One of the intriguing aspects about RFID is that it is not just the largest companies who are getting to grips with the technology: it applies to smaller companies too.
One of these is the Portuguese fashion retailer Throttleman, which has implemented RFID within its supply chain.
The solution, based on UHF tunnels from Tagsys, who partnered with systems integrator Creativesystems, middleware specialist Sybase and labels company Paxar, enables Throttleman to drive sales by restocking its retail shelves faster and more accurately.
It is exactly the same principle as that adopted by Marks & Spencer within its stores, driving in-store stock accuracy and garment availability to improve customer service and drive sales.
In Throttleman's case, however, it's all on a smaller scale. No grand pilot, just 'watch and go'.
As for the business case, Throttleman processes 1.5m garments a year, with prices ranging from 10 to 250 Euros per item. Utilising RFID shortens the amount of time clothes spend in the distribution centre by five days, meaning Throttleman can capture additional revenue by simply having more clothes for sale. It's not rocket science, just business sense, with RFID proving to be the enabling technology.