“The retail landscape is becoming the primary future for Hands-Free RFID”

By now we all are used to the idea of doing anything without having to touch anything like unlocking holiday room, travelling around using the card, automatic payment etc. And it is possible because of the increasing popularity of RFID Technology, and it’s a cost-saving advantage.

Over the last few years, retailers use RFID because of its varied uses such as Inventory Tracking, Fixed Asset Tracking. Also, it enables Real-Time Location Tracking and to integrate with other technology that adds value and improves in-store functionality. In other words, the RFID reader communicates information to the backend systems automatically without personally engaging with the item.

Implementing Hand-Free RFID Technology

Hands-Free RFID technology allows identification of any object wireless using data transmitted through radio waves to identify and track an individual object as well as multiple items simultaneously. In addition, these tags are rewritten and reused for various purposes and are extremely durable against environmental factors. Also, it allows the retailers to read hundreds of tags without any direct line of sight in a second.

Recently, many organizations implement Hands-Free RFID Technology due to its multiple uses. For instance, it enables Real-Time Location Tracking of asset or resources for scheduling and maintenance purposes. Moreover, it helps the retailers in optimally measuring employee efficiency and customer tracking. The RFID system allows the organization to integrate visibility of the resources across the region. RFID helps to time marathons; wherein organizers can locate their participants and keep track of their progress along the course.

Have you wondered what if one item is missing from your mobile phone?  RFID tags enable manufacturing companies to have a checkpoint on the assembly line that makes sure all the components are in place for product approval in the final stage of completion. Hands-Free RFID also helps in luggage tracking incorporated by the airplane companies to transport luggage across regions without misplacing luggage.

RFID Benefits

RFID doesn’t stop there it can track an individual’s movement, isn’t it so out of this world. The RFID-enabled employee badges allow employers to monitor employee’s progress within the premises and limit the access, track employee attendance. In a large conference, it is critical to keep the flow of traffic moving in and out of the seminar. With the help of the RFID attendee solution, the organizer can eliminate the registration lines using the RFID-enabled wristbands. Moreover, it helps in capturing statistical data about each attendee and determines the most popular activity in the event.

RFID-enable sticks placed on the windshields can scan an authorized driver to permit access to the parking garages. In Dubai, RFID enabled stickers, used in Salik, a toll system, allows the roads to operate without booths or barriers. The solution doesn’t stop there, RFID can also enable File Tracking and Document Management through encrypted data for extra security reasons enables the law offices, accounting firms, healthcare facilities, and so on to track the exact location of the physical records on the premises. RFID also minimizes the hotel check-in time as the build in RFID card allows self-check in the hotel, prior to the arrival all the information related to room availability, payment details, and individual’s data is in store in the card and upon arrival, the customer can activate their card at the kiosk and head straight to their rooms.

Technological Advancements in RFID Management

Over a decade there has been a constant advancement in information technology, transforming the marketplace of the retail industry. Retailers are on a constant lookout for an alternative because of thousands of locations, millions of products, and high inventory turn rates to improve their profitability, business growth, and efficiency.

The Revolutionary RFID solutions offer advanced and accurate inventory management solution resulting from optimizing their stock holding, reducing capital outlay and improving staff productivity. The process of RFID starts from manufacture right through to the point of sale and sometimes beyond such as managing returns. The benefits RFID solutions are mainly improving inventory management, the velocity of retail cycle, integrated business model and efficiency of the store operation.

Ultimately, RFID is not just a combination of technologies that offer the retailer with actionable data. It is an intermediary that enables the business to meet their KPI’s sustainably and profitably. Few of the main KPI’s retailer uses to measure in-store occupancy are (a) increase sales/turnover (b) Reduce staff cost (c) Reduce stock loss (d) Fewer markdowns (e) Reduce Stock holding (f) Reduce audit cost. RFID enables users to create their own KPI to measure the outcome.

 

Written By: Ranjeewa Dias

Business Technology Manager