TAGSYS, provider of item-level RFID infrastructure, announced in a press release that European fashion retailer Serge Blanco is using the TAGSYS RFID for Retail solution to gain complete item-level visibility for all merchandise at its store in Toulon, France. The pilot project that began last month uses TAGSYS UHF tags, stations and e-Connectware software to automate store receiving, monitor merchandise in the back room, on store shelves and in fitting rooms - all in real time - while providing loss prevention protection, improved merchandise availability and increased customer satisfaction.

Serge Blanco and TAGSYS have worked together closely since early 2008 developing RFID solutions that can be leveraged across multiple applications and to support a variety of business processes, both in the supply chain and in-the-store. Following a successful deployment in its distribution center with several million articles tagged, Serge Blanco is now taking another significant step toward achieving complete, item-level visibility for its entire retail network.

"Using the TAGSYS RFID for Retail solution in our stores will give us real-time information about our inventory, sales and shrink," said Mathieu Pradier, vice president of operations at Serge Blanco. "We will use the information to improve our replenishment processes and inventory management, which we believe will lead to optimum merchandise availability levels, an enhanced customer shopping experience and ultimately increased sales."

This initiative builds on Serge Blanco's roll-out of the technology at its distribution center, where it tracks over 1.5 million items per year. The process begins by applying TAGSYS UHF RFID tags to all of its products. On arrival at the store, the merchandise is received into the back room and then moved to the retail floor. The RFID tags are read as they pass through UHF portals positioned at a variety of checkpoints. As the events are recorded, the inventory is automatically updated within the store's management software.

Fitting rooms have also been equipped with RFID stations, enabling Serge Blanco to accurately access the conversion rates of products that customers try on versus the ones they actually purchase. On the shelves, inventory is also performed on a regular basis to make sure that the right items are available to customers and not hidden away in the back room.

At the point of sale, inventory is updated real-time as customers are expedited through the checkout process; contributing to a reduction in cycle counting for the store employee and an improved purchasing experience for the consumer. The RFID infrastructure also helps to reduce shrink as stock control and security are maintained using the same RFID tags. By installing one chip on its products at the point of manufacture, theft management has become an additional benefit for Serge Blanco rather than a single separate application.