European retailer METRO Group has opened an RFID Innovation Center in Neuss, Germany, to help prepare suppliers and its sales divisions for the company's planned radio frequency identification (RFID) supply chain roll out in November this year.
"The opening of the Innovation Center represents a crucial step on the way to the large-scale rollout of RFID in retailing. With the opening of this center we are fulfilling our promise to intensively support our partners in the realization of the rollout", said Zygmunt Mierdorf, management board member and CIO of the METRO Group.
METRO Group already operates a Future Store in Germany that includes RFID, among other new retail technologies. The company plans to start rolling out RFID in its supply chain with 20 suppliers tagging pallets and transport packages in November. If METRO meets its deadlines, its RFID project will lap Wal-Mart's similar initiative.
IBM is providing METRO with software and integration support, and is providing systems integration and technology support for the test facilities. The company is providing its WebSphere-based RFID and data management solutions to METRO Group to help the retailer integrate its suppliers? processes into its own supply chain.
Located at the Kaufhof warehouse in Neuss-Norf, the center will allow partners and suppliers to test the technology in real-world conditions without the cost of setting up their own infrastructure. Different test areas will be available, including simulated grocery and clothing sales floors, and the simulation of the complete supply chain. In addition, the goods-in and goods-out gates of the Kaufhof warehouse will be used during the test phase.
At the test facility, IBM is also providing an RFID tag deactivator kiosk, and the Everywhere Display, which turns any surface in a retail store into a virtual touchscreen.
SAMSys Technologies Inc. is providing RFID readers at the center, and Intermec Technologies is providing RFID-enabled mobile computers and printers, as well as stationary RFID readers.
