The last thing you want is for your inventory to be rejected by a retailer because you don’t have the proper RFID tags on each item – or any RFID tags at all. Especially if that retailer is Walmart, Nordstrom, or one of the many other big brands that have announced new RFID source tagging requirements for suppliers. That’s why the first thing you need to do after you’re done reading this post is to pick up the phone and call me, my team or your local Zebra representative.
Why the rush?
If your goods are sold in Walmart stores across the U.S. or Puerto Rico, or on Walmart.com in the region, then you now have…
less than two months* to get your RFID tags tested and inlays certified by the Auburn University RFID Lab. The deadline is June 3, 2022.
less than five months to get all your Walmart-allocated inventory tagged. Beginning on September 2, 2022, several hardline and softline products entering stores must have RFID tags and be 100% readable or you will be deemed noncompliant. These include, but may not be limited to, items in the home goods, electronics, toys, sporting goods, and automotive categories.
But don’t panic. There are a few different ways you can become compliant on time, no matter the state of your inventory. Plus, if you clicked on this post because another retailer is asking you to add RFID tags to your merchandise, that means that you may have a little more time to figure everything out. Either way, we can help you get the technology and processes in place you need to be compliant by the deadline you’re working against.
Unless all the inventory you produce or distribute is already tagged at the source today (i.e., the point of manufacture), you’re going to need to make a few key purchases and make some process changes to get RFID tags on goods. Technically, there are a few different ways to approach RFID tagging.
If you’re a manufacturer, you can…
If you’re a 3PL or distributor, you may already be fielding requests to tag goods, in which case you can either tag as part of the inbound or outbound processes.
No matter when or where items are tagged, there are a couple of different ways of managing the process:
Whatever you decide, know that you can lean on retail RFID experts such as myself and others within the Zebra ecosystem (such as the RFID specialists in our PartnerConnect partner community) to help you figure out a solution that’s viable from timing, cost and overall resource perspective. We can help you determine which labels, inlays and printers you need based on the pre-qualified tag specifications provided by each respective retailer. For example, Walmart is requiring tags to meet both GS1 and Auburn RFID Lab ARC standards and calls out the inlay ARC spec requirements in its Playbook, which is a valuable tool for any Walmart supplier. Other retailers may have different requirements. And the type of tag (and printer) you need will depend on the type of merchandise you’re tagging. You will not be able to put the same type of tag on sporting goods as you do on electronics as the labeling and inlay performance requirements will be different. Zebra, and our specialized partners, can help you navigate through these differences.
Of course, reaching out ASAP to an RFID solution provider is key to ensuring you have everything you need to get the tags on merchandise in time. Even if you’re speaking with someone from GS1 or Auburn, you’ll still need to call us to get the wheels in motion.
One thing to remember: it may be smart to have both a short-term and long-term compliance strategy. If you decide to just buy the preprinted tags now to meet the deadline, but longer term it makes more sense to print the tags yourself, let’s talk about what you need to do and when to ensure compliance efforts don’t become disruptive or a cost burden. (This will include the solution components I mentioned above, including RFID printers and readers along with the right labels and inlays.)
Are you affected by a retailer’s RFID mandate? Or do you just want to learn more about how RFID track and trace solutions can help you achieve your business objectives? Gartner, Inc. just named Zebra a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for Indoor Location Services for the third consecutive year, and our team has helped many retailers, manufacturers and warehouse operators successfully implement RFID solutions. Schedule time with a Zebra representative here to find out how we can help you, too.
Then check out the below resources to learn more about RFID:
Ask the Expert | What is RFID? And, More Specifically, What Is RAIN RFID?
RFID Journal: RFID Technology Is Powerful, but Only with Tag Data Standards
The One (Costly) Thing Most Companies Forget to Do When Deploying an RFID Solution
Did You Know? It Takes Just a Few Seconds to Turn Your Workers' Mobile Computers into RFID Readers
Off-the-Shelf (and Rentable) RFID Solutions Proving on Point for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
Now Available: The World’s First Handheld RFID Sled with Wi-Fi™ 6 Connectivity
Mike Weinhammer is currently the Global Product Manager for RFID Supplies at Zebra where he is responsible for driving and developing the RFID Supplies strategy and product solutions.
Mike has more than 22 years of experience within thermal printing industry, including the last five years managing the RFID Supplies portfolio at Zebra. Mike holds a B.S in Chemical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.