HICKORY, N.C. — Freedom Shopping Inc., a consumer RFID solution provider, has announced the availability of a retail offering that plugs into existing cash registers and point-of-sale terminals to enable RFID checkout, inventory tracking and security.
The core of the solution is a software wedge (Freedom-ID) that operates on the POS terminal. It communicates with a counter-top RFID reader pad and/or other readers in the checkout lane. Inventory is monitored with mobile RFID readers; security gates also are RFID-enabled. Data is passed to existing cash registers and POS infrastructure at all points in a SKU format so it can be instantly integrated. Consumer privacy is protected using a variety of technical safeguards.
"This is a real breakthrough and should enable RFID's adoption at the point-of-sale to occur rapidly," said Rob Simmons, CEO of Freedom Shopping. "This fundamentally changes the way stores will operate — sales increase, labor costs decrease and ‘intelligent security' reduces shrinkage We have been operating in stores for three years and know firsthand there is significant ROI for retailers. However, the biggest surprise is how much shoppers love it — it is the ideal checkout experience."
The Freedom-ID solution was featured at Microsoft's RFID Solution Days, an invitation-only conference for key personnel deploying RFID and related technology suppliers, held February 17th and 18th in Bellevue, Wash. Freedom-ID has integrated with Microsoft's BizTalk RFID platform for data visibility and device management.
Freedom Shopping's item-level RFID stores and OEM products use UHF (Ultra High Frequency) EPC Gen 2 technology and tags.
