|
|
|
| 2005.04.26 |
|
NTT Comware's RFID MIDDLEWARE is adopted at Mitsukoshi and Hankyu Department Stores
The RFID Middleware marketed by NTT Comware Corportation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yuhji Imai; hereinafter, NTT Comware) has been adopted by Mitsukoshi, Ltd. (Head office: Nakao-ku, Tokyo; President: Taneo Nakamura; hereinafter, Mitsukoshi) and Hankyu Department Stores, Ltd. (Head office: Osaka, Osaka-fu; President: Nobuaki Nitta; hereinafter, Hankyu Department Stores).
Based on the results of an IC tag demonstration test conducted in a womenfs shoe department, Mitsukoshi and Hankyu Department Stores have both determined that implementation of this system will improve the quality of service. Today, Mitsukoshi will begin service utilizing this system at its Nihonbashi Main Store, and Hankyu Department Stores will begin service utilizing this service at its Umeda Main Store womenfs shoes section.
|
 |
[Background]
In many womenfs shoe departments, substantial time is required for the salesperson to make a trip to the store room in order to determine whether the shoe requested by the customer is available in the right color and size. This can result in lost sales opportunities (1) when customers are forced to wait for long periods while the salesperson travels to the storeroom, and (2) when salesperson response to customers is delayed during busy periods. The large number of shoe sizes and varieties that are available also means that the shoe desired by the customer may not be in stock. Lost sales due to reasons such as the above are becoming major issues, and product management utilizing IC tags is becoming recognized as an effective means for solving these problems, improving service towards customers and eliminating sales opportunity loss.
This system allows for individual product management through the attachment of IC tags to each product item. The system is receiving attention for its results in improving customer service, and has expanded the ways in which IC tags can be used.
[System Overview]
This system provided by NTT Comware allows departments stores to conduct cargo inspection and inventory checks, and to conduct storeroom checks while with the customer. In addition, this system provides a function which allows customers to check product availability themselves. Cargo inspection and inventory checks, the so-called "backyard" work, can be conducted using the IC tag-compatible handy-terminal to read the IC tags attached to shoe boxes. The storeroom checks conducted by the salesperson while with the customer can be conducted by reading the information coded onto the IC tag on the shoe with a PDA (*1). Storeroom checks can be conducted by the customers through operating an IC tag reader and a connected PC touch screen. Through these operations, the product record information can be viewed in real-time on a "backyard" PC, and because product information that has been accessed by customers frequently is stored, information such as how popular a product is, unavailable to store owners until now, can be utilized for merchandising (*2).
The use of this system between multiple customers and stores was taken into consideration during development, and a network configuration has been used. Shared information such as a database is managed at a datacenter, and stores can easily utilize this system through equipment. In addition, this system uses the paperback book-sized ultra-small Linux server L-Box (*3) developed by NTT Comware, so this system will not take up any of a store's sales area.
In addition to the fact that it is based on a global standard, NTT Comwarefs RFID Middleware was utilized because of its traffic control and data access control functions which will become indispensable as access by various stores, as well as the amount of data handled, increases, and also because of its high security features.
[NTT Comware and RFID]
NTT Comware has participated from 2002 in the technology board led by the Auto ID Center (presently, EPCglobal). As a result of the auto ID research and standardization activities, NTT Comware has developed RFID Middleware, the most advanced technology of its kind based on EPCglobal(*4) standards within Japan. In trials conducted in 2003, the RFID Middleware achieved impressive results: a recognition rate of 99.9% and above in a container logistics management trials conducted with the Dai Nippon Printing Company. Moreover, in 2004, while demonstrating the same effectiveness and impressive results through additional trials, NTT Comware gained knowledge of how to apply this technology towards utilization in industry, particularly in logistics and retail. At present, NTT Comware is working towards the development of a complete system which will be able to hook-up with other systems, allow for the smooth control of large volumes of data as well as maintaining high security.
[NTT Comware and RFID in the future]
NTT Comware perceives RFID as a system which transcends the barriers between companies or industries for the purpose of sharing people, goods and information over a network. NTT Comware is aiming to create a system structure which can be used as a crossing within the industry. From this point forward, NTT Comware will incorporate developments from the activities of standardization bodies as well as the know-how and technology that have been gained from further trials into NTT Comwarefs RFID middleware which NTT Comware will provide as a network-type IC tag system independent of any specific vendor or industry.
[Terminology]
(*1) PDA (Personal Digital Assistant): Portable personal information terminal. An electric device large enough to fit in the palm of a personfs hand, and equipped with various personal computer functions.
(*2) Merchandising: Activities taken in stores where goods are sold to consumers which combine the design and planning of distribution at the store with consumer demands without specifying individuals.
(*3) L-Box: Microserver developed by NTT Comware which functions on a Linux base. Equipped with various interfaces for wired and wireless network connections, various network devices capable of program control and applications are installed, and L-box can be used for various purposes including as a Linux PC.
(*4) EPCglobal: EPC promotional group. Formerly the Auto ID Center. A non-profit organization established in October 2003 by the International EAN Council, the international organization for barcodes, and the Uniform Code Council (UCC), the U.S. organization for distribution codes.
*L-Box is the registered trademark of NTT Comware Corporation.
|
|
|
