Packaging

Swiss Retailer, Manor, Deploy Reva and Sirit for RFID

Tuesday 02. September 2008 - RFID Infrastructure in department stores and distribution centers delivers optimal RFID system performance and manageable operations

Reva Systems, the leading RFID network infrastructure provider, and Sirit Inc. (“Sirit”) (TSX: SI), a global provider of radio frequency identification readers, tags and embedded modules, today announced that Manor AG, the largest retail business in the Swiss market, is deploying Reva’s Tag Acquisition Processor(TM) (TAP) products and Sirit’s INfinity 510 RFID readers to enable RFID operations at stores and distribution centers. Manor will initially leverage RFID to improve warehouse inventory processes, outbound shipping accuracy and inbound store receiving practices. Reva’s RFID network infrastructure manages Sirit’s industry-leading readers, providing an enterprise RFID architecture which supports current and future programs. The implementation is being managed by Rodata AG, a systems integrator headquartered in Switzerland with offices in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Rodata has been instrumental in helping Manor conduct technical evaluations and build the business case that lead to this subsequent rollout.

Manor’s RFID program encompasses its distribution centers in Hochdorf and Mohlin, Switzerland and the department stores around the country serviced by the centers. Manor is utilizing case and transport asset tagging for apparel and general merchandise at both warehouses, and is working with several suppliers to pre-tag inbound shipments. In the warehouses, mixed pallets of goods are built and RFID case tags are read while being shrink-wrapped for shipment. Manor also uses RFID to ensure the correct merchandise is loaded on the assigned trucks and shipped to the proper store locations. Once shipments arrive at the stores, goods are automatically checked in using RFID readers, streamlining the truck unloading and goods stocking processes. Manor expects to see improved inventory accuracy, better labor efficiency and shorter replenishment cycles due to these RFID enhanced processes.

Manor utilizes Reva TAP appliances and Sirit INfinity 510 readers in both the stores and distribution centers. Workflows that facilitate the tagging, verification, advanced ship notice (ASN) comparison and real-time handling processes are hosted locally on the Reva TAPs. As tags are read by the Sirit INfinity 510 readers and their locations determined by the TAPs, the data is passed to an Oracle backend system which is responsible for orchestrating business processes. Manor relies on their integrator Rodata as a trusted technology partner. Rodata’s RFID Competence Centre developed the workflow applications which control the RFID capturing process, and was responsible for the RFID system design and physical implementation.

Accurate location association and tag direction are two of the challenges Manor needed to overcome due to the difficult RF environments in their distribution centers. Ambient tags on staged goods, conveyors, pallet shrink wrap machines and bulk loading platforms combine to produce considerable cross reads which the Reva TAPs systematically eliminate. Transition portals were created that use the Sirit INfinity 510 readers to provide raw read data which the Reva TAPs interpret to determine tag movement and direction. In addition to the accurate data and workflow capabilities, Manor chose the Reva deployment approach for the performance optimization and remote management functions Reva’s RFID network infrastructure provides. Sirit’s readers were chosen for their best-in-class read performance.

“Sirit readers have the highest tag read rate capabilities in our operating environments and Reva TAPs overcome the technical hurdles that were holding us back, providing the foundation for Manor to deploy the high performing, manageable and flexible RFID systems we need. We have confidence that our Reva and Sirit-based solutions will support us into the future as we add equipment, applications and use cases that encompass item-level tagging,” said Mr. Schurmann, director of Manor’s Mohlin distribution center.

“The selection of the Sirit INfinity 510 as the reader for the Manor deployment substantiates that the Sirit readers offer the functionality and performance necessary to support and optimize global supply chain deployments,” said Norbert Dawalibi, president and chief executive officer for Sirit. “We are excited to be a part of this solution and look forward to continuing to work with Manor to expand the use of RFID into additional applications within their business.”

“Manor is highly regarded for retail innovation in Europe and their decision to rollout RFID using Reva’s products validates the RFID network infrastructure approach,” said Ashley Stephenson, chairman of Reva Systems. “Reva’s RFID network infrastructure is built for accuracy, scale, and reliable deployments. By delivering these capabilities, Reva enables Manor to reduce operational costs while increasing service levels. This is exactly why RFID is such a powerful tool for leading enterprises.”