
Stephen Covey talks about time management using a matrix. As you can see on the right, Quadrant 1 refers to items in our life that are both urgent and important; Quadrant 3, not important, but urgent; Quadrant 4, not important, and not urgent. With reference to RFID, I want to talk about Quadrant 2—items which are important, but not urgent.
Items which are important, but not urgent, represent those things in our lives—both personal and professional—which are not on the front burner. Despite the fact that they are not pressing—which do not warrant our immediate attention—but are important in the long-term none-the-less. The most common example would be planning. We all recognize the importance of planning. We realize that to reach our long-term objectives, we must first determine what they are. We must make a plan to acheive those objectives, and then, we must work toward them. They are not urgent in the sense that planning does not take precedence over those urgent items in our life which must be done right away. However they can not be ignored. Much like planning, many items can wait until tomorrow, but need to be done to achieve our long-term goals.
RFID is a prime example of a Quadrant 2 activity. Realistically, given other pressing matters like the day-to-day operation of a supply chain and the very real costs associated with implementation, RFID can wait until tomorrow. In fact, it can wait until next year. But, I will caution you; RFID implementation can not fall to the wayside in the chaos of our Quadrant 1 items. Supply chain managers must realize the long-term advantage—and necessity—of implementing RFID technology. It has been said over and again that “competitive advantage is temporary.” To be certain, RFID is rapidly becoming a competitive advantage for those organizations that can implement it effectively. As time goes on, organizations that postpone their RFID projects will quickly realize that they have missed their opportunity to gain a competitive advantage. And, if too much time passes, those asleep at the wheel will realize that what once could and would have been a strong competitive advantage has become a necessity. They will realize that they have not only missed an opportunity to move ahead of their competition by taking advantages of the cost-savings that RFID can provide, but they have slid behind their competition and that advantage has been taken by someone else. The time will come in which organizations who delayed RFID implementation for whatever reason, will be playing catch-up to merely maintain parity in the marketplace.
Put RFID alongside your Quadrant 2 activities. Realize that although it is not urgent, its consideration is extremely important. Do not wait until your competitors have passed you by, and you have missed the opportunity to gain a competitive advantage.
Posted in Logistics, RFID, Supply Chain Excellence