The era of New Retail has arrived, marked by the seamless integration of online and offline channels. Industry forecasts suggest that by 2020, the distribution ratio between physical and online retail will stabilize at 8:2. Amid this transformation, consumer demand is increasingly shifting toward personalization, rendering traditional supply chain models obsolete. For brands, this presents both unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges.

Against this backdrop, Century partnered with Intel to host the salon "Synergizing Supply Chains and Brands in the New Retail Era." 

The event brought together industry leaders, including:

• Professor Han Yongsheng, Director of the Supply Chain Technology Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chief Expert of the International Supply Chain Association (China).

• Representatives from Intel China, NXP Semiconductors, and executives from over 50 leading apparel brands such as Li-Ning, Xtep, Erke, and Arlan.

In his speech, "Building Decisive Competitiveness for Brand Transformation and Upgrading," Professor Han, a pioneer in China’s supply chain discipline, dissected critical pain points in fashion retail and proposed strategic solutions for modernization.

• Century’s General Manager Zhang and UR’s CEO Yu shared case studies on:

• "Implementing RFID in Fashion"

• "Brand Priorities in Supply Chain Overhauls"

• Results from UR’s RFID rollout:

• 40% reduction in warehouse staff.

• 50% increase in outbound shipment volume.

On-Site Demonstration: UR’s Smart Supply Chain

Attendees toured UR’s RFID-powered facilities, witnessing:

• Automated RFID tagging and batch scanning for inventory.

• Real-time data capture from production to point-of-sale.

• Consumer behavior analytics via RFID-enabled interactive tools (e.g., smart mirrors).

The efficiency gains were undeniable: RFID slashed time and labor costs in warehousing, inventory checks, and logistics, while unlocking data-driven insights into consumer preferences.

The RFID Ecosystem: Partnerships for Progress

The salon also highlighted collaborations across the RFID value chain:

• NXP Semiconductors: Emphasized high-performance RFID chips as the backbone of reliable implementations.

• Multimedia Integration: A presentation by Dennis from Hong Kong showcased how digital interfaces (e.g., AR/VR) complement RFID to enhance customer engagement.

A Unified Vision for New Retail

This salon deepened the industry’s understanding of:

1. New Retail’s core principles.

2. The synergy between brands and agile supply chains.

3. RFID’s transformative potential.

As a leader in retail IoT solutions, Century remains committed to advancing RFID technology and empowering brands to thrive in the digital age.

Together, we’re not just adapting to change—we’re driving it.