METRO Unveils Fully Suited RFID Implementation

jpg Checkpoint Systems, Impinj, and Reva Systems announce a breakthrough item-level tagging retail apparel implementation. The companies joined forces in METRO Group's Future Store initiative to enable the first complete supplier distribution to in-store point-of-sale RFID deployment using UHF Gen 2 standards-based systems. The implementation for METRO Group's high-end Galeria Kaufhof department store in Essen, Germany, is a milestone for the retail industry, delivering consumer-facing RFID applications that are integrated from the distribution center to retail smart shelves and cashier checkout stations.

This deployment addresses METRO Group's vision of real-time inventory management at Galeria Kaufhof stores and is the next step in its RFID effort. It is the first live RFID implementation to use the full suite of evolved EPCglobal standards, including Gen 2 tags and readers, fixed and handheld readers running low-level reader protocol (LLRP) for communications with the local network, and application level events (ALE) to pass clean formatted RFID data to the application layer, which uses an EPCIS implementation to facilitate RFID data sharing, mining and analytics.

Galeria Kaufhof has been using RFID in logistics and warehouse pilots since 2003, and is determined to leverage its wealth of item-level tag data to deliver an improved retail shopping experience. This significant implementation covers a wide breadth of applications including:

Inbound goods receipt
Back room real-time inventory management
Fixed and handheld readers tracking real-time sales floor inventory
A Smart Mirror showing complementary clothing choices or accessories
Smart Shelves with monitors indicating available garment size and style choices
In-aisle product information triggered by scanning items
RFID-enabled point-of-sale terminals delivering efficient checkout

At METRO Group's Neuss warehouse, tagged goods are read and recorded by Checkpoint Systems' RFID/UHF hanging conveyor and packing table antennas, as well as Checkpoint UHF dock-door portals. Once at the Galeria Kaufhof store, garments are tracked using Checkpoint portals in the receiving area and stock room. Checkpoint has also deployed its dual EAS/RFID antennas for security monitoring at the entry/exit and fitting room areas, as well as point-of-service deactivation. In addition, Checkpoint will provide its system integration expertise for the trial.

The Galeria Kaufhof RFID solution uses Impinj Speedway® readers exclusively for all in-store fixed read points, and Impinj Monza™ tag chips to power all tags used in the store. Impinj near-field UHF RFID reader antennas in the smart shelves continuously gather data from tagged garments and accessories on the retail floor, and Impinj point-of-sale displays provide immediate product information to store personnel at all sale terminals.

Reva Systems provides centralized management capabilities for Galeria Kaufhof's RFID operations with the Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP) network infrastructure product. Reva's TAP is used to centrally control distributed RFID components including roughly 60 fixed and handheld readers from different vendors; it also integrates the RFID system with multiple applications and back-office systems, optimizing data capture across all of Galeria Kaufhof's RFID operations.

RFID Technology Council's Fourth Roundtable Panel Discussion

jpg The RFID Technology Council is an Ad Hoc organization whose mission is to support the U.S. Senate RFID Caucus in promoting the understanding of RFID technologies and their impact on the U.S. and world economy. Its goal is to educate members of Congress, governmental agencies, and the general public on the uses and issues relating to RFID, through educational events and panel discussions held throughout the Washington, D.C. area.

On Wednesday, September 12, a panel of experts representing the automotive, consumer goods, and network services industries shared with senate staff and other guests how RFID is being used today in manufacturing for safety, convenience, efficiency, and security, and suggested ways in which the technology will be used in the future manufacturing processes to continued advantage. The event took place in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Michael Maibach, President & CEO of the European-American Business Council (EABC) welcomed the audience and panel, and then handed the discussion to Elliot Maxwell, CEO of eMaxwell and Associates, who moderated the discussion. Panelists included Kevin Prouty, Senior Director, Manufacturing Solutions, Motorola; Jason Rushton, Director, Solutions Consulting, WhereNet; and Milan Turk, Global EPC Program Leader, Procter & Gamble.

Maxwell began by explaining that for policymakers, RFID is not about privacy or tracking animals; it's a revolution taking place in all parts of society. He compared it to the early days of the Internet.

Turk said that EPC is his preferred “flavor” of RFID. According to him, more than half of the world's consumers use a P&G product daily, “so we need to build and maintain trust.” P&G has many retail partners. He went on to say that RFID provides “actionable visibility” in the supply chain, so that a product is on the shelf when the customer expects to find it there. Pallets and cases are where he sees the biggest impact, and he does not believe that RFID is the most appropriate technology for all business applications. RFID-enabled promotional displays have been very rewarding for P&G, but the technology can also help reduce out-of-stocks, improve inventory and back room operations, and authenticity. “So much still needs to be done, even just with the number of stores that are already equipped,” he said.

Ruston shared how he regards RFID as a closed-loop system, similar to how 15 years ago, it was not guaranteed that everyone used e-mail in their businesses. “We need open-looped systems,” he stated, “and that's what EPCglobal does for us.”

Prouty agreed with this, adding that a set of global standards is necessary because without them, increased costs get pushed to the customer.

Regarding future transformative uses of RFID, both Prouty and Maxwell predicted recalls being dramatically affected. Prouty said that RFID will help to improve first time quality, and that the food industry will be one of the first to utilize this. Maxwell touched on recent children's toy recalls and said RFID could help to refine quality control issues. Rushton added that he envisions the paperwork associated with container parking lots in the military becoming RFID-enabled, creating an automated and secure operation.

Since RFID is capable of capturing so much information, the question was posed as to how to avoid an information overload. Turk said that P&G hire people to work specifically on this issue, and that P&G is careful about which applications RFID is used. Rushton said: “We have to decide what not to capture, instead of the other way around.”

Visit www.rfidtechcouncil.org to learn more about the RFID Technology Council.

RFID World Boston

jpg CMP Media's RFID World Boston event took place September 19th and 20th at the Hynes Convention Center. As part of the TechMesh event, RFID World Boston was co-located with two other events: the Embedded Systems Conference Boston and SD Best Practices Conference & Expo. David Blaza, Publisher, Embedded Systems & RFID, had this to say about the event:

"CMP runs many successful events in the technology sector and wanted to test the idea of collocating events with related content and audiences in Boston this year under the TechMash banner. By any measure the concept was a resounding success. By giving attendees an opportunity to conveniently see latest the products and thinking in fields that relate to their core interests was a win-win for them and exhibitors alike. Being able to talk live with technology companies across a broader spectrum of applications can generate new business ideas and relationships that may not have happened otherwise. We see a great future in offering collocated events to our attendees and exhibitors after this positive experience in Boston."

Michael Liard, Principal Analyst, RFID, ABI Research, moderated a well-attended panel discussion about privacy and security considerations for consumers. The panel included Elliot E. Maxwell, Fellow, Communications Program, Elliot E. Maxwell Consultant; Sanjay Ahuja, Ph.D., President, Reltronics Technologies, Inc.; Marc-Anthony Signorino, Director of Technology Policy, National Association of Manufacturers; and James J. Farrell III, Director, T-Engine Forum. Liard had the following to say:

“RFID and the consumer is nothing new. From electronic toll collection to automobile immobilization to contactless payment, RFID is in our cars, wallets, and purses, and on our key rings. However, the use of RFID on products and items is expanding. RFID at the point of decision, point of purchase, and point of sale is slowly becoming a reality. The theme of the conference was RFID security, privacy, and authentication; and what a way to help kick off the event — a panel discussion on consumer privacy and security considerations among a very diverse set of individuals from different corners of the industry."

“The panel responded to questions about database security, raising consumer awareness of RFID, the importance of standards, RFID legislation, RFID benefits for the consumer, and more. The panel also tackled one of the major concerns among advocates and consumers: track and trace post sale or transaction — once a purchased RFID-tagged item leaves the store. And, of course, there are differences when RFID is part of the packaging and when an RFID tag is attached to an item via a hang tag, removable label, sewn-in tag, etc. The main message delivered by the panel on this point was, ‘At the end of the day, security and privacy all depend on how, when, and where RFID will be used.' This is what needs to be made most clear to consumers.”

Following Liard's panel was a presentation by Patrick Sweeney of ODIN technologies. He delivered a fantastic lecture called “RFID 2.0” in which he claimed that the tremendous hype created by the Wal-Mart mandates caused venture capitalist to invest in RFID, driving down the cost and improving the technology. This gave companies competitive advantages, creating value and offering benefits — and this state of the RFID industry, which we live in today, is what Sweeney referred to as “RFID 2.0.” He busted some RFID myths, predicted what the future holds for RFID, and covered some of the major hurdles RFID faces today.

Other speakers continued throughout the two-day event, focusing on such topics as RFID in healthcare, privacy and security issues surrounding RFID, and using RFID to prevent theft of CDs and DVDs.

The show floor was packed and bustling, with attendees from all of the co-located events perusing what each section had to offer. Everyone was permitted to witness a public conversion of a Hybrid vehicle into a Plug-in Hybrid Electronic Vehicle (PHEV). One of the more interesting RFID booths was American RFID Solutions, who was demonstrating its Biometric/RFID secure access system, in which a person's face and RFID-enabled badge are both read to grant the appropriate people access to a portal. The system was set up at the booth, complete with a door that would open when everything checked out accordingly. Among other booths, TAGSYS demonstrated an item-level solution for retail, and Reva Systems highlighted its Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP).