How to Meet RFID Mandates as They Multiply Across Retail
RAIN RFID initiatives and mandates are proliferating through the retail industry, creating new challenges — and opportunities — for suppliers and manufacturers.
Big-name retailers around the globe are rolling out RFID mandates. They’re requiring their suppliers to start delivering products with RAIN RFID tags already attached — enabling retailers to benefit from faster inventory counts, real-time inventory management, efficient sales floor replenishment, accurate omnichannel fulfillment, and hassle-free self-checkout.
Walmart has generated plenty of headlines as it expands its RFID mandate to more and more product categories. However, the world’s largest retailer is just the tip of the spear. Retail giants like Target, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Lowe’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kroger, and many more also have RFID initiatives. In fact, in the most recent Retail Systems Research benchmark report, retailers ranked RFID as the #1 technology for providing real-time insights and powering their digital transformation.
Brand owners are facing new challenges in meeting these expanding RFID mandates. Yet they also have an incredible opportunity to improve operations and maximize their own organization’s efficiencies. There are many factors to consider when implementing a RFID program. Different retailers have different requirements. There are standards and certifications to meet. There are a variety of tags for a variety of products. And more considerations to make sure you get the most out of your investment.
That’s why we have created our Guide to Retail RFID Mandates: 5 Steps to Compliance. The guide walks you through how to start tagging with RFID to fulfill retailers’ tagging requirements, and explains how to maximize the benefits of RFID within your organization.
Because it’s not just the retailers who can benefit from RFID — suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, supply chain and logistics organizations, and others can use retail mandates as a springboard to bring game-changing improvements to their own operations.
RFID, specifically RAIN RFID, enables powerful benefits including:
- Faster operations through automation, eliminating the need for time-consuming and error-prone manual processes
- Improved visibility by enabling real-time tracking and monitoring of inventory, assets, and products
- Decreased labor costs by reducing the amount of time employees are searching for items, coordinating orders, and contacting suppliers — making existing teams more efficient
- Energy cost savings, reduced waste, and optimized resource utilization realized through fine-tuned delivery routes and reductions in overstocks
- Improved employee satisfaction and worker retention by automating certain manual jobs, freeing staff to focus on higher-value, more rewarding tasks
And RAIN RFID can help businesses collect and share the detailed, item-level information for products as required by the European Union’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) initiative.
Download our RFID mandate guide to learn more about complying with retail mandates and improving operations with RFID. And connect with us at Impinj to speak with an RFID expert.
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Wednesday, March 26, 2025
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gaylene Meyer
Former Vice President of Global Marketing and Demand
Gaylene Meyer led a team focused on delivering world-class marketing and communications that engage partners and customers worldwide.
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