Find Everything with RFID! 🔍

"Where are you?" The all-too-familiar game of hide and seek that we've all played with our keys, wallets, and sometimes, frustratingly, our inventory. 🥲

Greetings, Vendorville 🫡

The days of misplaced products may be mostly behind us.. Thanks to RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology we now have better visibility into where our products are. 🙌

🤖What is RFID?🤖

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is like having a superpower for your inventory. It doesn't need to see the items to track them—it uses radio waves to keep tabs on them no matter where they are hidden.

Imagine every product wearing a tiny, smart label. This isn't your ordinary label, though. It's equipped with a chip that holds a special product code—think of it as a unique ID badge. Plus, it has an antenna that broadcasts this ID to scanners nearby.

When an RFID-tagged item cruises by a scanner at a warehouse gate or store entrance, the scanner reads the ID instantly. It's like each item announcing itself as it arrives: "Here I am!" This tech makes tracking shipments simple.

💡Walmart Making Changes to the Game💡

RFID first showed its value in Walmart's Apparel department back in 2020, proving to be a benefit for inventory accuracy. Its success was undeniable, prompting an expansion to more areas.

And now, echoing Walmart's own mantra for this year:

That's right—Walmart is pushing the envelope again with fresh updates to their RFID requirements in 2024. These updates extend RFID's reach into new departments, ensuring even more products can confidently say, "Here I am!"

This year's RFID expansion includes:

D3 Stationery
D5 Media & Gaming
D6 Cameras & Supplies
D10 Automotive
D11 Hardware
D12 Paint
D16 Lawn & Garden
D19 Crafts (excluding Bolt Fabric)
D21 Books

Other Retailer News 📰

The Wall Street Journal

Inside Amazon's Secret Operation to Gather Intel on Rivals

“Staff went undercover on Walmart, eBay and other marketplaces as a third-party seller called ‘Big River.’ The mission: to scoop up information on pricing, logistics and other business practices.”

Grocery Dive

Kroger and Albertsons update divestiture plan with C&S

“The grocery chains have increased the number of stores they plan to divest and added other assets to the deal as they press ahead with their embattled merger plan…”

Retail Dive

Dollar Tree Poised to Gain Most as 99 Cents Only Disappears

“Despite the bankrupt discounter’s small footprint, its store closures offer a meaningful opportunity for rivals to grab share, analysts say…”

Rick’s Tips 💘

If you’ve been following along, you might have noticed that One-Click Rick recently got a fresh new look. But it’s not just his style that’s been upgraded—he’s also expanded his expert toolkit to include more retailers. 🤫Today, Rick is excited to share some handy tips and tricks specifically tailored for managing CVS Deductions.

“Always check the Document Numbers in the Payments section of the CVS Vendor Portal. Each deduction is tagged with a specific letter—V, W, or X—making it easier to identify and address. Got a deduction you disagree with? Head over to the Vendor Dispute Management Dashboard and hit that 'Initiate Dispute' button. Attach all necessary documents and you're well on your way to resolution!"

Let’s Circle Back 🌀

Have You Heard of Geocaching?

So, turns out, RFIDs aren't the only things tracking containers of products. Ever heard of geocaching? It's like a worldwide game of hide and seek, but instead of seeking your products, you're hunting hidden items using GPS coordinates.

Here are some geocaches around the Walmart Museum at Sam Walton’s Original Store in Bentonville, AR. 🤫

People are finding these things everywhere! It's like a global treasure hunt—except the treasure might just be a funky sticker or a tiny toy.

Who knew tracking down hidden objects could be such a hit? 🌍🔍

❤️ Sincerely, Your Friends in Vendorville

SupplierWiki