Checkpoint Systems Enables Retailers to Use Same RFID Label for Four Apparel Categories, Including Footwear, to Streamline Source Tagging

Checkpoint Systems, Inc. announced at NRF's Annual Convention & EXPO new RFID labels that are certified by ARC at the Auburn University RFID Lab for four apparel categories, including footwear, in order to streamline source tagging.

The new RFID labels have integrated UCODE 7 chips from NXP Semiconductors, and come with optimal read/write sensitivity for accurate counting and quicker encoding. With a wide range of apparel applications, they are ideal for retailers deploying large-scale implementations.

According to Uwe Sydon, Checkpoint’s senior vice president of innovation, “Several major apparel retailers have expressed an interest in our new labels, particularly those with broad product lines that include footwear and have large-scale deployment needs. With retailers devoting more inventory space to footwear, inventory management becomes even more critical, and our new labels answer their challenges.”

RFID uniquely identifies each product and attribute, providing retailers with greater inventory control and visibility, enabling them to reduce out-of-stocks, increase shelf availability and drive more sales. Additionally, using RFID tags can help retailers better manage shrink by identifying items that may have been stolen so they can be replenished, further improving inventory accuracy and shelf availability. Source tagging shifts the tag application process from a manual labor-intensive process at the store to an automated process at the point of manufacture, increasing accuracy and allowing store associates to focus on servicing shoppers rather than applying tags.

The Zephyr 3, offered with a label size of 50x30mm, has been optimized for performance with all of Checkpoint’s RFID solutions, including its RFID EAS Overhead Solution, the EVOLVE Exclusive E10 pedestal, and other Merchandise Visibility solutions. It has received certification from the Auburn University RFID Lab’s ARC program for the newly created M category in North America, which includes denim, polybagged apparel, hanging apparel and footwear. This allows retailers to use the same tag across much of their merchandise, streamlining their source tagging operations. Meanwhile, Checkpoint’s Breeze label offers the same capabilities and is offered in an extremely small form factor of 42x16mm to meet special requirements.