By Andy McCue, 3 February 2004 15:00
NEWS Marks & Spencer (M&S) is set to run more extensive trials of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags following the success of an initial pilot in items of clothing at its High Wycombe store near London.
In a trial partly funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, M&S used RFID tags on a selection of men's suits, shirts and ties at the store between 13 October and 7 November last year.
M&S has declared the trial a success, although it admits that some modifications need to be made to the hardware and software. The company said it will now look at a bigger pilot involving several stores as part of establishing the business case for RFID across its product range.
"In order to establish whether there is a business case for the introduction of RFID in any part of the garment supply chain at item level, a more extensive trial, involving a number of stores, will be required," the company said in a report. "Plans for a business- case trial are still being developed; however, it is likely that this could begin in the spring 2004."
The store used two types of scanner for the trial. A portal was installed at the distribution centre and loading bay of the store to allow rails of hanging garments and packaged clothes to be pushed through and read at speed. A mobile scanner fitted to a shopping trolley was used to scan garment tags on the shopfloor.
M&S said the portal scanner was "less accurate" and "less versatile" than the mobile scanner, which represented better value. But modifications would need to be made, including the 'ruggedising' of the mobile scanner and changing the role of the scanner to a transmitter rather than processor of information to cut down on power consumption and battery size.
Fifty customers browsing the menswear department at the High Wycombe store were interviewed about RFID and the research found no awareness of, or issues around, RFID technology.
In fact, to avoid the privacy concerns that have dogged other RFID projects, M&S used what it called 'intelligent labels' that hold just the number unique to each garment. When scanned against an M&S database, the tag would only give information related to the product's size, style or colour.
In the findings of the trial, M&S said RFID tags can be used to further its goal of 100 per cent stock accuracy by ensuring the right goods are delivered to the right store at the right time.
The 'intelligent label' has been developed with Paxar and Dewhirst, and the scanner technology has been developed with Intellident and Samsys Technologies. The microchips were provided by Swiss company EM Microelectronic.
Comments
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1. Mark Hosey
I would have thought that if a customer was worried about personal privacy it would be easy enough to pay by cash and refuse to give any personal details at the checkout there by preserving their anonymity. The only extra thing I would require is that the RF tags be automatically disabled at the checkout. Leaving them active after purchase should only be allowed if the customer agrees. (Not the other way round!)
2. Simon
Of course they found no concerns over security, like any survey you ask the questions in such a manner as to get the required answer !
"Do you think electronics tags that allow use to better control our stock and hence give you better choice at lower prices are a god idea ?" is likely to get a favourable response.
"Do you have any concerns about us embedding electronic tags into garments that can be read by anyone, anywhere with a suitable reader, and possibly used to track your movements ?" is rather likely to get a less favourable reply.
Both questions are asking the respondent their views on RFID tags.
I could cite many examples of surveys where the questions are carefully crafted to give the answer required to support the position of the body commissioning the 'research'.
3. Far Mill
RFID privacy is a sensitive area. Should the RFID tag be defaulted to disabling after purchase and require additional steps to keep it enabled... that way privacy is primary objective... Agree that it is important to pilot and test this technology to understand its capabilities and also to discover happy surprises of additional capabilities that have not been identified...