Technology

Beyond Identification: Powercast Elevates RAIN RFID for Smarter Supply Chains

Published

3 days ago

March 24, 2025

Powercast is revolutionizing supply chain tracking with RAIN RFID technology, embedding smart sensors for real-time monitoring of perishable goods and integrating LED-enabled tags for rapid product location. Beyond compliance with new FDA regulations, Powercast’s innovations enhance efficiency, security, safety, and sustainability—reshaping retail, logistics, and everyday smart applications through wireless power solutions.

PITTSBURGH, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Last year, the U.S. saw a staggering 25% increase in foodborne illnesses and a more than twofold rise in hospitalizations. (1) This alarming trend has fueled the FDA’s upcoming Food Traceability Final Rule, which mandates end-to-end traceability for high-risk foods—similar to the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP), which enhances transparency across product lifecycles. (2-3) “The industry is at a turning point: traditional tracking methods—such as manual barcode scanning and static QR codes—fall short of delivering the real-time, scalable solutions needed for both compliance and operational efficiency,” explains Charles Greene, COO & CTO of Powercast Corporation, a leader in wireless power solutions. “That’s why we are powering the next generation of RAIN RFID devices—to drive smarter supply chains capable of locating live shipments, tracking the state of perishable goods, enabling anti-counterfeiting security measures and more.”

“We are powering the next generation of RAIN RFID devices—to drive smarter supply chains capable of locating live shipments, tracking the state of perishable goods, enabling anti-counterfeiting security measures and more.” — Charles Greene, COO & CTO of Powercast Corporation

Supply Chain: Smarter Tracking with Embedded Sensors
RAIN RFID technology is becoming a cornerstone of modern supply chain automation. Unlike traditional optical tracking methods—such as barcode or QR code scanning, which provide static data and require line-of-sight—RAIN systems offer real-time, automated visibility. This is especially crucial in dynamic environments where continuous monitoring is essential.

Powercast is enhancing RAIN capabilities by:

Embedding data-rich sensors to provide instant insights into product conditions. This not only tracks the location of stock but also monitors critical environmental factors affecting perishable goods, including temperature, humidity, and movement.The Find-Tag feature integrates LED indicators into RAIN tags, enabling workers to quickly locate shipments—such as contaminated goods requiring immediate removal. This is particularly critical as 2024 has witnessed a surge in E. coli outbreaks, with major brands such as McDonald’s and Grimmway Farms facing food poisoning lawsuits. These incidents underscore weaknesses in food safety regulations and traceability systems. (3-5)

“We are thinking beyond identification,” states Greene. “Our goal is to provide deeper supply chain visibility, ensuring product safety and operational efficiency.”

In addition to food safety, RAIN technology enhances inventory accuracy, reduces losses, and increases transparency throughout the supply chain. With automated, real-time tracking, RAIN enables businesses to avoid stockouts, limit overstock, and optimize warehouse operations. Furthermore, it improves operational efficiency by streamlining processes and accelerates recall procedures by quickly identifying affected products.

“RAIN is a proven technology in large-scale logistics management, and the transport of food is no different,” comments Aileen Ryan, President and CEO of RAIN Alliance. “By utilizing RAIN tags, organizations such as Powercast are helping to streamline and optimize the food industry supply chain. This isn’t just unlocking new operational efficiencies; it is driving a new era of food safety standards where any risk of contamination at any point in the supply chain can be recognized and rectified before a product reaches the shelves. And with more and more consumers factoring in responsible sourcing in their purchasing decisions, transparent, traceable data from farm to table can be a key differentiator that helps make a more sustainable food industry.”

DPP and Sustainable RAIN Innovation
As industries move toward greater transparency, the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) is setting a new standard for tracking a product’s lifecycle—from raw materials to disposal. Powercast is at the forefront of this shift, leveraging its RF wireless power technology to enhance RAIN’s role in sustainability.

By embedding its Powerharvester® technology into RAIN tags, Powercast enables maintenance-free, batteryless tracking systems that align with both DPP initiatives and corporate sustainability goals while elevating RAIN beyond just identification. These systems help businesses reduce waste, improve inventory accuracy, collect environmental data critical to sustainable operations, and are able to power or recharge the DPP device.

As a member of the RAIN Alliance Sustainability Working Group, Powercast is driving innovation that bridges RAIN technology with real-world sustainability efforts, ensuring smarter, more responsible supply chains.

Beyond Supply Chain: Powercast’s Wireless Solutions in Everyday Life
While RAIN is already transforming retail and logistics, its potential extends beyond the supply chain. As mandates drive RAIN adoption in apparel and consumer goods, Powercast’s wireless power solutions unlock new, smarter applications. “With our technology, those same RAIN systems could enable auto-reordering, smart inventory monitoring, and even recharge the numerous electronic devices around us every day,” points out Greene.

Imagine a home where RAIN-enabled products seamlessly manage everyday tasks. A refrigerator could track food levels and automatically reorder groceries, while a medicine bottle could remind users when it’s time for a refill. By integrating RAIN with wireless power, companies can create an ecosystem where objects don’t just store data—they actively improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance user convenience.

Powercast is leading this evolution, bridging the gap between regulatory mandates and real-world innovation. “We’re not just enabling compliance,” says Greene. “We’re creating smarter, more intuitive interactions between people and technology—making everyday life more seamless, helping businesses, consumers, and the planet.”

About Powercast Corporation
Powercast Corporation, founded in 2003 and based in Pittsburgh, PA, is the go-to resource for wireless charging solutions, ranging from short to long distances and from microwatts to kilowatts, with the industry’s broadest technology portfolio backed by over 300 patents worldwide. We design, develop, and manufacture semiconductor chips as well as complete wirelessly powered products, enabling various levels of customer integration.
Powercast’s solutions include RF power-over-distance charging, high-performance inductive charging systems, and low-power sensors with up to 25-year battery life. With flexible magnetic resonance systems, Powercast positions itself as the industry’s most comprehensive source for wireless power technology. For more information, visit https://www.powercastco.com.

About the RAIN Alliance
The RAIN Alliance enables organizations to improve traceability, effectiveness, and sustainability by simplifying, standardizing and accelerating the adoption of RAIN technology through global collaboration and innovation. Its global membership consists of companies and organizations which develop and deploy RAIN technology solutions across many vertical markets.
RAIN is a standards-based wireless technology that enables businesses and consumers to identify, locate and authenticate billions of items connected to the Internet of Things. RAIN technology uses the ISO/IEC 18000-63 protocol (also known as GS1 UHF Gen2). For more information, visit https://therainalliance.org/

References
1. Dall, Chris. “Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.” CIDRAP, 17 Feb. 2025, cidrap.umn.edu/foodborne-disease/report-illnesses-contaminated-food-increased-2024-severe-cases-doubled.
2. Nutrition, Center for Food Safety and Applied. “FSMA Final Rule: Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods.” FDA, 13 Nov. 2024, fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-requirements-additional-traceability-records-certain-foods.
3. Dake, Zach. “Digital Product Passports Enabled by RAIN.” The RAIN Alliance, 4 Nov. 2024, therainalliance.org/digital-product-passports-enabled-by-rain-rfid/.
4. U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Investigation Update: E. Coli Outbreak, McDonald’s Quarter Pounders – October 22, 2024.” CDC, U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 Oct. 2024, cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/investigation-update-e-coli-o157-2024.html.
5. Coveny, McKenna Madison. “Why Does It Seem like 2024 Is the Year of E. Coli Outbreaks?” Food Poisoning News, 22 Nov. 2024, foodpoisoningnews.com/why-does-it-seem-like-2024-is-the-year-of-e-coli-outbreaks/.

Media Inquiries:
Karla Jo Helms
JOTO PR™
727-777-4629
jotopr.com

Media Contact

Karla Jo Helms, JOTO PR™, 727-777-4629, khelms@jotopr.com, jotopr.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/beyond-identification-powercast-elevates-rain-rfid-for-smarter-supply-chains-302409271.html

SOURCE JOTO PR™

Technology

76% of Nordic Consumers Say Temu Strengthens Competition and Lowers Prices as It Marks Two Years in the Region

Published

13 minutes ago

March 27, 2025

DUBLIN, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — More than 3 in 4 Nordic consumers say Temu is driving price transparency and competition in the region, with over one-third of respondents calling the impact significant, according to a new survey by Kantar Media.

The survey, supported by Temu, polled over 4,000 consumers across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, highlighting the platform’s role in increasing access to affordable, quality products while offering consumers greater choice.

The main findings include:

Brand Awareness:

86% of Nordic consumers have either shopped on Temu or are familiar with the platform.

Affordability as a Key Advantage:

50% of respondents identified Temu’s competitive pricing as its biggest strength.

Unique Product Selection:

65% of Nordic shoppers said they discovered items on Temu that are difficult to find elsewhere, with the sentiment strongest in Finland (73%).

Making Shopping More Accessible:

Over 50% of Nordic residents say they cannot buy all essential items within walking distance, and nearly 30% must drive to the nearest store, with Finland facing the biggest challenge—only 19% have a store within walking distance.

Bringing Unaffordable Products Within Reach:

43% of Finnish consumers say Temu makes previously unaffordable products accessible.

“We’re honored that so many Nordic consumers have embraced Temu as a smarter way to shop,” said a Temu spokesperson. “In a time when people are looking to make their money go further, we’re proud to help make everyday essentials and unique finds more affordable and accessible. As we mark our second anniversary in the Nordics, we remain committed to delivering unbeatable value and expanding choices for consumers across the region.”

Launched in the U.S. in September 2022, Temu has since expanded to over 90 markets across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

“There is no doubt that Temu is pushing prices downwards in the Nordic markets, making products less expensive for consumers just by their appearance,” said Peter Nordgaard, supply chain expert and author of Supply Chain ABC 2025. “Temu is also part of a broader shift to online markets. We sometimes tend to forget that outside the bigger cities, consumers have to move distances to do their shopping. Temu is bringing the world of their products close to customers, no matter how far away from the city you live.”

Since its European launch in April 2023, Temu has gained widespread popularity in the Nordics for its ultra-competitive prices. By connecting consumers directly with cost-efficient manufacturers, the platform eliminates middlemen and reduces costs.

The Kantar survey also asked respondents to rank their top reasons for choosing Temu. The four most-cited factors were competitive prices, a wide product selection, unique finds, and free shipping.

“Low price does not always equal poor quality. I believe some get it wrong here. It’s often the exact same products available elsewhere, but without the middlemen. It’s maybe not what you want to hear but it’s often the truth,” said Bengt Wessborg, a Stockholm-based e-commerce expert.

“The fact that 86% of consumers are aware of or have interacted with Temu in some way within a relatively short timeframe of its Nordic market entry is a significant indicator of rapid market penetration. Notably, awareness in Denmark is even higher at 88%,” said Andre Veskimeister, logistics veteran and smart lockers expert.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651478/Photo_for_Nordic_Release__EN_only.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/76-of-nordic-consumers-say-temu-strengthens-competition-and-lowers-prices-as-it-marks-two-years-in-the-region-302412987.html

Technology

ChloroPlant Secures Major Green Hydrogen Plant Contract in Sarawak, Malaysia

Published

13 minutes ago

March 27, 2025

SEOUL, South Korea, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Chloroplant Co. Ltd., a member of the Marcon LC group of companies specializing in systems integration and project management in the alternative energy sector, announced today it has secured a contract with H1Hydro Group, a Singapore-based clean energy investment firm, to design, construct, and operate a 10 MW Green Hydrogen plant in Sarawak, Malaysia, valued at approximately USD 17 million.

The plant will be constructed using advanced modular technology for optimized efficiency and scalability, with Phase 1 scheduled to commence operations in Q1 2026. The plant will utilize advanced European electrolysis technology, and the hydrogen storage and transportation technologies to be used are currently under discussion with companies from Korea and Malaysia. The expected production cost of hydrogen from this plant is competitive compared to other facilities in the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring strong competitiveness in the global hydrogen market.

Sarawak, Malaysia, has a long-term vision to become a clean energy hub in Asia and is actively developing its hydrogen economy ecosystem. Leveraging abundant renewable resources and strategic geographic positioning, the Sarawak government is investing heavily in green hydrogen to build sustainable future industries.

This project aims to enhance Sarawak’s hydrogen ecosystem, stimulate local economies, and contribute significantly toward global carbon neutrality goals. Rapid progress is expected, and the successful commercialization of Phase 1 in 2026 will facilitate further expansions. Plans include additional expansions and establishing a green hydrogen container distribution business targeting Northeast Asian markets, including Korea and Japan.

Headquartered in Seoul South Korea, with offices in London and Singapore, ChloroPlant specializes in the construction and operational management of advanced process plants within the alternative energy and sustainable fuels sectors.

H1Hydro Group leads the global clean energy transition, actively involved in green hydrogen production and distribution globally.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/chloroplant-secures-major-green-hydrogen-plant-contract-in-sarawak-malaysia-302413022.html

SOURCE Marcon LC; ChloroPlant Co.Ltd.

Technology

Record surge in international skiers drive tourism growth in Japan: Visa

Published

14 minutes ago

March 27, 2025

International visitors account for nearly 50% year-on-year growth in visits and over 90% of overall spend[1]Niseko, Hakuba and Furano within Japan are top ski destinations across Asia Pacific, [2] as shown by cardholder spend Post ski activities show international visitors going beyond ski destinations, extending their stay in Japan and spending about 35% more daily[3]

SINGAPORE, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With peak ski season transforming to Spring blossoms, Visa, a world leader in digital payments, today revealed data showing growing popularity of Japan as a ski holiday destination among international travellers as number of visitors surpassed pre-pandemic levels, setting a fresh record.

Based on analysis of Visa cardholders’ spending patterns during the winter peak (November 2024 – February 2025) in the top ski destinations in Japan,[4] the data shows around 40% year-on-year increase in number of domestic and international visitors as well as an uplift of about 25% in total spending. International visitors accounted for about 80% of total visitors and around 90% of total visitor spend.[1]

Growing international allure of Japan as a ski destination

Visa data shows ski tourism in Japan is on the rise with the overall number of visitors having almost doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels.

A popular ski destination for overseas travellers with international arrivals growing nearly 50% year-on-year, accounting for around 80% of all ski travellers during recent winter peak.[1]A substantial influx of visitors from the region and beyond: Australia tops the list accounting for around 30% of total international visitors, followed by the United States (around 20%) and Southeast Asia, especially from Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, collectively accounting for around 12%.[2]Japan is now the preferred ski destination for Mainland Chinese travellers. For Australian travellers, Japan ranks second after New Zealand.[2]Niseko and Hakuba remain top picks (nearly 50% and approximately 35%, respectively) for international ski travellers, while Furano is shown as a preferred destination for local visitors yet sees the fastest growth with around 70% year-on-year increase in overseas visits.[1]

International travellers drive overall spend and venture beyond ski destinations

While on average domestic visitors show a slightly longer stay (about 5 days), international travellers spend more than 3 times as much per day, contributing to about 90% of overall spend.[1] The uplift in spend is extended beyond ski destinations as international travellers continue their journey to other locations and spend in dining and retail shopping.

Entertainment, lodging, and restaurants accounted for about 50 to 70 percent of spending by both overseas and local travellers.[1]Ski resort experience spending[5] takes up over 40% of overall spend by international travellers.Growing preference of contactless shown as they take up over 80% of total spend among international visitors. Nearly half of these transactions were mobile-based, showing a growth of about 30% from a year ago. [6]Over 90% of overseas travellers extend trips beyond the slopes by an average of 9 extra days in Japan, driving around 35% more post-ski spending per day in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Chiba, with the bulk of post-ski spending being on shopping such as at department stores, discount stores, and for groceries (around 40% in total) and dining (around 20%).[7]

Prateek Sanghi, Head of Visa Consulting and Analytics, Asia Pacific, said: “Our data not only indicates the growing appeal of Japan as a ski destination among international travellers but also can provide a powerful lens that can help better understand shifting travel and spending patterns of both domestic and overseas visitors. By leveraging data-driven consumer insights, governments and especially local businesses can better optimise their offerings, enhance traveller experiences, and modernise payment methods for the varying visitor segments.”

Visa’s payments data, consulting services and in-house data science capabilities enable organisations with key insights to help them enhance visitor experiences, optimise business strategies, and drive economic growth across the travel and commerce ecosystem.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at https://www.visa.com

###

[1] Identified by comparing both resident and non-resident cardholders who made in-person transactions at the ski destinations during two distinct periods: 16 November 2024 to 15 February 2025, and 16 November 2023 to 15 February 2024. For resident cardholders, only those who had not made any transactions at the same ski destination in the previous six months were included.

[2] Identified by examining the top outbound countries by number of cardholders based on international in-person card spending for countries in the Asia Pacific region between 16 November 2024 to 15 February 2025.

[3] Identified by comparing in-person transactions made by non-resident cardholders at ski destinations between 16 November 2024 and 15 February 2025, with their in-person transactions at non-ski destinations after visiting the ski destinations.

[4] For simplicity in this analysis, ski destinations are defined by the specific city, town, village, or ward where popular ski resorts are located, using the most granular level available. The regions covered include: Niseko, Kutchan, Rankoshi, Yamanouchi, Yamagata, Furano, Nozawaonsen, Hakuba, and Yuzawa.

[5] Refers to spendings on entertainment like onsens (hot springs), childcare, and local tours unique to each ski resort.

[6] Identified by examining in-person contactless transaction volumes by non-resident cardholders at ski destinations during two distinct periods: 16 November 2024 to 15 February 2025, and 16 November 2023 to 15 February 2024.

[7] Identified by comparing in-person transactions made by non-resident cardholders at ski destinations between 16 November 2024 and 15 February 2025, with their in-person transactions at non-ski destinations after visiting the ski destinations.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/record-surge-in-international-skiers-drive-tourism-growth-in-japan-visa-302413024.html

SOURCE Visa Worldwide Pte Ltd