Understanding Walmart RFID Mandates: Start Here!

By leveraging RFID tags, you will have the power to monitor product location in real-time, resulting in an improvement in inventory accuracy. RFID offers a multitude of benefits, encompassing instant visibility into inventory, cutting-edge business analytics, and an elevated level of customer satisfaction. Experts anticipate widespread adoption of this technology in the retail industry, with Walmart’s mandate serving as a catalyst. Additionally, RFID seamlessly integrates with consumer-facing software, offering unparalleled transparency and an abundance of product information.

Here is what you need to know about the new RFID Mandates:

The supplier’s responsible for selecting an RFID tag for each product, encoding it, and placing it on the product packaging or hangtag. You must begin by selecting an ARC-approved inlay that is appropriate for your application.

Once you have decided on an RFID tag with an approved inlay, the tag will need to be encoded for use. This crucial step ensures that each RFID tag contains the necessary information to track and identify the product accurately.

Encoding RFID Tags:

1. Use packaging providers or service bureaus to manage your product’s RFID tags. They can use your GTIN or UPC to ensure unique serial numbers through cloud-based systems. This option is particularly useful for multiple manufacturers or sites. Service bureaus can also help with tag selection, placement, and approval while offering custom packaging services and other RFID solutions.

2. An in-house solution is available where you can buy RFID labels or hangtags in bulk and encode your own serialized data using an RFID printer. This option is perfect for printing on-demand, rather than purchasing pre-encoded labels from a service bureau.

Regardless of the option you choose, it is essential to ensure that the UPC and the unique serial number are encoded accurately in the chip of each RFID tag. This encoding process guarantees that the RFID tags can be read and tracked seamlessly throughout the supply chain.

RFID Tag Requirements:

1. RFID tags must be easily removable by the customer. If the tags are sewn in, they should be designed to be easily torn off without any hassle.
2. RFID tags or inlays should not cover any important text or images on the product packaging. It is essential to ensure that all relevant information on the packaging remains visible and legible.
3. Avoid placing RFID inlays on the bottom of polybags or boxed items. This placement can interfere with the readability of the tags and hinder accurate inventory tracking.
4. The RFID tags should not overlap with any EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) tags that may be present on the products. These two technologies should be placed separately to ensure they function optimally without any interference.
5.  If an item requires a sticker indicating its country of origin, make sure it remains visible to the customer. If necessary, the supplier can print the country of origin information on the RFID sticker itself.
6.  Avoid making any staples, perforations, swift tach, folding, or die cuts through the RFID inlays. These actions can render the RFID tags unreadable and compromise the accuracy of inventory tracking.
7.  RFID inlay stickers should ideally be placed on the packaging of the product. However, if the stickers can be easily removed, they can be directly applied to the item itself.

Implementing RFID technology into your product tags is only one part of completing the transparency process. It is also vital that you have a traceability partner to provide the data analytics and insights to maximize your efficiency in tracking items within your supply chain.