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Billabong opens first smart store in Latin America

Billabong opens first smart store in Latin America

Write: Abra [2011-08-26]
Australian brand Billabong, which sells surfwear and accessories, has opened its first smart store in Latin America. The smart shop is completely under Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), which transmits data from the tags on clothing through electromagnetic waves.
The RFID project has been implemented by Billabong in partnership with VIP Computer Systems. It gives a new shopping experience to customers as it allows them to even select clothing from changing rooms.
The RFID-enabled tags put on every single item in the outlet, provide staff with point-of-sale and inventory data. Customers can also use the RFID system to request more items from staff and to view information about products.
When a customer leaves the store, an RFID antenna takes the ID numbers on the tag and compares it with their status in the company s inventory management system. In case, if the system determines that a customer has left the outlet without paying for an item, it will trigger an audible alarm and also record a video of the incident.
The new RFID-enabled system is currently being implemented at the Billabong sportswear clothing store in the Brazilian city of Barueri.