I was recently sent this by a friend:
ROI for RFID Is 'Iffy,' Says Staples Exec
TAKEAWAY: Though Staples was pleased with results from a recent RFID pilot, the company's director of retail processes says it's "iffy" as to whether ROI can be attained with a full-fledged rollout. A broad launch of the technology would require a significant infrastructure investment not only from Staples but from its suppliers, he says. The exec noted that RFID leads to improvements in delivery and unpacking times, which should result in more stock on the store floor and happier customers. In addition to supplier pushback, however, Staples is concerned about the need to synchronize RFID with back-office accounting systems. Data synchronization is "really the foundation and the starting point" for a broad RFID initiative, the exec says. Costly data errors could cancel out the labor savings made possible by RFID.
