World's Third Largest Retailer Completes Warehouse RFID Implementation

Metro Group, the world's third biggest retailer, said Thursday that it has completed the implementation of RFID readers and tags at its largest distribution center in Germany.

The technology used in tracking the movement of goods through a supply chains has read more than 50,000 pallets with a tag-read rate of 99 percent accuracy, the German company said. The radio frequency identification tags and readers were provided by Everett, Wash.-based, Intermec Technologies Corp.

Metro began its RFID rollout in November 2004. Among the benefits the company hopes to eventually reap are reduced shrink and loss of inventory, fewer out-of-stock conditions at the store level, more efficient transportation and logistics, reduced inventory and lower labor costs associated with receiving goods.

Metro operates 2,500 stores in 30 countries, and employs more than 240,000 people.