RFID pocket tags: 4 reasons to embed an RFID tag in clothes
When most people think of an RFID tag in clothes, they picture a hard tag punched through a garment seam. But RFID technology can be discreet, too. Pocket tags are a great example of discrete RFID solutions, and because they’re hidden, they’ve got a ton of customization potential. Here’s everything you need to know about RFID pocket tags, how they work, and why retailers use them.
What’s an RFID pocket tag?
RFID pocket tags are fabric labels sewn into your garment lining, pocket, or seam. They’re made of a silicon chip to hold the unique product information and a copper or aluminum antenna sandwiched inside a fabric square. This fabric square ‘inlay’ is sealed on all sides and sewn into a seam, pocket, or a discrete location of your choice. Pocket tags are usually the first port of call for anyone wanting to move into embedded RFID solutions because they're simple to install and make.
RFID technology comes in various formats and styles to suit different products and use cases. You can keep your RFID tech as a sticker, hang tag, or box label external to your garment. You can also embed your RFID inlay in a pocket tag, care label, or woven label. There are tons of options available to you, depending on what you need.
Read: everything you need to know about RFID technology
What does an RFID pocket tag do?
RFID (radio-frequency identification) is a form of wireless communication. With one scan of an RFID inlay, you’ll get access to detailed information about that specific item, including where it was made, which store it was originally shipped to, and its purchase history.
Unlike external RFID products, embedded RFID pocket tags ensure your inlay stays with the garment rather than being ripped off with the hang tag. This means you can verify an item, even without the receipt or sales tags.
Because RFID technology gives you such detailed information at an item-level, plus accurate volumes across your entire inventory, it'll give you a ton of valuable data about your supply chain, stock, and sales. Pocket tags come with their own unique set of benefits, mostly stemming from their discreet format…
Why put an RFID tag in clothes?
More options, more functionality
Unlike embedded RFID inlays for care labels and woven labels, pocket tags aren’t limited to a specific size. Because they’re hidden inside the garment lining, your pocket tags can be as large as you like (and the larger they are, the greater the reading distance).
The size of the inlay also determines the type of RFID technology you can use. Pocket tags are big enough to facilitate almost any RFID technology, including dual technology labels, which add extra functionality to the benefits you already get with RFID.
Read: why dual technology labels are a must for ambitious retailers
Frictionless checkout
Embedded RFID technology is ideal for retailers who want to move into frictionless checkout in the future. Because the unique inlay is embedded within the product, it can be scanned by frictionless checkout machines without a direct line of sight or hang tag.
The customer would pop their basket onto the sensor and have the entire contents instantly read by the scanner. There's no need to scan each item's barcode; the RFID inlay does all the heavy lifting in the blink of an eye.
Improved loss prevention
The discreet format of pocket tags makes them a key component in effective loss prevention strategies. By blending RF (radio frequency) technology into the same inlay as your RFID, your pocket tag can double as an EAS loss prevention tag.
Dual technology tags work with existing loss prevention hardware and act as a super discreet added layer of protection for all garments, so you only need to hard tag high-value or high-theft items. Not only will the pocket tag help with better inventory accuracy, but the dual technology element brings shrinkage rates down, too.
Product authentication
RFID pocket tags can be used to authenticate products for the resale market. The inlays aren't designed to survive washing, but purses, bags, shoes, and other fabric accessories can all be authenticated with their original factory-embedded RFID pocket tag.
Because each product has a unique encoded inlay, one scan uncovers its entire lifetime, making it easy to trace the purchase history and factory of origin. Choosing an embedded pocket tag gives you full ownership of the resale process for your brand—customers can't scan and verify authenticity themselves without access to your systems or machines.
