Expanding RFID – In Person Meeting – Oct 4th & 5th

Context

For those retailers that have already adopted RFID, the focus of attention is increasingly on how it can be developed further: across more products, more sites, and utilised for more than just counting stock.

In October 2023, ECR Retail Loss will host a unique in-person meeting, bringing together leaders from different retail functions either directly responsible for, or interested in, the expansion of RFID utilisation.

With the focus of the meeting being on ‘expansion’, over two days, participants will have the opportunity, via store visits, case studies, an innovation showcase, and brainstorming sessions, the opportunity to develop a more detailed and comprehensive overview of how retailers are expanding their RFID programmes. In addition, there will also be plenty of time for informal catch ups, including an evening networking event.

Meeting Objectives

Ultimately, the purpose of the meeting is to give attendees clear and actionable outcomes from attending, including:

1)      Gaining unique insights from case study presentations, benchmarking exercises, and brainstorming sessions.

2)      Acquiring a clear understanding of the ways to stretch the use of RFID beyond counting.

3)      Refreshing and establishing new contacts with an effective and trusted network of RFID experts.

Wednesday October 4th

 

From 11.30am: Arrivals & Coffee

12.00 Start: Introductions, Expectations & Agenda (includes light working lunch)

To set the scene, and start conversations early, each participant will be expected to share their top two most recent RFID ‘successes’ together with their top two ambitions for the next 12 months.

1.00pm: RFID Research Update – Professor Adrian Beck

ECR have been researching RFID for over two decades and in this session Professor Beck will synthesise the learnings to date, including the RFID maturity model.

1.30pm: Coffee

2.00pm: Store Visits – Innovation and Expansion in Practice

With the focus on ‘what’s new’, participating retailers will host visits from their peers in the nearby Oxford Street stores, and share the new ways they are using RFID, including self-checkout, smart mirrors, theft detection, etc. The group will then discuss the key learning points from these store visits.

3.30pm: Coffee

4.00pm: Smart Fitting Rooms – Jon Wright, River Island

In the 2022 meeting there was much excitement about smart fitting rooms. In this session we will hear how one retailer has deployed them, how they went about operationalising them in their stores, the response from store associates and shoppers, and the benefits thus far to NPS, loyalty, sales, theft reduction and the cost of returns. The group will then discuss the key learning points from this case study.

5.00pm: Innovation Showcase – Speed Dating

Small groups of 3-4 retailers will each ‘speed date’ with representatives from six selected innovators in RFID.

6.00pm: Informal Networking Evening

A chance to relax, enjoying drinks and pizza with peers in an informal setting.

8.00pm: Close

Thursday October 5th

8.00am: Coffee and Light Breakfast

8.30am: Day One Review

Participants will have the opportunity to share their learnings from the first day.

9.00am: RFID in the Supply Chain – Richard Jenkins, M&S

Retailers have traditionally “started” their RFID journey in the store, moving then to the supply chain. In this session, we will hear from Richard Jenkins and the M&S journey towards leveraging RFID in the supply chain, to be followed by a discussion on the findings and then retailers will share their work to use RFID in the supply chain. .

10.00am: Coffee

10.30am: RFID and Loss Prevention (Retailer Case Studies)

In this session, we will hear from retailers about their latest learnings on the use of RFID to manage losses, including providing superior business intelligence on losses and evidence for investigations, and updates on trials focussed upon removing EAS hard tags.

11.30am: Coffee

11.45am: Brainstorm – Priority Setting

In small groups, participants will be asked to brainstorm what they believe should be the top 2-3 priorities for the expansion of RFID, including: in store operations; annual audit counts, returns, e-commerce fulfilment, POS integration and self-checkout, their use in supply chains and fulfilment centres, and B2B integration.

12.30pm: Reflections, Benefits, Concerns and Next Steps

Participants will be given the opportunity to reflect upon their original expectations for the meeting and their own ambitions for the evolution of RFID in their businesses over the next 12 months, including how these may have changed in light of the topics covered and discussions held as part of the meeting.

1.00pm: Close

Meeting Location

Goodenough College, Mecklenburgh Square, London WC1N 2AB. A list of low-cost hotels to be shared.    

Costs

There is no cost to participate and attend, other than the participants’ own travel and accommodation costs. 

Next Steps

If your business is interested in sending participants, please send confirmation to colin@ecrloss.com