According to the RAIN Alliance, global shipments of RAIN RFID label chips reached 44.8 billion in 2023, a year-over-year increase of 32%. This growth is driven by surging applications in retail, automotive, aerospace, and healthcare.
Notably, the retail industry has seen a significant uptick in the use of UHF RFID, with over 70% of global UHF RFID label shipments in 2023 being utilized in the apparel and footwear segments, as reported by IDTechEx. This growth is being driven by the need for better inventory management, loss prevention, and customer experience.
Major retailers like Walmart, JD.com, and Amazon have already implemented UHF RFID tags in their clothing and footwear products. So, what roles do these RFID tags play in the retail sector?
Inventory Management
UHF RFID tags can be read from a greater distance compared to LF (Low Frequency) and HF (High Frequency) tags. This allows store personnel to quickly and accurately identify items using RFID readers, helping retailers to maintain real-time inventory visibility and improve efficiency.
Product Anti-counterfeiting
RFID tags provide a unique identity for each product, aiding retailers in preventing the influx of counterfeit goods into the market. For instance, luxury brands can use RFID tags to trace the origin of their products, ensuring their authenticity.
Supply Chain Management
RFID tags can track the movement of goods within the supply chain, enhancing supply chain efficiency. For example, clothing brands can use RFID tags to track the entire process from production to sale, optimizing supply chain management.
Customer Experience
RFID tags help retailers offer a more convenient shopping experience, such as self-checkout and express lanes.
In October 2023, Walmart tested a machine using RFID technology at one of its stores in Bentonville, Arkansas. The machine was used to verify items purchased using the retailer’s scan-and-go checkout solution.
Customers can avoid checkout lines by simply placing their items on the reader to complete payment. RFID technology can quickly identify products, preventing missed or incorrect scans. Moreover, by analyzing RFID chip label data, retailers can understand customer shopping habits and offer personalized product recommendations and promotions.
For apparel and footwear manufacturers, it’s advisable to invest in their own RFID printers, allowing them to customize RFID label printing content and perform encoding. iDPRT offers both desktop and industrial UHF RFID printers, supporting continuous printing, reading, and writing of RFID labels up to 4 inches wide, suitable for both small and large-scale operations.
Our solutions encompass UHF RFID labels and flexible anti-metal tag applications, empowering businesses across diverse industries to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Contact us today to learn more about our RFID label printer solutions.
