Checkpoint Systems, Inc., a vendor of shrink-management systems, has developed a new tool known as Merchandise Visibility. It allows apparel and other retailers to optimize the supply chain from source to store, according to the company. The vendor is combining hardware, software and services to create a standards-based system tied to radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The offering integrates a number of Checkpoint capabilities, including RFID software from the vendor's OATSystems division; RFID tags, delivered and applied at the source through the vendor's Check-Net service; shrink-management systems, including portals and readers to track inventory throughout the supply chain in real time, and installation services for all equipment, providing visibility into merchandise moves. Information generated by the system can be used to "error-proof" the supply chain, optimize inventory levels, alert store personnel when merchandise must be restocked, and automatically reorder when in-store quantities are low. In the process, Checkpoint said, retailers can better manage inventory to meet customer demand, ensuring adequate stock levels without excessive inventory.
Checkpoint Systems, Inc