RFID for datacenters

[sonali luniya]

Hi all,
I am a graduate student at North Carolina State University. I have taken a class this semester in the NCSU business school. The aim of the class is to evaluate a technology for commercialization. One of our product ideas is a chipless - RFID tag. The chipless tags will be 5 times cheaper than the conventional RFID tags. 
 
Now we are in the market research phase. Since our tags can be read from a maximum of 3 meter distance, it will have applications in niche markets. One of the market segments could a datacenter. The idea is -- Each device (server / router etc) in a datacenter will be have  a RFID tag on it. The RFID handheld reader can read multiple tags, wirelessly. In a datacenter the datacenter / system administrator can walk down the aisle and scan multiple tags. This will speed up regular inventory control. It will also help locate a particular device fast in case of a device failure. 
It sounds like a good idea, but we want to know if there is really a need for such a solution in the industry. If there is a need, what is the problem we are trying to solve.
 
Some of our market research questions are:
1: In a datacenter, how difficult it is to locate a particular device in a room full of devices?
2: Does a datacenter do regular inventory control?
3: Is this a viable/interesting solution ?
4: What amount would a datacenter be ready to invest in such a system?
 
We would be very glad if anybody who has experience working in a datacenter or similar projects, could answer the above questions. Your feedback will help us build a good business plan , the end goal of the course.
 
Thanks for your time and effort.
 
Sonali.
 
 
 

		
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