Guides Support the Benefits of Combining Theft Deterrence with Real-Time Actionable Intelligence

In October 2009, GS1 EPCglobal released two publications, a Strategic Overview Guide and a Technical Implementation Guide. Both guides help retailers understand how they can deploy EPC/RFID based, anti-theft solutions in their stores. GS1 EPCglobal standards are a set of integrated, industry- driven standards developed to meet user requirements enabling the identification of objects, data capture and sharing of information among partners throughout the supply chain. ADT, a retail industry leader with its Sensormatic EAS and item-level intelligence solutions, is a founding member of the GS1 EPCglobal standards body and part of its EAS Phase 2 Joint Requirement Group, which contributed to the Guides.

Given today's challenges, retailers are exploring smarter, more integrated technologies like an EPC/RFID-based EAS solution. This solution is intended to provide the combined benefits of theft deterrence with real-time actionable intelligence. While such a solution can alert retailers to help prevent theft, it can also inform them of what's missing from inventory. With greater visibility of out-of-stock items, retailers can then replenish their sales floors faster and more accurately.

"Retailers are leveraging advanced technologies with installed solutions to improve in-store customer experiences and operational efficiencies, particularly at the item-level," said Drew Nathanson, Director of Research Operations at VDC Research Group. "The evolution, convergence and exploitation of technologies and solutions in the retail environment are expected to endow retailers with an unprecedented and expandable level of visibility and benefits, plus provide a more advanced and robust platform upon which to build additional capabilities."

According to Brand L. Elverston, Director Asset Protection Systems and Analysis, Walmart, "By combining the advantages of EAS and EPC/RFID technology, we potentially realize the benefits of visibility throughout the supply chain together with the capability of deterring and detecting theft."

ADT offers Sensormatic EAS and RFID technologies to provide retailers with several approaches for preventing theft while improving the quality of item-level data. To help address pain points, retailers are recognizing that dual EAS-RFID functionality addresses both item-level security and item-level visibility. ADT's solution allows retailers to choose a sequential, layered technology approach to their deployments. ADT's broad portfolio of Sensormatic enterprise solutions offers retailers greater item-level visibility, operational efficiencies, profit improvements and customer satisfaction. The EPCglobal publications should assist in the further advancement of these approaches.

"The GS1 EPCglobal's RFID-based EAS guides that we released today present a new model for the way in which retailers will monitor and manage shrink," said Chris Adcock, president of EPCglobal Inc. "EPC/RFID is designed to deliver item visibility, enabling retailers to reduce stock-outs, enhance the shopper's buying experience and increase sales." Beyond these guides our commitment to the evolution of EPC / RFID solutions extends to support / funding of EPC accreditation labs in key markets (see article on page 14).

If you would like a copy of the EPCglobal guides they are available for no charge at www.epcglobalinc.org/standards/implementation_guidelines/.

For more information on Sensormatic Item Level Intelligence solutions powered by VUE Technology visit www.sensormatic.com/Products/RFID/RFID_home.aspx.