Response from: Chris Kapsambelis    (02/26/07 11:12am)

I have been following this development since the publication of an article in The Wall Street Journal on September 15, 2007 titled "Wal-Mart's Radio-Tracked Inventory Hits Static" by Gary Williams.

Most of the story is old news to bloggers who follow RFID, but what caught my attention was the fact that Wal-Mart declined to make an executive available for comment on its RFID efforts. This is a clear indication that Wal-Mart is indeed backing off its commitment to use RFID.

Since then two more factors have emerged that are significant. Some time in 2006 Wal-Mart quietly handed off the prime responsibility for the implementation of RFID from the IT team, that was spearheading the project, to the Operations group, with IT playing a supporting roll. This is an indication that hence forth the use of RFID is not an experiment, and needs to be cost justified. With a negative ROI, it’s hard to believe that Wal-Mart still intends to proceed with the vigor of the past.

The only positive remarks have come from Wal-Mart’s IT department. Since 2003 executives from IT have been the primary advocates for RFID and stand to loose big if RFID fails.

If Wal-Mart wanted to counteract the damage done by the Wall Street Journal, they would have an executive from Operations providing projections for the use of RFID.

Response from: Lori    (03/06/07 10:12am)

One of two things is going to happen - either Wal-Mart's forcing its suppliers to adopt this technology will create demand and thus lower the price of RFIDs, or Wal-Mart will lose a lot of business. Because it's a retail giant, I would suspect that the suppliers who are big enough to absorb the cost will become stronger players in the market. The smaller suppliers are basically screwed.

RFID is not a new idea - I wrote about it four years ago. What's sad is that this issue is still a hot one years later. Even back then, Wal-Mart was pushing for suppliers to use the technology. Fine - then supply them with the readers! The tags themselves aren't the issue.

Response from: cold logistics    (03/10/07 10:24pm)

As prices for readers are coming down we should see more RFID initiatives. Here in Australia we have no Wal-Mart but Australia Post is the leader in adpoting this technology.

Response from: panchalee    (03/16/07 10:40am)

wall-mart is the big outlet..without them..hard to reach the customer

Response from: Substance Abuse    (05/11/07 2:59am)

Changes are to be made when you think your company needs a better look or approach. That's for them to decide. But if your company slogan is Save the world it would be a mistake to start investing in polluting technology if you know what i mean.

Response from: Drug Rehab    (09/20/07 8:50am)

Wal-Mart is retail commerce in the United States. There policies will become supplier staples if they impose their will enough.

Response from: drug free rehab    (09/21/07 7:10am)

Being such a big company and all they need to track things very easily and because of the complexity i think there is no other way to do so.

Response from: Drug Treatment    (10/01/07 12:21pm)

When will Wal-Mart open business in the European Union ?