Auburn University RFID Lab
Auburn University RFID Lab is an academic research institute that develops RFID and sensor-technology standards, validates supplier compliance through its ARC and ALEC programs, and supports retailers, product suppliers, and organizations across aviation, aerospace, QSR, and manufacturing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersAuburn, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Auburn University RFID Lab does
Auburn University RFID Lab is an academic research institute at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, focused on the business case and technical implementation of RFID and other emerging sensor technologies. Founded in 2005 at the University of Arkansas and relocated to Auburn in 2014, the lab now operates with 100+ students and faculty across multiple college programs, conducting research in retail, aviation, aerospace, QSR, manufacturing, and supply chain applications. Its core technology work spans RFID, augmented reality, virtual reality, AI/ML, and computer vision, with dedicated research streams in tag localization, indoor positioning, and brick-and-mortar customer experience analytics.
The lab operates two flagship programs that anchor its industry engagement. The ARC Program provides benchmark testing of RFID inlays and maintains industry-wide specifications through its Approved Inlay List, effectively setting the de facto quality standard used by major retailers. The ALEC Validation Program onboards, validates, and supports product suppliers required to implement RFID tagging for retailer compliance, offering structured submission review, feasibility assessments, and solution validation. Beyond these programs, the lab offers business case development, RFID tag selection guidance, playbook development, solution evaluation, and data reporting for enterprise clients.
Commercially, the lab is funded through university-supported research grants, industry sponsorships, and fee-based professional services, principally ALEC validation on multi-year quote-based contracts. It does not disclose pricing publicly. Customers include major retailers (notably Walmart), product suppliers globally, and organizations in aviation, aerospace, QSR, and manufacturing. Distribution is driven by direct enterprise engagement, public research papers and tagging guidelines, and a multi-channel presence across social media, webinars, industry events, and academic publications. The Executive Director, Justin Patton, leads the organization alongside a small team of directors and specialists in ARC, ALEC, retail, technology, and operations.
Auburn University RFID Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Auburn University RFID Lab
- Legal name
- Auburn University RFID Lab
- Website
- https://rfid.auburn.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Auburn University RFID Lab is an academic research institute that develops RFID and sensor-technology standards, validates supplier compliance through its ARC and ALEC programs, and supports retailers, product suppliers, and organizations across aviation, aerospace, QSR, and manufacturing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Auburn University RFID Lab industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Institutes of Technology (IoT / Technical Universities) (EDAHAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Accreditation Evaluation, Peer Review & Site-Visit Organizations (EDADACAI), Lab & Science Virtual Labs (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) (EDAFAJAE)
Keywords
Where Auburn University RFID Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auburn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Auburn University RFID Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Research Grants and Funding: University research lab funded through academic grants and institutional funding to conduct RFID research and development.
- Industry Partnerships and Sponsorships: Collaborative research agreements with industry partners including retailers, technology providers, and standards organizations.
- ALEC Validation Services: Validation program for product suppliers implementing RFID tagging, ensuring compliance with retailer requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | ALEC Validation Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Auburn University RFID Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Auburn University RFID Lab is an academic research institute that performs independent testing, validation, and qualification of RFID tags/inlays and emerging sensor technologies for industry. It operates the ARC (Approved Inlay Testing) program and the ALEC (Validation Program) to certify RFID hardware for retail, aviation, aerospace, QSR, and manufacturing use cases. The lab was founded in 2005 at the University of Arkansas and relocated to Auburn in 2014.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Supporting many of the largest RFID deployments globally
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Auburn University RFID Lab
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Auburn University RFID Lab technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Auburn University RFID Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- WalmartcoreWalmart, as a major retailer, collaborates with the RFID Lab on source tagging initiatives. Senior Manager Bob Hoheisal contributed to the Retail Supplier Workshop video series, discussing the importance of source tagging from a retailer's perspective. This partnership supports the lab's work with suppliers on RFID compliance.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Auburn University RFID Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Impinj: Leading provider of RFID tag chips and readers, and a key industry player the Auburn RFID Lab works with and tests against through ARC. Adjacent rather than direct because Impinj is a technology vendor, not a testing/research organization, but the lab's specifications and supplier ecosystem revolve around Impinj-class products.
- RFID Journal: Industry media and events company covering RFID and IoT. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler that disseminates RFID education, vendor news, and adoption case studies — overlapping with the lab's webinars, whitepapers, and industry-event programming.
- Zebra Technologies: Major provider of RFID hardware, barcode scanners, and enterprise asset-tracking solutions. Adjacent to the lab because Zebra's products are commonly validated in retailer RFID programs the lab supports, making it an ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.
Direct peers
- GS1: Global standards organization that defines barcodes, RFID tag data standards, and supply-chain identification frameworks. Directly comparable because, like the Auburn RFID Lab's ARC and ALEC programs, GS1 sets the technical specifications that retailers and suppliers must follow for RFID deployment.
- MET Labs (Eurofins MET Labs): Independent testing and certification laboratory for electrical and electronic products. Directly comparable to the ARC Program because it performs third-party performance, compliance, and quality testing that suppliers rely on for retailer and regulatory acceptance.
- AIM Global (Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility): Industry association representing RFID, barcode, and IoT technologies. Comparable to the Auburn RFID Lab in its role coordinating RFID education, standards dissemination, and industry alignment across retailers, suppliers, and technology providers.
Broad incumbents
- UL (Underwriters Laboratories): Global safety science organization offering testing, inspection, and certification across many product categories. Comparable as a broader testing/certification incumbent whose independent-validation model parallels the lab's ARC approach, though UL covers far more than RFID.
- SGS: World-leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering testing/validation services across retail supply chain, electronics, and consumer goods where the Auburn RFID Lab's ARC/ALEC validation sits.
- Intertek: Major global testing, inspection, and certification company serving electronics, retail, and supply-chain clients. Comparable because it provides third-party validation services that retailers and suppliers use to verify product and technology compliance.
- TÜV SÜD: Global testing, inspection, and certification provider. Comparable as a broad incumbent in third-party product and system validation that retailers and suppliers rely on for compliance testing, similar in role to the lab's ALEC supplier validation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Auburn University RFID Lab social profiles
Digital presenceAuburn University RFID Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Auburn University RFID Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Auburn University RFID Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Auburn University RFID Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Auburn University RFID Lab
What does Auburn University RFID Lab do?
Auburn University RFID Lab is an academic research institute that performs independent testing, validation, and qualification of RFID tags/inlays and emerging sensor technologies for industry. It operates the ARC (Approved Inlay Testing) program and the ALEC (Validation Program) to certify RFID hardware for retail, aviation, aerospace, QSR, and manufacturing use cases. The lab was founded in 2005 at the University of Arkansas and relocated to Auburn in 2014.
Is Auburn University RFID Lab a public or private company?
Auburn University RFID Lab is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Auburn University RFID Lab founded?
Auburn University RFID Lab was founded in 2005. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Auburn University RFID Lab based?
Auburn University RFID Lab is headquartered in Auburn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Auburn University RFID Lab make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research Grants and Funding is the primary driver. The others are industry Partnerships and Sponsorships and ALEC Validation Services.
Who are Auburn University RFID Lab's main competitors?
Others on record are Impinj, RFID Journal and Zebra Technologies. Direct peers are GS1, MET Labs (Eurofins MET Labs) and AIM Global (Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility). Broad incumbents are UL (Underwriters Laboratories), SGS, Intertek and TÜV SÜD.
Does Auburn University RFID Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Auburn University RFID Lab.
What industry is Auburn University RFID Lab in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAEAC, Institutes of Technology (IoT / Technical Universities), with a secondary code of EDADACAI, Accreditation Evaluation, Peer Review & Site-Visit Organizations. Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.