Wal-Mart Expands RFID Goals With Suppliers

Jan. 13, 2005

Wal-Mart Inc., which held meetings last week with its top 300 suppliers, announced plans to expand its radio frequency identification (RFID) and electronic product code (EPC) initiative. The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer is already working with its top 100 suppliers and 13 volunteers to meet a January 2005 deadline for RFID technology implementation. Additional deadlines announce by the retailer include:

June 2005: technology live in up to six distribution centers and up to 250 Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs;
October 2005: technology live in up to 13 distribution centers and 500 stores; and
January 2006: Next 200 top suppliers begin tagging cases and pallets with RFID tags.

Wal-Mart started a pilot program in April with eight suppliers to test electronic product codes and RFID in the Dallas area.