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Walmart already uses RFID in the backroom and for palettized loads, but not for stock that customers handle. In my own work with RFID, the main problem we have
by DaiPlusPlus 10y ago
Walmart already uses RFID in the backroom and for palettized loads, but not for stock that customers handle.
In my own work with RFID, the main problem we have is (after disregarding the cost of the transponders) is getting someone to put a transponder sticker on every single widget - stores already stopped using those "pricing guns" when they adopted UPCs/EANs, they don't want to regress backwards.
The solution is universal adoption of the EPC RFID system, but that requires all suppliers and logistics infrastructure to also adopt it. It's happening... just very slowly.
- JoeAltmaier 10y agoIf they got really cheap, you could imagine 'spraying them on' a pallet and then wanding each item in. Combined with a simultaneous read of the RFID tags that 'stuck', and presto. Just brainstorming.
- DaiPlusPlus 10y agoIf they're using serialized EPCs (which track a unique item, not just SKUs) then this won't work because need to ensure each physical item is uniquely tagged, and that two tags with different serial numbers aren't on the same item (though duplicate tags with the same serial are fine) and that no two items have tags with the same serial. If they're using non-serialized EPCs (so just logging SKU) then they need to ensure exactly 1 tag is on each item - no more and no less - otherwise inventory counts will be inaccurate.
- JoeAltmaier 10y agoUnique tag serial numbers would work fine. No duplicates (don't even understand how that would happen). More than one tag not a problem (enter one or all; whatever, as long as scanning later identifies the one item).