Retail And RFID: How Improved Inventory Visibility Is Redefining An Industry

By Sue Flake, RFID Director of Business Development, Zebra Technologies

Inventory accuracy has become every retailer’s battle cry; a defining priority critical to achieving the omnichannel fulfillment promise. RFID makes it possible. RFID technology allows retailers to implement real-time inventory solutions that provide accurate and efficient inventory tracking, faster product replenishment and the SKU-level locationing required to deliver exceptional shopping experiences wherever they occur.

In 2014, we saw a change in shopper expectations and behavior that in turn, created a fundamental shift in retail business strategy. Today, retail is all about the customer experience, and how to deliver that regardless of the method the customer has engaged with the retailer. To satisfy customers throughout their shopping journey, retailers must deliver an end-to-end experience that begins whenever and wherever the customer orders — in-store, online, or from a kiosk or mobile device. The final piece of that experience? Flawless fulfillment. With RFID, retailers can reduce out of stocks, ensure inventory levels between home office and stores match, improve store replenishment from distribution and represent display departments, such as shoes, more accurately.

Location-based analytics have allowed retailers to bump that experience up a notch. Knowing with a high degree of certainly that a product can ship from a specific location improves the customer experience and reduces both shipping costs and delivery timeframes. This also provides the opportunity to standardize the customer experience across multiple channels.  Here’s a look at five key trends currently driving RFID retail investments.

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