Franchise or Chain v SME
Not so long ago, that might have been the case with Blue-Chip or USA giant retailers, However RFID technology’s reputation since has established itself rapidly enough to see world-wide adoption. Research undertaken by the University of Leicester – see GS1 publications for further details www.gs1uk.org – indicates that the big retailers in the UK, too, enjoy overall sales of approximately € 94 billion, using 1.869 billion RFID tags annually. And they have good arguments for doing so:
- Growing sales revenue due to an improving visibility of inventory, reducing inaccuracy and its knock-on effects. This is seen as the critical enabler in almost all case studies.
- Reducing out-of-stock is a key to improve customer satisfaction, increasing sales and improving customer service – a major issue for multi-channel operations.
- Increased visibility of stock results directly in the reduction of merchandise held, having a positive effect on capital outlay, freeing up working capital and reducing business borrowing. It also could free-up staff’s time for helping customers and driving additional sales.
Extra benefits include reduced storage space required, a reduction in handling costs and a decrease in the risk of stored products’ write-off.
Benefits of Change for Everybody
The use of RFID drives agility through the better use of data from small to large-scale enterprises, especially when it is related to stock movements and customer behaviour, but additionally by promoting omnichannel, digital multi-platforms for customers to connect, browse and buy. RFID technology touches and connects every part of the business showing the potential benefit to change and improve management of the store or logistic process/supply chain, and ultimately, vital business forecast planning . Generally, the experience of implementing RFID shows little resistance from staff, but rather, the advantages are not always clear why the technology is worth deploying in “their” organisation, when routines are already in place. Thus, fear of change is the issue, not the technology. The initial buy-in must not then be restricted to the board/owner, but should go well beyond to include those in all sides of the operation – the induction and support process sensitively and consistently introduced.
SME Agility
The internet has already driven a new, permanent digital framework for both retailers and manufacturers. In retail, the story of SME’s now committed to the ongoing adoption of more agile and resilient data control and management is very topical, if local, independent and high street retail business in the UK business is to successfully thrive. The competition to attract customers to in-store shopping is highly competitive, endless online browsing has informed customers’ expectations to be high – they expect to find what exactly what they are looking for in the correct size, colour, and of course price. RFID can instantly provide product options’ availability through total inventory accuracy.
Benefits of RFID Technology
This clearly highlights that RFID technology could prevent customers from becoming dissatisfied and returning to shop online. Trends and changes are evermore short-lived and instantaneous – driven by social media marketing; ordering too late or many of a certain ‘must have it’ product. Also,ordering too few or not in time can lead to missed or lost sales opportunities – vital to a smaller business venture.
RFIDdirect has Developed the Solution for the Smaller Retailers!
Our ethos is ‘keep things simple and sleek’ by deploying simple hand-held terminals and user-friendly software. Providing the inventory information and number of products available directly on the screen, this immediately allows you to provide customers with the information they require. There is no need for IT installations at your store or IT specialist staff required.
The RFID Data Capture Equipment
The supplied hand-held RFID scanner with the attached Android device can operate off-line and synchronises the data with the Data-Base as soon as an internet connection is established.
It contains a bespoke Application for your operations on the shop floor and warehouse – ensuring stock is positioned in the right place at the right time.
It is then easily possible to collect and modify data in storage locations where no internet (Wi-Fi) access is available; synchronising to the system at a later time.
Maintenance and Support and Security
As all hardware – scanners – are communicating with a cloud-based database on the internet and remote software updates and maintenance of this hardware are always possible, saving you operational downtime. The Cloud Application Manager has the following advantages for your users:
– Up-time guaranteed 99.98%
– High level of data security and management
– Automatic back-up of all data is secured on shadow systems
– Remote online maintenance and support by RFIDdirect
The RFIDdirect solution is also easy to adapt or extend without any further extensive investment; designed to be flexible and agile enough to match the pace of change in retail today.
Curious?
Please feel free to contact us; we are happy to demonstrate the solution to you.
