Current adoption and future use of RFID tags

Abstract

The adoption of technology depends on the perceived value of the technology to the business. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, a contactless and short distance wireless communication, has been adopted across a spectrum of retailers and retail merchandise, particularly since 2003 when Wal-Mart instituted requirements to their top 100 suppliers to start using this technology. Retail merchandisers from the first introduction of item level RFID and supply chain management requirements to vendors and within stores at Wal-Mart have seen the benefits and challenges of adding RFID technology. Modern RFID sensors, specifically for retail, are made with a high memory capacity that is superior to a typical barcode. Store level RFID has improved with newer label readers for stacks of garments, improvements to identify inventory outages and mapping the stores to improve store merchandise placement.