RFID has been in the retail market for a couple of years, and now almost every other store has adopted or is moving towards adopting it. Not only does it help in managing the supply and demand for products, but it has also helped in increasing sales significantly. The cosmetic and beauty industry had not yet moved towards RFID because of certain constraints such as metallic particles and liquid products that interfered with RFID tags. But what has happened that the cosmetic and beauty industry has also moved towards RFID technology?
Advancements In RFID
Previously, RFID was not compatible with liquid products and items that contained metal particles. Here are some of the advances which have allowed the beauty industry to move towards using RFID tags:
- The increased read range of RFID sensors
- Unique tags for water-based and metallic products
- Special techniques used to tag beauty products
- Increased sensitivity of the UHF RFID tag
- Smaller tags made to stick on small products such as lipsticks and eyeliners
RFID technology is something that almost every other store has adopted, and it was about time that beauty stores were also equipped with this fantastic tool.
Why Is RFID Beneficial For Beauty Stores?
What makes RFID so beneficial for beauty and cosmetic stores? Here are a few features that make RFID very helpful for beauty and cosmetic stores.
Inventory Management
Keeping track of all the items present in a store’s inventory can be a daunting task. Manual records are no more in fashion when there are so many digital databases available out there. RFID ensures that each product is separately tagged, and its details are entered in the database. A simple scan is enough for entering the product details in the inventory management system.
Ensuring Smooth Supply of Products
When every product is individually tagged, the RFID system will know when a product is sold out and how many articles of the same product are available in stock. In case a specific product is selling fast, and a few pieces are left behind, the store will know that this product will soon be out of stock; hence they restock before time to save themselves from losing customers. Therefore, we can say that RFID ensures a smooth supply of products and increases customer satisfaction.
Prevent Product Thefts
The RFID system tracks every product; hence it is nearly impossible for a person to steal a product and get away with it. If a theft occurs at a certain point in the supply chain, it can be easily identified by the store owner.
Fight Against Counterfeit Products
RFID tags provide a unique identity for every product the store is selling. Cosmetics and beauty products have a higher tendency of being copied and sold as “original” products in the market. Many people fall for these counterfeit products and consider them as real ones. An RFID tag is something that can help differentiate between an original product and its duplicate. Forgers can never copy RFID tags and the information stored within them. Hence, RFID can help beauty stores fight against counterfeiters.
Basic Rules of Tagging Beauty Products
Here are a few basic rules that every cosmetic/beauty store must follow when tagging their products.
- Ensure that the size and shape of the tag match the product. It shouldn’t be too large or too small.
- The tag must be present on the outer packaging and not on the product inside the box.
- Place the tag on the top, or the neck of the bottle to avoid interference with liquid/metal particles.
Use flag tags for liquid bottles in case they don’t have a long neck. Flag tags remain in the air; hence water will not decrease the tag’s readability.
