Macy's, VF Drive Progress in RFID with New Program
Dozens of apparel retailers, manufacturers and distributors are using a new program from GS1 US as they implement RFID systems for inventory management. The companies are subscribing to and using the program as they roll out large scale implementations of RFID in stores, warehouses, and factories.
The rollouts employ GS1 Electronic Product Code (EPC) standards, enabling the companies to share data on items as they move through the supply chain, from source to store. Early-adopting companies report reductions in labor expenses, improved in-stock levels and increased sales, as they are able to take inventory and restock shelves more quickly.
“EPC-enabled RFID is a rewarding undertaking but it’s complex, and the GS1 US EPC Item Level Readiness Program has helped us get further in our
implementation than we would have been otherwise,” says Bill Connell, senior
vice president, Macy’s Logistics and Operations. “We and our suppliers are
moving very quickly on this to better serve our customers, and it’s critical to have
the kind of independent, unbiased support that the program offers.”
The GS1 US EPC Item Level Readiness Program offers education, training,
tools, and community facilitation needed to support industrywide adoption and
use of the technology and standards. As a not-for-profit standards organization,
GS1 US offers neutral guidance along with technology expertise developed for
both customized and general applications.
“We needed a quick solution that would enable us to tag millions of items
every year," says Jay Craft, vice president, Product Development, VF
Jeanswear. "The Item Level Readiness Program provides peace of mind that
we'll reach our goal.”
The program features webinars, teleconference-based sessions and community
forums that cover technology and issues concerning the requirements of their
trading partners. It also offers an interactive, web-based adoption roadmap and
online tools that subscribers can use to determine costs and timelines for their
implementations.
The rollouts employ GS1 Electronic Product Code (EPC) standards, enabling the companies to share data on items as they move through the supply chain, from source to store. Early-adopting companies report reductions in labor expenses, improved in-stock levels and increased sales, as they are able to take inventory and restock shelves more quickly.
“EPC-enabled RFID is a rewarding undertaking but it’s complex, and the GS1 US EPC Item Level Readiness Program has helped us get further in our
implementation than we would have been otherwise,” says Bill Connell, senior
vice president, Macy’s Logistics and Operations. “We and our suppliers are
moving very quickly on this to better serve our customers, and it’s critical to have
the kind of independent, unbiased support that the program offers.”
The GS1 US EPC Item Level Readiness Program offers education, training,
tools, and community facilitation needed to support industrywide adoption and
use of the technology and standards. As a not-for-profit standards organization,
GS1 US offers neutral guidance along with technology expertise developed for
both customized and general applications.
“We needed a quick solution that would enable us to tag millions of items
every year," says Jay Craft, vice president, Product Development, VF
Jeanswear. "The Item Level Readiness Program provides peace of mind that
we'll reach our goal.”
The program features webinars, teleconference-based sessions and community
forums that cover technology and issues concerning the requirements of their
trading partners. It also offers an interactive, web-based adoption roadmap and
online tools that subscribers can use to determine costs and timelines for their
implementations.