As we enter 2026, it feels timely to consider how RAIN RFID use cases will evolve in the next 12 months. The most notable shifts we expect to see are companies looking to harness the technology as a data carrier for the incoming EU Digital Product Passport regulation, and RAIN-enabled smartphones disrupt entire industries.

But how will this look in practice, and what are some of the other RAIN technology trends set to transform our lives in 2026?

The Impact of RAIN-Enabled Smartphones

This year marked a major step forward for RAIN Reader integration in smartphones, with vendors already beginning to bring solutions to market. As a result, off-the-shelf devices can be used to read RAIN tags in a business context, and eventually, will be usable in a consumer context, opening the door to many new use cases and fundamentally changing how businesses and customers engage with everyday items.

In clothing retail, for example, staff could use low-cost, pocket-sized and familiar-to-use smartphone devices to perform fast, accurate inventory checks using the same RAIN RFID tags already trusted and deployed by businesses for supply chain management. This would reduce the time and cost of administrative tasks, while also enabling real-time visibility into stock levels on the shop floor, which can also benefit customers asking for help with finding a specific item.

The customer benefits don’t end there. As digital integration advances, shoppers could soon use their own smartphones to check product availability, locate items, receive product recommendations and complete checkout without queuing.

The life of a RAIN tag also extends way beyond the store. RAIN-enabled smartphones could enable customers to find items at home or even scan luggage before travel to ensure everything they need is packed. In this way, usage of RAIN RFID will broaden from logistics to become part of everyday life, throughout a product’s entire lifecycle.

Sustainability Takes Priority

Part of the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, the first phase of the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) initiative is expected to take effect as early as 2027. The regulation will require businesses to provide accessible data on product origins and materials, driving greater transparency, re-use and recycling.

With limited time left to prepare, RAIN RFID has emerged as a practical DPP solution. Recognized by the CEN/CENELEC Joint Technical Committee 24 (JTC24) as one of five approved data carriers for DPP data, RAIN RFID can store and carry sustainability information throughout a product’s lifecycle. This makes it well suited to meet upcoming mandates and increasing demand for embedded tags.

The tyre industry offers a clear example of how compliance can be transformed from a hurdle to overcome into a catalyst for innovation. By enabling item-level identification and data sharing, RAIN RFID supports a more transparent, efficient, and collaborative supply chain, with reduced repair costs, improved traceability and more efficient, verifiable recycling.

Enabling Interoperability at Scale

RAIN RFID supports a growing range of use cases – spanning the aviation industry to zoos. As supply chains become more connected – both globally and locally – interoperability and traceability grow increasingly essential for success.

Open, trusted standards enable different industries to work together more efficiently. The ISO/IEC 18000-63 standard positions RAIN RFID as a strong foundational for item-level identification, supporting scalable, cross-sector digitally integrated strategies.

In 2026, businesses that invest in technologies that deliver greater transparency and efficiency, and sustainability will be best positioned. With regulations like the DPP on the horizon, RAIN RFID offers a way to turn compliance into opportunity, optimizing operations, unlocking new customer experiences and driving growth in an increasingly competitive business environment.