Comments on: Why Wal-Mart’s $2/Pallet Non-RFID Penalty Isn’t Going To Work http://storefrontbacktalk.com/mobile-wireless-contactless/why-wal-marts-2pallet-non-rfid-penalty-isnt-going-to-work/ Techniques, Tools and Tirades about Retail Technology and E-Commerce Sun, 20 May 2012 01:49:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chris Kapsambelis http://storefrontbacktalk.com/mobile-wireless-contactless/why-wal-marts-2pallet-non-rfid-penalty-isnt-going-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-31803 Chris Kapsambelis Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:08:37 +0000 http://www.storefrontbacktalk.com/contactlesswireless/why-wal-marts-2pallet-non-rfid-penalty-isnt-going-to-work/#comment-31803 Wal-Mart's requirements for pallet and case level tagging is a duplication of current EDI practice, and an added expense for nothing. The software argument does not become important until item level tagging is implemented. When that happens, the database record volume explodes beyond any present standards. Unless there is a need to track individual items, the only reason to use RFID at the item level is the efficiency gained by counting large groups of items with a single reading. Since this technique has been proven inaccurate and unreliable there is no need to tag at the item level in general retail applications. As long as the requirement remains to scan each item at the Point of Sale (POS), Item level movement data is a byproduct of this process. As for sharing this info with individual vendors, I suggest email. There is no need for expensive and proprietary software for such a simple task. Wal-Mart’s requirements for pallet and case level tagging is a duplication of current EDI practice, and an added expense for nothing. The software argument does not become important until item level tagging is implemented. When that happens, the database record volume explodes beyond any present standards.

Unless there is a need to track individual items, the only reason to use RFID at the item level is the efficiency gained by counting large groups of items with a single reading. Since this technique has been proven inaccurate and unreliable there is no need to tag at the item level in general retail applications.

As long as the requirement remains to scan each item at the Point of Sale (POS), Item level movement data is a byproduct of this process. As for sharing this info with individual vendors, I suggest email. There is no need for expensive and proprietary software for such a simple task.

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