RAIN Alliance is celebrating its 10 years in 2024. Our history is closely intertwined with the development of RFID technology. Here are key milestones in each:

RFID Technology Development

1940-1950

Radar refined and used, major World War II development effort. RFID invented in 1948.

1950-1960

Early explorations of RFID technology, laboratory experiments.

1960-1970

Development of the theory of RFID. Start of applications field trials

1970-1980

Explosion of RFID development. Tests of RFID accelerate. Very early adopter implementations of RFID.

1980-1990

Commercial applications of RFID enter mainstream.

1990-Present

Emergence of standards. RFID widely deployed. RFID becomes a part of everyday life.

1940
1940-1950
Radar refined and used, major World War II development effort. RFID invented in 1948.
1950
1950-1960
Early explorations of RFID technology, laboratory experiments.
1960
1960-1970
Development of the theory of RFID. Start of applications field trials.
1970
1970-1980
Explosion of RFID development. Tests of RFID accelerate. Very early adopter implementations of RFID.
1980
1980-1990
Commercial applications of RFID enter mainstream.
1990
1990-Present
Emergence of standards. RFID widely deployed. RFID becomes a part of everyday life.

RAIN Alliance Evolution

2014
RAIN Alliance Forms
  • RAIN Alliance, originally a committee within AIM, is formed in April 2014 by RFID industry leaders like Impinj, Google, Intel, Smartrac, , and AIM Global, among others. RAIN stands for “Radio Frequency Identification” reflecting the core technology the alliance focuses on.
  • Aims to advance passive UHF RFID technology through standards, education and collaboration
  • First open door meeting held in Washington, D.C.
  • Around 50 companies from 4 continents join by year end.
2015
Membership Grows Across Sectors

  • RAIN Alliance experiences significant membership growth across various sectors.
  • Member meetings held in Graz, Austria, and Seoul, Korea.
2016
ISO Standardizes RAIN

  • ISO/IEC 18000-6:2004/Amd.1:2006 was the first ISO standard that specified RAIN, although not by that name. Prior protocol versions (known as ISO/IEC1800 6b) became obsolete.
  • Member meetings held in Graz, Austria in February, Napa, CA in July and Tokyo, Japan in September.
  • Over 10 billion RAIN Tag ICs shipped.

2017
Expansion Across Industries

  • RAIN Technology expands into retail, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing.
  • Member meetings held in Seattle, WA in June and Shenzen, China in October.
2018
Driving Global Adoption

  • RAIN Alliance collaborates with partners on interoperability standards and global adaption of RAIN technology.
  • Holds first Connections Summit event with NFC Forum and AIM at Google Java Corners in Sunnyvale, CA, in March.
  • Member meeting held in Vienna, Austria in June.
2019
Publishes RAIN eBook

  • Publishes What is RAIN?, an ebook about the technology, markets, using RAIN, and introducing the alliance and its members.
  • Members meetings held in Memphis, TN in March,  and Florence, Italy in June.

2020
Launches Market Research Report

  • Produces the first of its annual Market Research Reports, providing valuable insights into the current state and prospects of RAIN technology.
  • Hosts join virtual conference with AIM in December, focusing on automatic data collection.
  • Over 20 billion RAIN Tag ICs shipped.

2021
Introduces CIN System
  • Invests in projects that foster member collaboration (meetings, virtual events), remove the barriers of adaption, and make the technology more exciting and future proof.
  • Introduces the Company Identification Number (CIN), a RAIN Alliance ISO Numbering System created by members, to be used when other standard numbering systems are deemed unsuitable.
  • Hosts second virtual conference with AIM, Engage Again, in May, covering topics like barcode, biometrics, IoT, NFC, Radio-Frequency Identification, Real Time Location Systems, and RAIN from the areas of applications, standards, vertical markets and more.
  • More than 28.4 billion RAIN TAG ICs shipped.
2022
Record Tag Shipments

  • Expands its presence globally, with initiatives to support RAIN adoption in emerging markets and regions.
  • Online member event held in March; in-person Connections Summit events held in Helsinki, Finland in June and in Greenville, SC in October.
  • Over 34.5 billion RAIN TAG ICs shipped in 2022 – and increase of 20% from the previous year.
2023
Introduces New Educational Programs

  • RAIN technology gains traction in smart city initiatives, enabling applications such as asset tracking, waste management, and tolling systems for vehicle identification.
  • Establishes a Plastics Packaging Tiger Team with the goal of ensuring RIAN RFID deployments on plastic are recognized as not interfering in recycling processes.
  • Member meetings held in Seattle, WA in June, and Wiesbaden, Germany in October, co-located with a WIOT (Wireless Internet of Things) event.
  • Introduces Individual member recognition awards during member meetings
  • Creates and presents new Tyres Masterclass to help companies understand the physical, environmental, and technical challenges of embedding RAIN technology into tyres.
  • Launches new public Knowledge Series webinars to showcase RAIN Alliance member activities and the latest RAIN developments, innovations, and best practices.
  • RAIN Alliance President Aileen Ryan visits members in Japan and China.
  • Participates in Fall IOTE event in Shenzen, China.
  • More than 44.8 billion RAIN TAG ICs shipped – an increase of 32% from the previous year and doubling about every 3 t0 4 years.
2024
Continues Focus on Innovation & Adoption

  • Continues to grow its membership base and standardize RAIN technology across industries, driving further adoption and innovation.
  • Publishes Gen2 V3, a collaboration between the RAIN eco-system and Gs1.
  • Creates and presents new training courses such as the Encoding Masterclass & Certification Exam, to make the adoption of RAIN technology easier and more accessible for both technical and executive professionals in the industry.
  • Launches new RAIN Alliance Anniversary Challenge to produce solutions to our end users’ most pressing unresolved business challenges.
  • Member events scheduled for Taiwan in May and Florence, Italy in September.

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