USATODAY.com – U.S. retailers give Wal-Mart a head start on RFID

“Wal-Mart Stores is getting a head start in the quest for inventory-tracking technology that promises to replace bar codes, cut costs and even prevent theft, but other retailers don’t seem to mind.

Analysts said this wait-and-see approach may actually be the best bet because the radio frequency identification — or RFID — technology is pricey and still needs to be perfected.”

While Wal-Mart has made major investments into RFID technology, it leaves most of the substantial costs to its major suppliers. Competitors to the behemoth simply do not have the economic gravity to drive widespread supply chain upgrades.   

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