Overview, Scope, and Benefits of the RFID Program

Updated 3 weeks ago ​by Merch Transformation Change Management

Here are more details about the RFID program at Walmart, what it means for your business, and links to additional RFID-related articles.

RFID at Walmart

In 2020, Walmart started implementing RFID technology in stores for Apparel. Since then, we have seen dramatic results with improved on-hand accuracy, leading to increased online order fulfillment, sell through and customer satisfaction. We expanded RFID to additional departments in 2022 and love the results and simplification that the technology offers our businesses.

Watch this video from Julie Barber, Executive Vice President of General Merchandise, to hear more about RFID at Walmart.

Scope

With the success of this initiative in D23 to D36 - Apparel, we have expanded RFID implementation for first party (1P) items that pass through our Fulfillment Centers, Distribution Centers, or Stores. As an identified supplier, you must include RFID tags on all product tags/packaging supplied to all Walmart U.S. Stores – including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and 1P .com Merchandise – for all national, proprietary, supplier, and private brands.

Specifically, this expansion includes these Walmart departments: 

All Phase 1 General Merchandise inventory should currently arrive in store with RFID tags as of September 1, 2022 

  • D7 - Toys
  • D9 - Sporting Goods
  • D14 - Kitchen & Dining
  • D17 - Home Décor
  • D20 - Bath & Shower
  • D22 - Bedding
  • D71 - Furniture & Luggage
  • D72 - Electronics
  • D74 - Closet & Organization
  • D87 - Wireless 

All Phase 2 General Merchandise inventory should currently arrive in store with RFID tags as of February 1, 2024

  • D3 - Stationery
  • D5 - Media & Gaming
  • D6 - Cameras & Supplies
  • D10 - Automotive
  • D11 - Hardware 
  • D12 - Paint
  • D16 - Lawn & Garden
  • D19 - Crafts (excluding Bolt Fabric)
  • D21 - Books

RFID Program Expansion in Discovery

We have identified the following departments for expansion and are currently collaborating with the Auburn University RFID Lab and our packaging providers to determine solutions and tag specifications. No action is required of you now for items in these departments, and we will notify you once they are brought into scope. 

  • D2 - Health & Beauty Aids
  • D8 - Pets & Supplies
  • D18 - Seasonal
  • D40 - Pharmacy OTC
  • D46 - Cosmetics
  • D56 - Live Plants (Horticulture)
  • D79 - Infant Consumables
At this time, D67 - Celebration (e.g., holiday décor, greeting cards) as well as third party (3P) WFS items are out of scope. Items that DSV suppliers ship directly to customers are also exempt from the RFID program. 

We understand that implementing RFID will cause changes to your process, and we will provide the details and resources to help you through these changes. Walmart is investing in the hardware, software, and training for our associates. We're also partnering with the Auburn University team to identify and establish guidelines and review samples of your RFID tags, item by item.

When?

If you are an identified supplier who needs to implement RFID, we have emailed you an onboarding communication. Included in that communication was a hard date when all items must arrive in stores with RFID tags.

We have also created a self-paced training course in Supplier Academy that will give you the basic knowledge to prepare your team and give you the opportunity to learn more about RFID implementation, guidelines, technical requirements, and training resources. If you run into issues accessing the course, make sure that your browser settings allow pop-ups.

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