Advanced RFID Applications for Sports Events Management: The Case of SPORTident in Latvia☆

Abstract The research aims to discover how specific RFID technologies and applied systems have to be practically implemented into a real environment determined by a complex of social, technological and economical factors. The paper presents analysis of key success factors during the introduction of a RFID technology based high precision timing and results management system in Latvian outdoor sports. SPORTident is a RFID based electronic identification and time keeping system for outdoor sports. This paper provides the results from empirical analysis of almost ten years practical experience of the SPORTident development in Latvia. During the period of the first eight years SPORTident was transferred from a newcomer into a specific and said occupied market to leadership reaching 90% of total market share in Latvia. Thus the study evaluates the major success factors of the specific business model. The proposed methodology lines out new options how advanced RFID technologies can be transferred in new, more efficient types of innovative products under specific market conditions.