Celebrating a Decade of Shaping a Connected World

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:

1. 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.

2. 2015

   Membership Grows Across Sectors

   

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.