About ten years ago, Decathlon began to take an interest in technology RFID and acted as a pioneer in the field. This uses a system of fleas in order to improve theclient experience but also the work of the collaborators. Today, this technology can be found in 100% of the brand’s stores.
The principle and operation of RFID
Many people have already experienced the RFID experience at Decathlon during checkout. Indeed, the latter are now equipped with a bin where the customer deposits his items. They are then instantly detected and recognized. Is it done by weight, via a camera?
Nothing of that. This is possible thanks to RFID technology (for Radio Frequency Identification). It is quite simple to understand in practice because it requires only two entities. First, a ” tag RFID » very discreet is placed on, and even sometimes, in the products. Then a RFID reader detects it during checkout without the customer noticing anything.
The speed is the same whether you have two or twenty articles because they can all be deposited at the same time. An RFID reader with the capacity to scan several hundred “RFID tags” per minute.
What are the advantages ?
Firstly, RFID technology at Decathlon enables checkout considerably faster and easier. Also, with RFID, there is a inventory tracking better quality. This allows the customer to know almost instantly the availability of the desired product when consulting the website.
About the inventory work, they are much faster. In fact, sales staff can scan an entire department in seconds using an RFID racket, whereas previously it took several hours. As a result, this allows the customer to be better advised during his purchase journey.
Decathlon also finds several advantages in the use of RFID. First of all, more discreet, “RFID tags” also serve asanti-theft. This therefore makes it possible to limit thefts when going to the automatic checkouts.
Finally, the sports brand is making gains across the whole value chain. For example, from dispatch to storage, there is no longer any need to open the boxes in order to know their contents.
And tomorrow, what use of RFID at Decathlon?
Decathlon has already started working on the development of a fitting room connected using RFID chips.
In addition, in their test store located in Villeneuve d’Ascq, they experimented with a payment funnel. In the latter, RFID readers detect the products and the customer can pay directly using a card that he has previously scanned when entering the store.
To top it off, in their Singaporean stores, tests are being carried out to replace inventory rackets with robots.
webography :
– How the RFID chip is revolutionizing commerce – Le Parisien
– A decade of leadership to benefit customers and employees – Decathlon Media
– RFID is revolutionizing Decathlon stores – LSA Conso
– La RFID, quésaco ? – EM Lyon Business School (Youtube)
– Decathlon: tech innovation all the way – Alliancy
– In this new Decathlon, customers go through a tunnel to pay – BFM Business
About Nathan Debray
Student in M2 Electronic Commerce at the University of Strasbourg
