WATCH: Omnichannel and Janela™ Rank High at Retail’s Big Show

RFID is paramount to driving a successful omnichannel strategy and creating seamless consumer experiences. This was the topic of discussion at our insights panel, “RFID as a Key Enabler of Omnichannel Success,” during the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Retail’s BIG Show, held this month in New York City, which also presented an opportunity to share our latest technology and retail solutions, including Janela™, enabling apparel and footwear products to have a unique, serialized label, which then connects to cloud-based software, allowing products to be born digital.

Francisco Melo, vice president and general manager of Global RFID at Avery Dennison RBIS, led the panel, joined by Jonathan Aitken, director, IT, Retail Store Technology Operations, lululemon; Tobias Steinhoff, senior director, Business Solutions, Global Sales, Direct to Channel and Franchise, Adidas Group; and Dr. Bill Hardgrave, dean, Harbert College of Business, Auburn University, for a focused conversation on how RFID drives an elevated consumer experience - which is exactly what consumers are looking for in 2017.

From left: Tobias Steinhoff, adidas; Jonathan Aitken, lululemon; Dr. Bill Hardgrave, Auburn University; Francisco Melo, Avery Dennison

Covered in Women’s Wear Daily, the panel reinforced the uptick of RFID adoption across the performance market, and why the technology makes sense.

To kick off the discussion, Melo stated that the industry is in a state of ‘consumer evolution,’ and that RFID can help to better meet their changing demands as the physical and digital worlds merge.

And this is exactly one of the elements that helps explain the rise of RFID adoption: “The simple answer is that consumers are demanding it,” said Dr. Hardgrave of Auburn University. “Customers are unforgiving, and if you don’t have what they want when they want it, they’ll go elsewhere. So it is the actions of consumers that is driving adoption.”

Aitken of lululemon added, later: "Our lululemon RFID stores all say that they can't live without it."

Hear more and watch the panel and live Q&A now:

In addition to a well-curated panel, we shared our Janela™ solution through the ‘BRIGHT BMBR,’ a smart jacket created in collaboration with NYC-based designer Rochambeau featuring interactive quick response codes and NFC, giving consumers access to exclusive, personalized experiences in dining, art, retail and fashion in NYC.

Women’s Wear Daily named Janela™ the number-one product influencing the consumer experience at NRF.

Read more about our presence at NRF in Printed Electronics Now and The New York Times.

Janela solution showcased at NRF Retail’s Big Show