Daewoo application.

Datalogic ADC has made available voice-picking technology for its mobile computers.

Smith and Associates surveyed 200 respondents spanning across the electronics industry and found that 68 percent identified mobile applications as the most influential technology in the supply chain. Although some organizations are still using traditional tools in the supply chain process, more companies are now turning to smartphones, handheld computers and other mobile devices to reap the benefits of improved mobility and flexibility.

The installed base of Bluetooth-enabled devices alone reached 3.5 billion in 2012 and is forecast to grow to almost 10 billion by 2018"”with not even taking into account many other technologies, such as Wi-Fi, ZigBee and cellular, according to ABI Research.

Geotab, a vehicle-telematics technology provider based in Oakville, Ontario, has released a Near Field Communication-based function for use with its fleet-management solution that allows users to track who is operating their vehicles. In addition, the system prevents unauthorized drivers from turning the ignition.

Using an RFID-enabled inventory- and retail-management system provided by Nedap Retail, Dutch shoe retailer De Wolky Shop has significantly reduced its incidence of inventory errors. During the first two weeks of using the system, the company says that its stock accuracy jumped from 84 percent to 98 percent. Those accuracy gains, the company reports, led to fewer stock-outs and an increase in sales.