Tesco UK has named ADT as its exclusive supplier of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers and antennae. The retailer has ordered thousands of devices in the first phase of a contract that will see RFID deployed at approximately 1,300 stores and 35 distribution centers in the UK.
The contract, for more than 4,000 readers and 16,000 antennae, is the largest publicly announced single order for Electronic Product Code (EPC) RFID readers. Tesco wants to complete the initial installation by this autumn, and plans to expand the deployment even further, potentially in its international business.
"At Tesco, we continually look at ways in which we can make life better for our customers. [RFID] is a technology that we believe can help us do this," said Colin Cobain, IT director at Tesco. "ADT successfully came up with the solution that meets the specific requirements of our supply chain and we have been extremely impressed with the trials run to date. Their pan-European capabilities are key to meeting our ambitious roll-out plans."
Tesco has been investigating RFID, under its Radio Barcode and Secure Supply Chain programs, since 2000. ADT, a division of Tyco Fire & Security, was chosen after a pilot test last summer.
The ADT readers are based on ThingMagic's Mercury4 multi-protocol technology. Tesco is using RFID middleware from OATSystems, and used RFID tags from Alien Technology for its technology trials
