Print, Tag, Win: RFID That Works on Everything from Tees to Treadmills

Summary:

A global sporting goods retailer with over 200 stores upgraded its inventory accuracy and order fulfilment by deploying SATO’s CL4NX Plus RFID printer, capable of tagging both metal and non-metal items. The result: faster stocktakes, automated receiving, reduced shrinkage, and better fulfilment. ANZ brands can unlock similar wins by future-proofing their labelling infrastructure.

Background

How do you manage item-level inventory in a retail world where a T-shirt, a tennis ball, and a treadmill all need tagging?

Retail and sporting goods brands in Australia and New Zealand are facing rising pressure to:

• Scale eCommerce fulfilment

• Reduce inventory losses

• Enable omnichannel traceability across complex product ranges

Manual stocktakes and barcode-based systems are labour-intensive, error-prone, and often incompatible with mixed material products. Worse still, many systems can’t handle metallic products, making RFID tagging unreliable across categories.

According to GS1 Australia, RFID technology can increase inventory accuracy from 63% to 95%, reduce stockouts by 50%, and improve order fulfilment by 80% when implemented correctly.

Business Challenge

A global sporting goods retailer — offering apparel, equipment, and accessories across hundreds of stores and multiple warehouses — was grappling with:

• A patchwork system of barcodes and devices for different product types

• Manual receiving and counting processes are vulnerable to human error

• Stocktake processes that were slow and inconsistent

• Rising inventory shrinkage, especially for high-value metal-tagged items

The retailer needed a unified, accurate, and scalable system for labelling and tracking metallic and non-metallic inventory items, without slowing down operations.

SATO’s RFID Solution

SATO, in partnership with four specialised technology providers, deployed an RFID solution designed to overcome the unique challenges of the sporting goods retail sector.

Key components:

• SATO CL4NX Plus RFID printer: Optimised for printing RFID tags for both metal and non-metal items using an adaptable RFID kit.

• Built-in precision sensor: Ensures accurate reading and encoding of RFID IC chips for consistent tag performance.

• Diverse item tagging: From dumbbells and bicycles to t-shirts and balls — all tagged with one system.

• System upgrade to RFID SGTIN: Replaced UPC/EAN barcodes with serialised global trade identification numbers (SGTIN) for item-level traceability.

This shift allowed the customer to uniquely identify each product, not just the product type, giving them deeper insights and complete visibility across the inventory lifecycle.

Results & Impact

Why It Matters in Australia & New Zealand

In ANZ, retailers are being forced to modernise faster:

• Labour shortages are increasing the cost of manual inventory handling

• High-value inventory (like tech or sporting gear) demands item-level traceability

• Retailers need future-proof systems that scale with eCommerce growth

SATO’s CL4NX Plus RFID printer supports both metal and non-metal tagging, a key advantage for ANZ brands selling diverse product lines, from clothing to equipment. Combined with RFID SGTIN standards, the system offers end-to-end visibility and shrinkage prevention without needing multiple labelling devices.

Useful Links & ANZ Insights

1. GS1 Australia – RFID in Retail & Inventory Accuracy - Explores the benefits of RFID technology in the retail sector, including improved inventory accuracy and supply chain efficiency.​

2. Australian Retailers Association – Retail Insights Report 2024 - ​Provides comprehensive insights into the Australian retail landscape, highlighting trends and challenges retailers face.​

3. Accenture – Reinventing the Future of Retail - ​Discusses strategies for building agile and transparent supply chains to mitigate disruptions and enhance profitability.​

4. GS1 – EPC/RFID Standards and Guidelines​ - Offers detailed information on EPC/RFID standards, facilitating global visibility and traceability in supply chains.
   
   

Final Takeaway

If you’re a retailer or brand in Australia or New Zealand managing inventory across multiple categories and materials, your legacy labelling system could be costing you time, money, and trust.

SATO’s RFID solution, powered by the CL4NX Plus printer, gives you:

• Tagging flexibility (metal and non-metal)

• Accurate, scalable stock control

• Item-level traceability with RFID SGTIN

• Faster receiving, fewer errors, and leaner labour demand

With a global footprint and deep experience across major manufacturing hubs, SATO can help your local and overseas partners deploy end-to-end RFID solutions, from label sourcing to factory integration and retail execution.

Upgrade your labelling. Elevate your inventory. Future-proof your retail operations.

Protect your brand and hard-earned customer satisfaction, and contact us to learn how RFID can streamline your operations.