The RAIN RFID ecosystem is evolving rapidly—and so are the many applications and industries that rely on it. This session from the RAIN Alliance will offer a high-level look at the strategic initiatives, standards developments, and collaborative efforts guiding the continued growth and maturation of RAIN technology. We’ll discuss how end users, solution providers, and standards bodies are working together to support more consistent performance and interoperability across a wide range of environments and use cases. Attendees will also gain insight into the expanding landscape of item-level digital identity, including how RAIN technology aligns with GS1 Standards and contributes to the broader world of connected products.
 
10:30 AM: The RAIN RFID Industry and the RAIN Alliance
The RAIN industry has experienced significant global growth, driven by widespread adoption across retail, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing. At the center of this expansion, the RAIN Alliance plays a critical role in accelerating market development through advocacy, regulatory engagement, and industry defense, while fostering collaboration across the ecosystem. Working closely with GS1 on standards development and initiatives such as the joint Digital Product Passport (DPP) statement, the Alliance helps ensure interoperability and global alignment.  In this forward- looking session, RAIN Alliance President, Aileen Ryan will outline will outline how this proven, stable technology is delivering measurable results at scale, and why RAIN RFID is firmly established as a foundational technology with strong momentum and a promising future.
Speaker: Aileen Ryan, President, RAIN Alliance

10:55 AM: RAIN Alliance Vision for the Future of Retail with RAIN-enabled Smartphones: Bridging Physical Retail and Digital Intelligence (Part 1)
As retailers seek to create more meaningful, personalized, and frictionless in-store experiences, a transformative opportunity is emerging, right in the customer’s pocket. The integration of RAIN RFID reader functionality into consumer devices is bound to unlock a new era of item-level intelligence, blending the strengths of digital commerce with the unique value of physical retail.

This session will explore how RAIN-enabled smartphones will revolutionize the shopping journey: from real-time product discovery and personalized recommendations to seamless checkout and post-purchase engagement. Attendees will learn how this technology bridges the gap between online retail and brick-and-mortar stores and enables more accurate personalization, smarter loyalty strategies, and better decision-making across marketing, merchandising, and store operations.
Speaker: Paul Muller, Head of Strategic Technology Initiatives, RAIN Alliance

11:15 AM: Panel Discussion: The Future of Retail with RAIN-enabled Smartphones: Bridging Physical Retail and Digital Intelligence (Part 2)
Moderator: Paul Muller, Head of Strategic Technology Initiatives, RAIN Alliance
Speakers: Bill Toney, Vice President, Advanced Technology, Solutions Group, Avery Dennison
Further speakers to be announced

12:00 PM: Scaling RAIN in Healthcare: ROI, Ecosystem Gaps, and the Path to Interoperable Acute Care
As healthcare systems increasingly adopt RAIN RFID technology to improve operational efficiency, asset visibility, and patient safety, there are questions around measurable ROI, ecosystem maturity, and scalability across acute care environments.

This expert-led panel will explore real-world implementation outcomes, identify gaps within the RAIN acute care ecosystem, and examine the technical and operational barriers limiting broader adoption. Special focus will be placed on interoperability between solution providers and the critical role of standardized encoding schemes in enabling scalable, cross-platform data exchange.

Attendees will gain strategic insights into how healthcare organizations can move from isolated deployments to fully integrated, enterprise-level RAIN infrastructures.
Speakers: Paul Elizondo, Healthcare Workgroup Lead, RAIN Alliance
Further speakers to be announced

12:30 PM: Closing Remarks