November 07, 2003

Wal-Mart Details RFID Requirement


WAL-MART, which earlier this year abruptly announced that it was dropping plans for a trial of consumer-level RFID tags, has detailed its plans for RFID over the next two years, according to this article in the RFID Journal.

Key points regarding the policy announcement:


  • Wal-Mart wants to use EPC to track pallets and cases.
  • Implementation to start in January 2005.
  • Wal-Mart will use the 96-bit EPC designed by MIT and adopted by EPC Global.
  • Frequency range 868-956 Mhz.
  • Wal-Mart to use Class 0 or Class 1 tags, but hopes to move to Class 1 version 2 tags as soon as the specification is ready.
  • By end of 2005, EPC must be on all pallets and cases from Wal-Mart's top 100 US suppliers, and the technology will be rolled out internationally.

Quoted in the article: “Wal-Mart is saying to CPG companies and RFID vendors, here’s the bar; see if you can meet and exceed this,” says Jonathan Loretto, global lead for RFID at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. “It’s achievable. Whether it's achievable in the next 12 months, only time will tell.”

Posted by simsong at November 7, 2003 08:30 PM
Comments

This made Monday's Times as well. The article comments that its suppliers are not too eager to implement these expensive supply-chain upgrades, but no one wants to be on the bad side of the Walmart, the world's largest retailer.

http://nytimes.com/2003/11/10/technology/10radio.html
[free registration req'd]

Posted by: Allan Friedman at November 10, 2003 11:15 AM

I don't agree with RFID on products used on Gillette or WALMART products. Its strictly an invasion of Privacy. I don't believe RFID will just be used on equipment or for the purpose of keeping track of equipment. I have worked at Walmart before while being an honest person and cameras being locked in on me and other fellow employees, being treated as a criminal when all along the customers were stealing Walmart blind buy the thousands!! Cameras have now been installed to watch customers. You need to watch your Main Managers!!! If I had done some of the stuff they done I would have been fired and for good reason. Its a shame, Walmart keeps lowering the amount of jobs by pushing out the small business man and slap up four walls, call it a Walmart and they make jobs.,no they don't create jobs, they create unemployment by what standards, (GREED), Money. Thats not progress! It may take you to the top of the Nasdeq however in the End, the very end, besides money what have you got. Do you still have respect for yourself, little lone your very own loved ones. Walmart might hide behind the motto, family oriented place to work however, I know better as well as others do. If you enforce RFID aren't you stealing? Stealing privacy from each and everyone?

Posted by: Cindy at November 16, 2003 03:20 PM
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