Research consistently shows that over 60 per cent* of inventory records contain inaccuracies. If retailers can’t trust their inventory, they have no control. It puts them at risk of not delivering on their customer promises.
Inventory accuracy affects every aspect of the e-commerce and omnichannel journey and, aside from causing operational costs and inefficiencies, it leads to lost sales and reputation damage.
Improving inventory accuracy is a priority for retailers right now, and small wonder given its rewards are better on-shelf availability, less waste and shrink, enhanced customer experiences and uplift in sales of 4-11 per cent.
TSC Auto ID, a leading provider of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) solutions, claims that effective track and trace starts with labelling, be it EAN/UPC barcodes, 2D barcodes, or RFID. Get that right, and measurable improvements follow:
- item-level detail for regulations like the Digital Product Passport (DPP)
- Reduction of shrink
- Operational flexibility
- Accelerated reverse logistics
- Reduction of fulfilment errors
- Future-ready operations
Mislabelled items, unreadable barcodes, inconsistent RFID encoding and fragmented ecosystems of devices can all impact retail operations. They can cause stock discrepancies, failed Buy Online Pick-Up In Store (BOPIS) orders, delayed returns processing and reduced shelf availability. The humble identifying label or tag lies at the heart of such issues.
Embrace a hybrid infrastructure
It’s increasingly common now for retailers, particularly those with diverse product ranges or complex supply chains, to combine barcode technology with RFID as they complement each other. Together, they can help address the most pressing challenges facing retailers.
Traditionally, barcodes have been the standard technology for inventory management but adding RFID into the mix helps improve efficiency, flexibility, accuracy and scalability. Hybrid environments also deliver the sort of real-time traceability that customers increasingly demand, as well as simplifying the process of complying with regulations such as DPP.
Acquiring reliable inventory information needs investment in technology but, not only that, it also requires cultural buy-in to data reliability and changes in organisational practices. When piloting or scaling up RFID, it pays to make informed choices about partners as RFID is complex, and cheapest is not always best in the long run.
Compliance and label quality
Retailers have stringent requirements for packaging, shipping, labelling and delivery timelines, and maintaining compliance is critical. Failure to meet such standards risks the imposition of fines or chargebacks that eat into margins. TSC’s barcode inspection printers, which automatically check labels at point of origin without operator intervention, enable suppliers to meet all standards on labels like UCC.
Equally, in warehouse and retail distribution centres, where downtime is a costly enemy, automated barcode verification keeps order fulfilment on track and prevents inaccurate labels from entering circulation. Three-quarters of warehouse or operations managers are said to experience rejected deliveries due to unreadable barcodes. Chargeback penalties on labelling errors can accumulate fast, whereas installing barcode inspection devices offers a quick return on investment and effective solution.
Customer satisfaction in the palm of your hand
It’s hard to give informed answers to customers in-store without accurate stock information. Mobile barcode scanners — or enterprise mobile computers (EMC) as they’re often known — enable retail associates to both improve inventory accuracy and customer experience. They give real-time visibility as to where items are located, as well as stock levels on the shop floor or backroom.
TSC’s mobile computers empower staff to deliver consultative sales experiences, from signposting them to stock to completing purchases without queuing at tills. The increased usage of EMCs in-store is being driven by initiatives like Sunrise 2027, or services such as BOPIS.
But in RDCs and warehouse, EMCs come into their own for store and asset management, for maximising workforce communication, productivity and location tracking, and for supporting route optimisation in last-mile logistics. Demand for EMCs is expected to continue as retailers are compelled to automate more and improve inventory accuracy.
TSC helps retailers build reliable identification infrastructures that connect stores, distribution centres and last-mile operations. Control of inventory needn’t be a Holy Grail, click here to find out how TSC’s AIDC products could help.
See TSC’s solutions in action at the 2026 Retail Technology Show, at stand N30.
*Source: ECR Retail Loss
