On March 29-30, 2017, the 11th RFID World Conference was held at the Suzhou International Expo Center, attracting over 400 industry leaders, experts, and end-users. At the event, Mr. Zhang Haijun, General Manager of Guangzhou Lead IoT Technology Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of Century), delivered a keynote speech titled "How to Implement RFID in the Fashion Industry", sharing real-world case studies from UR and La Chapelle to demonstrate RFID’s transformative role in retail.

About Guangzhou Lead IoT (Century Lead)

As a national high-tech enterprise specializing in RFID solutions for fashion and retail, Century Lead offers end-to-end smart management systems, including:

• Smart factories

• Digital ordering platforms

• Intelligent warehouses

• AI-powered stores

• DT Fashion Platform

With 15 years in apparel IT and 5 years in RFID integration, Century Lead has served 300+ brands, including Decathlon, Walmart, HLA, ZARA, UR, and La Chapelle.

RFID Implementation Challenges & Solutions

Zhang Haijun outlined the complexities of RFID adoption and how Century Lead addresses them:

1. Full-Supply-Chain Integration

Century’s holistic RFID solutions span:

• Factory: Embedded RFID tags at production for source-to-store traceability.

• Warehouse: Bulk scanning for 99.9% inventory accuracy and real-time visibility.

• Store: Self-checkout, smart fitting rooms, and consumer behavior analytics.

• Cloud Platform: Unified data insights across security, compliance, and operations.

2. Key Implementation Hurdles

• Long timelines: UR’s RFID rollout took 14 months for tag selection, software development, and pilot testing.

• Multi-stakeholder coordination: Projects often involve factories, logistics, and 1,000+ stores (e.g., La Chapelle’s 7,000 outlets).

• Technical barriers: Metal interference, legacy system compatibility, and custom hardware/software needs.

3. Tangible Results

• UR’s warehouse: Reduced outbound processing from 30 days to 10 days, cutting labor by 50%.

• La Chapelle: Achieved 100% shipment accuracy via RFID tunnel scanners, eliminating mispacks.

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RFID’s Impact on Fashion Retail

1. Transparent Inventory: Real-time stock visibility for financial and operational control.

2. Faster Supply Chains: Lower stockouts, higher sales, and reduced labor costs.

3. Data-Driven Sales: Heatmaps, Wi-Fi analytics, and smart mirrors refine demand forecasting.

4. Loss Prevention: Automated theft detection and minimized human error.

5. Enhanced CX: Virtual try-ons and AI recommendations boost engagement.

6. Agile Business Models: Consumer-driven production and flexible logistics.

As a pioneer in commercial IoT, Century will continue to innovate RFID solutions, empowering brands to streamline operations and thrive in the digital era.

RFID isn’t just technology—it’s the future of fashion retail.