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BE READY FOR WALMART'S RFID MANDATE

Are your products equipped with the required RFID tags that comply with Walmart's new mandate? With Zebra's wide array of RFID specific printer & supplies catalog, Advanced Automation can provide the solution that will have your products RFID ready.

Walmart is requiring that suppliers in the electronics and home departments label their products with an RFID inlay. All suppliers within these categories must comply with the new RFID requirements as of Sep 2, 2022. Advanced Automation can help ensure that your products are compliant with a solution from our wide selection of Zebra RFID products.

WhAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WALMART'S RFID MANDATE

Reason for Mandate

Walmart tested RFID again with its apparel departments in 2020. The results showed a reduction in nil picks, faster order fulfillment, better online availability and an overall increase in customer satisfaction. Advancements in RFID technology have made it easier to implement the technology in a wide variety of products. With this recorded success combined with the technological advancements, they have decided to continue to expand RFID into more categories.

Categories Impacted

RFID tagging has progressed beyond Apparel and Tires within Walmart stores. The new categories impacted are Home, Electronics, Toys, Sporting Goods, and Automotive Batteries. There are thousands of new suppliers to Walmart which will need to add an RFID label to their products.

The expansion will take effect in all Walmart Stores including: HI, AK, Pr and .Com Merchandise.

RFID Requirements

Suppliers will be required to tag their products with a Gen 2 UF RFID tag with a frequency of 902-928 megahertz and have sample labels sent to Auburn University to validate that they meet the standards.

Initially, each item is expected to have an RFID tag integrated into the packaging or have an adhesive application on the package.

Generic RFID tags will be acceptable until Feb 1, 2023 at which point branded RFID tags will be required.

More details about tag dimension requirements can be found at Auburn University’s lists:

Encoding for Product Tags

Suppliers will be required to use GS1’s Electronic Product Code (EPC) which is a 12-digit barcode identifying your company, product, and product type. EPC is a combination of your product's UPC code with a unique serial number.

Key Dates

June 3, 2022

Last day to send to label samples to Auburn University.

New products developed after June 3 will still need to have sample labels submitted to Auburn University at the address shown below.

All submissions require you to fill out this online form before sending samples.

August 17, 2022

All RFID-tagged products must arrive at its respective distribution center or facility by August 17

September 2, 2022

All RFID-tagged products must arrive at its respective distribution center or facility by August 17

Auburn University Address

Auburn University RFID Lab
Attn: Walmart Home Supplier Validation
1550 East Glenn Avenue
Auburn, AL 36849 USA

Auburn University Phone Number

(334)-844-7513

RFID TAGGING GUIDELINES bY PRODUCT CATEGORY

HOME

TOYS

SPORTING GOODS

ELECTRONICS

STEPS TO BECOME COMPLIANT WITH WALMART RFID MANDATE

1. Determine what products fall into the affected categories
2. Determine which type of RFID labels are required for your specific products
3. Fill out submission form for all product labels being sent to Auburn University
4. Send label samples (labels only) to Auburn University for validation
5. Once label is validated, print labels and apply to products
6. Have all products being sent to Walmart stores properly tagged starting Sep 2, 2022

SUBMISSION FORM

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the advantage to using RFID?

RFID (Radio-Frequency IDentification) tags offer another level of data that can be tracked while offering more ways to physically track products that can include security capabilities. They still can be printed with the same barcode information as regular labels with the bonus of the attributes mentioned previously.

What categories are affected by these requirements?

RFID tagging has progressed beyond Apparel and Tires within Walmart stores. The new categories impacted are Home, Electronics, Toys, Sporting Goods, and Automotive Batteries. There are thousands of new suppliers to Walmart which will need to add an RFID label to their products.

What stores are implementing the new requirements?

All Walmart US stores including Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico and all Walmart online merchandise in the affected categories.

Why is Walmart requiring RFID?

Previous testing in the Apparel category showed huge improvements in inventory accuracy, faster order fulfillment, and overall customer satisfaction. Also, RFID technology has advanced to a point where implementation is easier. This has led to the decision to expand RFID into more product categories. We will more than likely see the expansion into all of the categories in the near future.

What is being required to have an RFID tag?

Initially, RFID needs to be applied at item level either through integration into the packaging or adhesive application on the front or back of the packaging. These applications can be generic labels. Beginning on Feb 1, 2023, Walmart will require branded RFID tags.

What specs are being used for the RFID tags?

The ARC W1, W3, W4, Y specs are being used by Walmart for most product subcategories. These specs have different performance requirements for the different types of products. Many inlays work for more than one specification.

What information and type of encoding needs to be used?

GS1’s Electronic Product Code (EPC) which is a 12-digit barcode identifying your company, product, and product type will be required. EPC is a combination of your product's UPC code with a unique serial number. This information will need to be encoded on a Gen 2 UF RFID tag with a frequency of 902-928 megahertz.

How do I meet these newly set RFID requirements?

After determining which products will need to be updated with the proper RFID tags, there are 2 options to streamline the application of the RFID labeling process and ensuring that they comply to the mandate. One option is to create preprinted RFID labels and apply them to the packaging of each item. The other option would be to get the proper equipment to print the labels in-house on-demand which gives you the flexibility to create the tags when needed. See solutions below for more information.

BE COMPLIANT THE EASY WAY WITH ZEBRA RFID SOLUTIONs

Choose from 3 simple solutions and become RFID compliant.

Preprinted RFID Labels

This option is the simplest. We can supply preprinted RFID tags that meet Walmart’s requirements which you apply to your products after receiving.

Ready-to-Go RFID Printing Setup

We have a selection of RFID hardware and labels that are ready-to-go and will have you printing your own Walmart RFID compliant tags that will have your products ready to ship to Walmart stores.

Custom RFID Printing Solution

We can provide a completely custom RFID solution that can fit your unique business operation. We can assess your RFID needs and choose the right combination of hardware, software and labels to create a setup that will have you efficiently printing RFID tags to meet the new requirements.

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Are you ready to become RFID Compliant?

Please fill out form below and one of our RFID experts will reach out to you shortly.