RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification.

This technology uses Radio Signals to communicate a unique identity wirelessly, thanks to a microchip located in the RFID tag that contains the tag’s unique ID number (called Electronic Product Code or EPC).

Two different tags will never have the same ID number.
The RFID solution for Walmart is being implemented with the aim of improving inventory accuracy and getting traceability of their goods at item level from source to shop at almost real-time.

In 2020, Walmart started implementing RFID technology in stores for Apparel.

Since then, they saw dramatic results with improved on-hand accuracy, leading to increased online order fulfillment, sell through and customer satisfaction.

They expanded RFID to additional departments with the goal of their stores being fully RFID enabled. The more RFID Walmart implemented the better the results became.

CLICK HERE to see which departments are included in this expansion and how to get information about upcoming deadlines.

Checkpoint has a full range of RFID inlays that meet all Walmart’s RFID specifications.

We have hand picked a few of our inlays that best meet the Walmart RFID requiremnets, you can view our selected inlay portfolio HERE to choose a label that better fits your needs.

In order for RFID to operate properly, each RFID tag must be programmed with a unique identity.

This identity is known as the Electronic Product Code (EPC) and is composed of a GTIN (UPC or EAN barcode), and a serial number. Since this serial number range is available per UPC/EAN, there is a significant quantity of EPC combinations that can be used to maintain uniqueness.

Typically, the easiest method to maintain serialization across multiple suppliers would be to manage serial number ranges.

t is the assumed responsibility of the UPC/EAN owner to ensure multiple vendors are not encoding RFID tags for the same item.

Today’s retail RFID chips have the ability to be written and re-written.

In order to combat any tampering, chip providers have created the capability to lock (requiring a password to write to the tag), or permalock (blocking the chip from ever being rewritten) their user memory.

Walmart requires all RFID tags are permalocked so they cannot be rewritten or changed by anyone.

Checkpoint’s best practice is to lock or permalock tags unless otherwised specified. While unlocked tags have certain use cases, they are less popular due to the growing knowledge on how to tamper with RFID encoding. Without the EPC matching the database of the environment it is in, the tag will not function accordingly.

RFID Tags programmed by Checkpoint Systems will be permalocked for the Walmart RFID program upon encoding.

GS1 provides a tool that allows you to validate your company’s GS1 registration either by company name, or GTIN (which is a UPC or EAN).

To search the Registration records, please go to the site https://gepir.gs1.org/ and select the appropriate option. If you do not have a registered GS1 GTIN, then you will need to register your UPC with GS1 prior to sample creation.

You can find the Auburn Sample Submission Guide here