Pallets equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that have been assigned Electronic Product Code (EPC) numbers are tracking product from manufacturers to stores in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. The project is a field test spearheaded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Auto-ID Center, a research organization dedicated to enabling item-to-item communication.
RFID readers, developed by Savi Technology and deployed in the distribution centers (DCs) and stores, automatically capture the unique 96-bit EPC data from each tag and transmit it to a network of computers in real time. Since the EPC refers to a specific Web address where information about the pallet is stored, it can provide real-time information about product location and status and help prevent loss, theft, waste, and delay.
Since October, pallets carrying product from Auto-ID Center members like The Gillette Co., Unilever, and The Procter & Gamble Co., have been tracked from manufacturer through retailer DC to store locations. In phase two, due to begin this quarter, the system will be tested for its capacity to handle more inventory and locations.
Ultimately, EPC tags at the item level could communicate with household appliances like microwaves, medicine cabinets, and recycling bins to assist consumers in product preparation, consumption, and disposal.