Item-level intelligence requirements spur the growth of RFID across sectors such as industrial, manufacturing, retail, transportation, security, healthcare and consumer applications. RFID has quietly crossed the chasm exhibiting a stable - yet still innovative - market. So what will drive the market in 2015?

Less than half of retailers currently offer order fulfillment solutions like in-store pickup or ship-from-store to consumers, but 2015 provides a chance to improve their business operations and invest in technologies that will improve the bottom line and create unforgettable customer shopping experiences in all channels. Shopatron, a provider of cloud-based distributed order management solutions, says retailers must view 2015 as the year when omnichannel commitment becomes the priority.

Information technology providers who market to the federal government got some holiday cheer as the U.S. Congress and the White House approved legislation to improve the way the government acquires IT equipment and services. The reforms are significant and welcome, and no doubt will facilitate the marketing of IT to federal agencies.

Toyota has rocked the auto industry by announcing that it is opening to the public 5,680 of its patents related to fuel cell technology for royalty-free use.