By Andy McCue, 14 November 2006 12:50
NEWS
Marks & Spencer (M&S) is to extend the item-level radio frequency ID (RFID) tagging of clothing items following successful trials in 42 stores.
M&S has been one of the early UK pioneers in using RFID tags in the retail sector and first trialled the tracking technology on a selection of men's clothing in its High Wycombe store in 2003.
The RFID tags are contained in throwaway paper labels attached to, but not embedded in, a variety of men's and women's clothing items in stores. M&S uses mobile scanners to scan garment tags on the shop floor, and portals at distribution centres and the loading bays of stores allow rails of hanging garments to be pushed through and read at speed.
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A spokeswoman for M&S told silicon.com that item-level RFID tagging of certain ranges of clothing will now be rolled out to a further 80 stores in the spring of 2007.
"We are tagging a variety of complex sizing items such as men's suits and women's trousers and skirts. Anything where you can have a wide variety of clothing sizes," she said.
M&S is also looking at extending RFID tagging to other clothing departments from the autumn of next year, she added.
The retailer is aiming to use RFID tags to help achieve its goal of 100 per cent stock accuracy by ensuring the right goods and sizes are in the right stores to meet demand.
James Stafford, head of clothing RFID at M&S, said at the company's interim financial results presentation last week: "Our clothing RFID work is a good example of how we are using new technology for increased business efficiency and customer service. Stock accuracy has improved and the customers have commented on the more consistent availability of sizes."
Comments
There are 6 comments. Join the discussion
1. Dan F
This is a solid, viable, responsible use of RFID. Take note all those thinking of embedding the tags into stuff!
2. D Fletcher
That damned irritating woman's voice on the food adverts ensures I cross the street rather than get too close to the entrance of any M&S store.
3. Ruth McCullough
And are they going to make their customers aware of this & inform them which which tag it is so that those of us who regard RFID tagging as unwanted will be able to remove the tag immediately? I ask this because, until reading this article I was unaware that M&S were using RFID at all.
4. anonymous
Yes, I will fry all RFID tags that are not easily removable,and if the item can't be fried then I won't be buying it.
5. anonymous
That's fine - so long as it stops at tags in labels - but can we trust them to stop there or will they move on to installing the tags inside the clothing or other items?
6. Phil Blackburn
I assume that this is what the Reading store has meant by 'Smart Labels'. The trouble is that when I asked the staff in the store about them they didn't have a clue what I was talking about. You'd think that if they're trialling a new technology, especially one which is potentially controversial, they'd keep their staff informed. Especially since it seems they were doing it properly, with external removable tags. They've lost sales because I couldn't find out whether it was the sewn-in labels or not.