The technology has now reached clothing retailers, turning to RFID chips to track individual items in the store. Some merchants have found it necessary to use radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for their inventory.Previously, clothing retailers carried out their inventories manually. Employees were in charge of counting each product by hand in the store. Now they use RFID to improve work and have greater productivity.
These retailers have brought their inventory management systems into the store so they can track all individual items while being able to request more orders. An RFID chip transfers data to a reader, allowing you to preview your inventory for further tracking.Some well-known clothing retailers, such as Victoria’s Secret & Co., Nordstrom Inc., and American Eagle Outfitters Inc., already use the new generation of RFID (radio frequency identification) chips. It’s a way to improve your work and have information about items as consumers move or try on merchandise in the store.
Clothing retailers have used RFID technology to track containers, merchandise cases, and pallets in other business areas. But the high costs limited its use for tracking items in the store.Technology has evolved, and costs have come down, allowing clothing sellers to use them within the store to track individual items. RFID chips are very beneficial because they allow stores to quickly save time and complete orders.
Radiofrequency identification technology also lets you learn about consumer buying habits, and store workers can search for any item quickly. RFID chips can read multiple codes simultaneously to improve work and are perfect for high-value products. Many retailers use their stores as virtual distribution centers to avoid costs. They have decided to create separate supply chains for store sales and another one for e-commerce. They offer the service of buying online and picking up in-store. For this, it is extremely important to visualize all the merchandise you have in stock.
RFID chips will allow you to know all their products in inventory to avoid customer problems.
Claudia Clemens, a research analyst at Gartner Inc., has commented that purchasing methods have changed, and you must have greater visibility of all the products you have in store. Ms. Clemens claims that previously the customer would purchase a product, and when they picked it up, it was missing or the wrong item. This creates delays and a bad customer experience. By having better control of their inventory, retailers profit and will be more competitive.
American Eagle, the American clothing and accessories brand, has said it plans to equip around 500 stores in the US with radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology. They will track your items using these chips or readers from startup Radar, which will be integrated into the retailer’s price tags.
Spencer Hewett, founder and CEO of Radar, said that the company’s technology would greatly benefit clothing retailers. It will allow you to identify where products are stacked, you can track a green t-shirt on a rack of beige sweatshirts, and sales workers can help shoppers find the products they need quickly. Hewett has also commented that the store will be able to collect online orders faster for more effective and successful delivery. Spencer Hewett says any sales worker can easily find items on the sales floor that must be added.
If a shopper has taken a particular last item of clothing with RFID technology, a sales associate will be able to go to the back to get another item for another customer. Radar technology will track products through flat white discs equipped with cameras fixed on the store’s roof. The devices can read the signals emitted by thin, paper-thin RDIF tags attached to price tags. In addition, they will be able to track the location of all shoppers inside the store. The Radar company has communicated that its inventory management system works with all RFID tags.
Spencer Hewett has also commented that the system will use the information to display the exact location of individual items on a map on its smart mobile device app. It is an effective software with an accuracy of 99%. In 2007, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags cost about 15 cents each. Today, the cost of the readers or chips has been reduced, and they cost 4 cents per tag, according to the information provided by Spencer Hewett.
Lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret, uses RFID technology for the convenience of its shoppers. Company representatives say this will allow in-person customers to locate their products and see other styles quickly. In addition, the company has announced that it plans to use this technology with RFID to show customers different colors and sizes available on screens in fitting rooms. This way, shoppers will be able to select what they want, and a sales worker will be able to search for the item. Greg Unis, director of growth for Victoria’s Secret, affirms that with the implementation of this technology, the customer will have a better experience because they will be able to interact with the entire assortment of the store.
For its part, Inditex SA, owner of Zara, began placing RFID chips on its labels in 2014. They use this technology to track all the items they sell from the company’s logistics platforms to the final sale. According to Inditex, the system has helped increase sales, as it helps Zara put all the items in the right place so that customers can see them. In addition, he indicated that Zara is thinking of implementing an effective system that will eliminate anti-theft hard tags to sew on its RFID chip garments. Oscar García Maceiras, executive director of Inditex, has stated that this system will allow them to deepen the digitization of their stores. It will also benefit e-commerce and its integration into online platforms.
While Nordstrom, the department store chain, is expanding the use of RFID chips to improve its productivity and profits, says Peter Nordstrom, the company’s president and CEO. Mr. Peter communicated that implementing this technology will improve the ability to purchase and track merchandise in his chain of stores. For Peter Nordstrom, it will be an excellent investment to increase efficiency and profitability. Incorporating RFID technology has been very beneficial for most clothing retailers. It is a great opportunity to improve their productivity and save time.
RFID technology is becoming increasingly popular with clothing retailers, allowing them to accurately track and manage all of the merchandise in their stores. This technolgoy helps make retail operations more efficient as well as save time and money for businesses. By investing in RFID chips, retailers can ensure that they are always able to keep track of where items are located throughout their store. With this information at their disposal, clothing retailers are able to better serve customers and provide outstanding customer service.