Analysis of the requirements of RFID tags for efficient fashion supply chain management

This paper investigates the requirements of RFID solutions that should be used in the fashion industry supply chain. Specifically, this study attempts to fill the gap between the technical features of commercial RFID solutions currently available on the market and the characteristics required to RFID technology for its successful application in the fashion context. The analysis is grounded on two primary sources of information. First, 5 RFID technical providers are examined with the purpose of identifying the available RFID solutions designed for application in the fashion industry, and to assess their performance. Second, 6 end-users of RFID technology, operating as distributors or manufacturers of fashion items, were asked to provide their opinions related to the technical features of RFID tags required for their successful application in the fashion industry supply chain. By comparing the findings obtained from those sources of data, it is found that RFID solutions currently available do not fully meet the requirements expressed by the fashion end-users; hence, the successful design of RFID tags for the fashion supply chain requires further efforts, and a close collaboration between end-users and technical solutions developers. Results of this study provide an exhaustive overview of the commercial RFID solutions designed for the fashion industry; moreover, our findings can be used as guidelines by practitioners, for the design of more efficient RFID solutions.