Retail RFID Implementation: European Shoes

Checkpoint Systems enters into a strategic agreement with RENO, European shoe retailer. The agreement will enable an RFID source-tagging program and implementation at 700 retail locations across six countries with NDRF-based (New Digital Radio Frequency) RFID tagging system. The implementation will be completed in May. The RFID system will support reduction of shrinkage and improvement of the customer experience. ...

... "Switching from EM to NDRF technology, RENO wants to further optimise both its market presence and its operational processes. To be successful in the shoe retail trade the goods have to be presented in the right way. As well as displaying shoes in pairs and in boxes, an open shop construction is also particularly important, says Konigs. With NDRF, the current aisle widths in the branches could be increased from 90 cm to 1.80 m and a more customer friendly entrance introduced. Further improvements in the business process include simpler deactivation of the tagged goods at the point of sale. The cashier transaction is sped up while it guarantees that no customer will leave the store with a tag that accidentally remains activated, thereby triggering a false alarm. RENO's decision for radio-frequency source tagging is a further step towards a uniform standard in security technology, not only in Germany, says Ulrich Schafer, Vice-President and General Manager NCE Unit, of Checkpoint Systems. For retailers, radio-frequency source tagging is the best option for reducing the costs of shrinkage. At the same time they are able to create a customer-friendly shopping atmosphere, which will help to boost sales. " ...

Via Checkpoint Systems: RENO Partners with Checkpoint Systems for Its Source Tagging Programme

RFID Retail Shopping Experience

Media cart application uses RFID technology to enhance the customer shopping experience. ...

... "The store installs tiny tags on each shelf that emit a radio signal, telling the cart where it is. The cart holds a computer with all the digital ads and product data, which is called up automatically ... " ...

Via WFAA: Shopping Aids

RFID Supply Chain Visibility

Aberdeen Group reports on RFID in the supply chain and provides insights into the use of radio frequency identification among the multiple participants. Aberdeen is seeing disparity among supply chain partners and sees potential for less collaboration. ...

... "Aberdeen Group reveals that RFID costs a distribution company nearly 30% more than it costs a manufacturer and more than twice what the average retailer spends. It is a rare technology that can address the myriad objectives and constraints of a cross-enterprise RFID initiative. " ...

Via Yahoo! Finance: Achieving Total Supply Chain Visibility with RFID ...

HP RFID: DataCenter Asset Tracking ...

Meijer, a large privately held retailer, tests HP RFID solution for the tracking of assets in the data center. HP is investing in RFID technology to help retailers and manufacturers optimize their supply chain costs while accelerating the speed to market. ...

... "HP announced its researchers have created a radio frequency identification (RFID) asset tracking technology for data centers and successfully tested it at a major retailer. The technology was developed by HP Labs, the company's central research facility, and tested at Meijer Inc., a retailer with more than 170 grocery and specialty stores in the midwestern United States. The solution could automatically monitor data center assets, providing real-time tracking and auditing of servers, networking equipment, server and storage enclosures and other technology using RFID.

The technology uses RFID readers and RFID tags to monitor the location of individual components within the data center, including the addition of new devices and device movement to other areas. The sensing infrastructure creates a high-resolution view of devices throughout the data center. The system also can provide historical data related to additions, changes and moves of servers and server-related equipment. " ...

Via HP: HP Creates RFID Technology for Tracking Data Center Assets:

RFID Automated Application System Supports Supply Chain Strategy ...

Dairy Fresh implements Xterprise RFID automation system to support supply chain performance. ...

... "Dairy Fresh chose Xterprise to deploy the XARM 4000 solution on two manufacturing lines so that supply chain strategies and their customer mandates could be met in a timely manner, without the need for added labor to accomplish the RFID tagging requirements. The XARM 4000 is a fully integrated, automated, RFID application solution that enables Dairy Fresh to easily transition from non-tagged production line packaging to RFID tagged production line packaging. The XARM 4000, designed and built by Carrollton, Texas based Xterprise, is designed around a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) software platform that enables real-time monitoring and control of the complex production line material handling system and RFID printer applicators and verification readers. The system can accommodate full pallet single SKU tagging (case and pallet) and pallet only tagging for their various retailer’s requirements. In addition to using the latest technology to ensure maximum readability of RFID tags in the retailers supply chain, the Xterprise automated solution also provides the lowest cost per case application and the highest case per minute throughput in the industry. " ...

Via Xterprise: Dairy Fresh Deploys Xterprise RFID Source Tagging Solution: WalMart Beverage manufacturer chooses automated solution for RFID case and pallet tagging ...

RFID Retail: Apparel Payback ...

Laudis demo planned for RFID conference will show payback in the retail apparel industry ...

... "The RFID Journal and AAFA Summit, held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York Aug. 15-16, is the first event of its kind designed to address RFID-related opportunities and issues in the apparel and footwear industry. Laudis and NCR will demonstrate their collaborative end-to-end RFID solution that allows manufacturers to tag apparel at the source, enabling retailers to verify the location or the receipt of garments anywhere within the supply chain. The demonstration (Laudis AAFA Summit booth #3) will feature the Laudis apparel applications and item-level tracking solutions for clothing and footwear. NCR will provide hardware, such as hang tags, flap tags and RFID-reader technology. NCR is also providing Laudis with consulting services and installation support for its end-to-end clothing solution. " ...

Via NCR: NCR and Laudis Systems Demonstrate End-to-End RFID Solution for Apparel Industry ...

Retail RFID applications are discussed ...

Via CIO Magazine: The RFID Imperative - Retail - prepare systems for RFID technology: "Like most CIOs in the retail industry, he believes that widespread RFID adoption is a sure thing and that the technology—which some day will enable him to track every single product, from manufacture to checkout ... "

ABI has researched the market for retail RFID use ...

The RFID Retail Market Market Research Report from ABI Research: "The retail market is possibly the most talked about in the RFID industry. Although Wal-Mart is not the only retailer that has issued an RFID mandate for its suppliers, it is still the most popular subject. This market is expected to be one of the fastest growing RFID verticals. "

T3CI offers RFID-enabled business intelligence capabilities for the retail industry ...

Via T3CI: RFID Analytics and Application Leadership; Experience Delivering Business Value to Major Retail Suppliers Drive Investment Decision: "T3Ci's software and subscription services are designed for leaders of RFID initiatives at major retail suppliers and pharmaceutical companies to deliver business value from their RFID investments. The company's enterprise-class solutions provide RFID data analysis (only for retailers who allow 3rd party analysis of their EPC data), deductions management and authentication/anti-counterfeiting/e-pedigree – the most comprehensive RFID applications vision. "

RFID Peel and Apply Solution: NCR ...

NCR provides peel-and-apply RFID technology solution. ...

... "The NCR TagWorks solution provides a turnkey offering to meet EPCglobal standards and major manufacturer, distributor and retailer guidelines. The cost-effective solution addresses the need for businesses to readily access the benefits of RFID-enabled inventory tracking and supply-chain visibility. NCR makes the transition toward RFID more manageable by offering a complete end-to-end solution including tags, hardware, software and services allowing companies to quickly and efficiently begin tagging cases and pallets of product. Touching industries around the world, the NCR TransitionWork portfolio of global RFID solutions encompasses thoughtware, hardware, tags, services and software, including Teradata data warehouse solutions, to help customers solve real business problems.

NCR TagWorks is a stand-alone, fully integrated, peel-and-apply solution including tags, readers, servers, printers and NCR software. NCR installation, training and support services help ensure reliability and disruption-free environments. Because NCR serves as the single point of contact, businesses can avoid the hassle and confusion of dealing with multiple vendors for their RFID solutions. NCR also makes it simple to expand and customize the NCR TagWorks solution by providing a range of additional products and services. As their business grows, customers have the option to incorporate other advanced features such as handheld RFID scanners, conveyor installations, a selection of tag sizes and inlays, and enterprise system integration. " ...

RFID Peel and Apply Solution: NCR: Via NCR: NCR TagWork Provides Essentials for Rapid RFID Implementation ...

Walmart RFID: Dillman Transfers ...

Linda Dillman changes positions for WalMart ...

... "WalMart isn't about to abandon RFID technology, but Linda Dillman is taking a step back from the world of RFID. Dillman, the force behind WalMart's initial RFID mandates, is leaving her position as executive vice president and chief information officer to oversee risk management and benefits administration for the giant retailer. " ...

Walmart RFID: Dillman Transfers: Via John R. Johnson's RFID Watch Weekly: WalMart shuffles RFID management team ...

Via WalMart Stores: WalMart Names Lawrence Jackson President and CEO of Global Procurement: Other senior leadership changes spread talent across the organization: "Linda Dillman, previously executive vice president and chief information officer, will become executive vice president of risk management and benefits administration. She will also lead the company's sustainability efforts. Last fall, Wal-Mart announced aggressive sustainability goals and has recently increased its offerings of organic products. Rollin Ford, previously executive vice president of logistics and supply chain, will become executive vice president and chief information officer, responsible for leading the company's global information systems division. "

Walmart RFID Payback ...

Walmart discusses the payback of RFID technology ...

... "Retailer WalMart Stores continues to build momentum around its radio frequency identification (RFID) tag initiatives, adding new uses for the supply chain technology and getting more suppliers and partners to comply with its RFID mandates. " ...

Walmart RFID Payback: Via Techworld: RFID pays for itself, says Wal-Mart

RFID Marks and Spencer Trial ...

Marks and Spencer continues its progress in trial of RFID technology. ...

... "Marks and Spencer is extending its trial of item-level passive RFID tags, called the Intelligent Label Project. " ...

Via CIE: Components in Electronics: M&S extends RFID trial ...

Marks and Spencer goes to market with a disposable RFID intelligent label. ...

... "Marks & Spencer is trialling RFID within the supply chain as the next generation of barcode. In that application, RFID uses tags (a tag is a microchip combined with an antenna) to wirelessly transmit product item numbers. These item numbers are unique to each product (unlike barcodes, which only unique to the product type). The tags developed for the garment trial are contained within throwaway paper labels called Intelligent Labels. The RFID tags can be read over a short distance by a remote scanner. Traditional optical scanners, used with barcodes, require each barcode to be held a few centimetres from the scanner: with RFID Marks & Spencer is trialling scanners that can operate at a distance of up to approximately half a metre. The scanner can read the tags simultaneously, and at speed, allowing regular updating of stock information. " ...

RFID Marks and Spencer Trial: Via Marks & Spencer: BACKGROUND TO MARKS & SPENCER'S BUSINESS TRIAL OF RFID IN ITS CLOTHING SUPPLY CHAIN ...

M&S meets with success and extends the trial to more stores and increases functional capability to leverage RFID technology in prevention of stock-outs. ...

Marks & Spencer: Marks & Spencer's business trial of RFID in its clothing supply chain: "Marks & Spencer is trialling Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) within its supply chain as the next generation barcode. We are using technology responsibly to give a better service to our customers through improved product availability. During 2004 an item level RFID trial on men's suits was conducted across nine stores. From Spring 2006, the number of stores participating in the trial will extend from nine to 53. Product availability is a key issue for customers, the extension of this trial will help us to investigate the potential of RFID further. "

Marks & Spencer: MARKS & SPENCER DEVELOPS INTELLIGENT CLOTHING: "Marks & Spencer is the largest retailer of clothing in the U.K and has pioneered many innovations in technology, such as Lycra and the machine Washable Suit. RFID tagging of garments will be one of the earliest applications of this technology in the world. Marks & Spencer has won a funding package from the Department of Trade & Industry to help develop this project. The DTI chose Marks & Spencer to develop RFID in retailing because it sells only own brand products and has an integrated supply chain, which will allow broad and deep research. RFID tags in clothing labels will hold information on a microchip, which will give each garment a unique serial number. This will enable Marks & Spencer to manage its stock more effectively in stores and throughout its distribution chain. When the RFID tag is scanned the information is stored in a database giving Marks & Spencer a complete overview of stock management. "

RFID Jewelry Inventory Management ...

De Grisogno implements Tagsys RFID for inventory management in its extended supply chain ...

... "TAGSYS, the global leader in item-level RFID infrastructure, announced that Geneva-based watchmaking and jewelry company de GRISOGONO has adopted the company’s RFID track and trace solution for inventory management across its stores worldwide. Under the terms of the rollout, the luxury retailer will utilize TAGSYS' Reliable, Accurate and Secure (R.A.S.) High-Frequency RFID readers and tags in its efforts to reduce theft and minimize loss of its valuable jewels and watches. The project begins immediately in the company's Paris and Geneva branches, with future deployments in the company's European, Asia-Pacific and North American outposts, expected at the rate of one store every two months. De GRISOGONO initially considered the use of traditional bar codes as a means to track individual items, such as gems, from its distribution center through the shipment process to the retail shop. However, the threat of theft or loss of assets required the deployment of a near errorless tracking technology. By leveraging the tagging capabilities of TAGSYS' RFID jewelry application, developed in conjunction with system integrator SOLID, the accessories company has enabled a real-time RFID-based detection system that monitors stock location at any point in the supply chain. " ...

RFID Jewelry Inventory Management: Via TAGSYS RFID: De GRISOGONO Finds a Gem of an Inventory Management Solution With SOLID and TAGSYS Item-Level RFID Jewelry Application: Item level track and trace technology minimizes threat of theft, loss and counterfeiting of luxury accessories ...

RFID Simulated Supply Chain in Educational Environment ...

Students are learning about RFID using a simulated supply chain. ....

... "Indiana University is one of the first business schools to decide to build a working model of a RFID environment. Davison Schopmeyer, senior director of RFID Professional Services at Manhattan Associates, invited Venkataramanan, Ashok Soni, chairperson of the Operations and Decision Technologies Department, and Daniel Conway, a Kelley School professor, to tour Manhattan Associates' RFID Lab in Atlanta earlier this year. The professors have created an RFID lab that is used to teach RFID to the university's graduate and undergraduate classes. This lab uses miniature train sets and radio-controlled trucks, RFID tags, readers and antennae to create a scale model of how goods flow through the supply chain-from manufacturer to warehouse to retailer. The trains and trucks carry goods with product names and equipped with tags. Antennae read the tags as the miniature carriers pass by. The students track how the tags are read, collected and presented on a computer. The school will continue to move ahead with RFID as an important part of its curriculum. " ...

RFID Simulated Supply Chain in Educational Environment: Via Manhattan Associates: Indiana University and Manhattan Associates Bring RFID to the Classroom ...

Additional resources on RFID in the classroom:

Via RFID Journal - RTI, DeVry Team Up to Teach RFID: "RFID Technical Institute (RTI) has partnered with DeVry University to offer business and technical courses in radio frequency identification, beginning in July. RTI, a Cambridge, Mass., startup launched in January, develops RFID educational services. "

Via EIS - EIS Assists University of Arkansas with RFID Lab: "Enterprise Information Systems, Inc. (EIS), an RFID systems integrator and member of EPCglobal US, announces it has joined with leading RFID manufacturers and The University of Arkansas to sponsor a lab dedicated to the study of the engineering aspect to RFID. The Engineering RFID lab is located in the Bell Engineering Center at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The RFID lab is part of the Engineering Center's Material Handling lab that provides students practical experience with different aspects of a production environment, which includes a conveyor system that incorporates alerting systems, scanning technologies and now RFID. "

UW-Madison RFID technology lab debuts Friday | Via WTN: "The lab involves more than 40 companies from the UW RFID Industry Workgroup, plus UW-Madison students and faculty - all focusing on keeping Wisconsin industry competitive through RFID technology. The UW RFID Lab also is available to individual companies for sponsored company-specific projects."

RFID Technology: India Investments ...

Jim Landers explores the investments in India that Dallas firms are making, in areas such as RFID technology. ...

... "It demonstrated its customer-profiling technology - which relies on radio frequency identification, or RFID, tags - to a luxury French retailer. The client backed off due to privacy concerns, but Adea is very close to a deal with a Dutch firm, said Swamy Hariharan, Adea International's chief operating officer. " ...

RFID Technology: India Investments: Via Dallas Morning News | Seeding India's Silicon Valley ...

RFID Lab Teaches University Students ...

Manhattan and IU collaborate to create learning environment that teaches University students in a state-of-the-art RFID laboratory. ...

... "Indiana University is one of the first business schools to decide to build a working model of a RFID environment. Davison Schopmeyer, senior director of RFID Professional Services at Manhattan Associates, invited Venkataramanan, Ashok Soni, chairperson of the Operations and Decision Technologies Department, and Daniel Conway, a Kelley School professor, to tour Manhattan Associates' RFID Lab in Atlanta earlier this year. The professors have created an RFID lab that is used to teach RFID to the university's graduate and undergraduate classes. This lab uses miniature train sets and radio-controlled trucks, RFID tags, readers and antennae to create a scale model of how goods flow through the supply chain-from manufacturer to warehouse to retailer. The trains and trucks carry goods with product names and equipped with tags. Antennae read the tags as the miniature carriers pass by. The students track how the tags are read, collected and presented on a computer. The school will continue to move ahead with RFID as an important part of its curriculum. " ...

RFID Lab Teaches University Students: Via Manhattan Associates: Indiana University and Manhattan Associates Bring RFID to the Classroom ...

Pharma Industry RFID Opportunity ...

Via Line56.com: Pharma RFID Opportunity ...

... "The FDA has been active in promoting RFID and other forms of Auto-ID, the State of Florida will be a passing a new drug pedigree law in June 2006 to secure and verify the chain of custody of all drugs shipped into the state, and retailer WalMart's RFID mandate extends to suppliers of Class II narcotics. " ...

RFID LowFrequency Mobil Speedpass ...

The Mobil Speedpass is enabled by RFID technology operating at a low frequency of 134 KHz. It is an example of RFID used in a payment application, as compared to the wave of recent retailer RFID applications in the supply chain .

Via Network World: RFID (radio frequency identification)

... "Exxon Mobil uses RFID technology in its Speedpass payment system. Customers wave a small transponder in front of a sensor on a gas pump, debiting their account. Low-frequency RFID applications range from 3 KHz to 300 KHz; Speedpass operates at 134 KHz. " ...

Reference material on Speedpass RFID operating at 134Khz low frequency:

... "Analysis of the Texas Instruments DST RFID: DSTs of the type found in SpeedPass and automobile ignition keys are designed for short range scanning - on the order of a few centimeters. ... The DST, however, operates at 134 kHz. Signals at this considerably lower frequency penetrate obstacles more effectively, which may facilitate eavesdropping ... " ...

... "Texas Instrument’s ISO 14443 payment platform promises faster data transfer rates and more security: Speedpass, for example, uses a 134-KHz RFID platform made by Texas Instruments. The data transmission speed is around 10 to 15 kilobits per second, according to Richardson. " ...

... "Mobil tags (supplied by Texas Instruments) are excited by and interrogated with a 134 KHz signal because of its ability to provide solid coverage. Early field trials, however, revealed interference problems when the much lower-power tag-to-reader link operated at that frequency. The tags now deployed still use a 134 KHz downlink, but a 902 MHz uplink solves the interference problem. " ...

... "Psion Teklogix: Understanding RFID and Associated Applications: Low-frequency RFID systems are typically 125 KHz, though there are systems operating at 134 KHz as well. This frequency band provides a shorter read range (< 0.5m or 1.5 ft) and slower read speed than the higher frequencies. LF RFID systems have the strongest ability to read tags on objects with high water or metal content compared to any of the higher frequencies. LF tags are typically slightly more expensive than HF or UHF tags. Typical low-frequency RFID applications are access control, animal tracking, vehicle immobilizers, healthcare applications, product authentication and various point-of-sale applications (such as Mobil/Exxon SpeedPass). " ...

RFID Innovation Center: Supply Chain Visibility

RFID Innovation Center: Supply Chain Visibility: RedPrairie RFID Solution Powers CHEP Innovation Center with End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility: CHEP implements RedPrairie Solution to demonstrate RFID usage and benefits for customers ...

Innovation center uses RFID technology to demonstrate the value of supply chain visibility ...

... "CHEP, the global leader in pallet and container pooling services, is utilizing its Innovation Center to demonstrate usage and benefits of RFID for customers and prospects as well as representatives of the supply chains where CHEP participates. CHEP recently expanded the RFID capabilities of the Innovation Center to showcase end-to-end tracking of pallets, cases and items from receiving and put-away, to inventory management and shipping. RedPrairie provides the warehousing management solution and visibility to all supply chain participants involved in the movement of goods – including the manufacturer, transporter, distribution center and retailer for this demonstration. " ...

CHEP is the global leader in pallet and plastic container pooling services serving many of the world's largest companies. With Americas headquarters based in Orlando, the company has more than 7,700 employees in 42 countries. Combining superior technology, over five decades of experience and an asset base of more than 265 million pallets and containers, CHEP handles pallet and container supply chain logistics for customers in the consumer goods, produce, meat, home improvement, beverage, raw materials and automotive industries.

For over 30 years RedPrairie has enabled leading global companies to create competitive advantage through supply chain excellence. RedPrairie’s comprehensive technology solutions provide rapid and sustainable return on investment by optimizing the performance of people, places and processes. RedPrairie provides industry-tailored solutions for diverse markets, including consumer goods, direct to consumer and traditional retail, food and beverage, high tech / electronics, third party logistics, industrial / wholesale, automotive and service parts, and pharmaceuticals.

RFID MultiProtocol Tracking Systems

RFID MultiProtocol Tracking Systems: Accu-Sort® Partners with ThingMagic To Expand its RFID Product Line ...

... "Accu-Sort Systems Inc. announced it is partnering with ThingMagic to expand its RFID product line offering for use in warehouse and distribution centers. Accu-Sort specializes in developing over the conveyor (OTC) RFID tracking systems for providing enhanced non-line-of-sight asset visibility within the supply chain. Accu-Sort has deployed these systems extensively, including an installation at one of the major retailer distribution centers, where every inbound RFID carton traveling over the conveyor passes through its RFID multi-protocol tracking systems. These systems are the industry’s first and only to singulate between boxes at high speeds, made possible through a combination of Accu-Sort patented software and antenna designs. The partnership with ThingMagic will further enhance Accu-Sort’s product portfolio for similar applications. " ...

Accu-Sort Systems is a pioneer in reliable auto ID and high-speed compliance solutions with more than three decades of experience deploying and supporting scanning and tracking solutions in distribution, warehousing, manufacturing, and retailer environments. The company is also an established provider of convergent RFID and bar code systems with more than 50 RFID installations.

ThingMagic is a privately held company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in RFID readers, sensors and other embedded and low cost computing technologies.