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Need to be Walmart RFID Compliant?

What You Need to Know

If your goods are sold in Walmart stores across the U.S. or Puerto Rico, or on Walmart.com, beginning on September 2, 2022, several products entering stores must have RFID tags (radio frequency identification) and be 100% readable by RFID readers or you will be deemed noncompliant. The product categories impacted include, but may not be limited to, items in home goods, electronics, toys, sporting goods, and automotive. Our team of experts can help implement a solution for your business to meet Walmart’s RFID requirements.

Walmart RFID Mandate: Dates to Know

June 3,
2022

Last day to submit RFID samples to Auburn University

Make sure to send at least five samples to Auburn University by June 3. Do not include your product with your samples.

August 17, 2022

Must arrive to distribution center (MABD)

All RFID-tagged products must arrive at their respective distribution center or facility by August 17.

September 2, 2022

All products arriving at store must be tagged

All products that are going to stores must be tagged. From here, Walmart begins its in-store testing before rollout and deployment.

We Can Help You Quickly and Efficiently Get RFID Tags on Your Goods to Meet Retailers' Mandates

There are a few different ways you can become compliant on time, no matter the state of your inventory. You’re going to need to make a few key purchases and make some process changes to get RFID tags on goods. Peak’s team of experts can guide you step by step and manage the entire compliance readiness strategy, or simply step in where you need assistance.

To start, we’ll help you consider which approach is right for you:

DBK RFID Comply

We help set you up with what you need now to print RFID tags onsite.
  • Buy the right RFID printers, labels and inlays
  • Help configure your tagging solution
  • Get the inlays tested and certified by Auburn by June 3, 2022
  • Train workers on how to print the tags

DBK RFID Comply+

We help you get set up to print now through everything offered in our Comply program AND work with you to leverage this effort for your own business benefits.

  • Expert consultation on enterprise labeling software and label format creation
  • An expert will evaluate other use cases for RFID to benefit your operations, including enabling smarter decisions with real-time tracking of work-in-process, product identification, shipment accuracy, automated receiving, inventory accuracy, asset tracking and product lifecycle management
  • Help determine the feasibility of using printer applicators to apply RFID labels to goods and the ROI that would provide

DBK RFID Service Bureau

Leverage our research, expertise, and label converter relationships to have your labels pre-printed and delivered to you.

  • DBK has evaluated label converters and selected a core group that have multiple shipping points and are competitively market priced
  • We’ll coordinate RFID encoding with our partners and have the RFID-compliant labels shipped right to you, ready to apply

Consider the Pros and Cons of Your Approach

Simply purchase and apply labels for now, or design and build a solution that can scale for future use and be leveraged for better business performance. We have helped customers weigh pros and cons of each approach:

In-House RFID Compliance & Printing
Pros
  • In house RFID infrastructure allows you to print and encode labels on demand
  • Extend initial investment in this technology into other internal applications and use cases
  • Allows you an immediate path to achieve RFID compliance for any future retail compliance directives
Cons
  • Higher upfront infrastructure equipment costs
  • Internal expertise needed to support the on-demand labeling/encoding process
  • Supply chain availability of RFID printers
Third-Party RFID Compliance & Printing
Pros
  • No upfront investment in RFID technology infrastructure
  • Quick to implement, easy to achieve compliance
  • Avoid supply chain delays currently associated with many models of printers
Cons
  • Does not enable your business to have the RFID infrastructure for other internal applications and use cases
  • No future path to a return on investment

Scalable RFID Solutions, Simplified and Installed in Days

The DBK team is here to work with you in meeting your compliance requirements today, and planning what may be best for your business in the future. The new Walmart RFID mandate is another significant step that shows a promising future for this technology in the retail industry. Achieve Walmart compliance in no time without disrupting your current business and avoid heavy costs burdens by working with DBK RFID specialists.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the Walmart RFID Mandate

Which Walmart Departments are impacted by this latest mandate?
  • Home departments – D14, 17, 20, 22, 71, 74
  • Entertainment departments – D7, 72, 87
  • Hardlines departments – D9, 10 tires, and batteries
Where do I send my RFID labels for validation by Auburn?
Auburn University address

Auburn University RFID Lab
Attn: Walmart Home Supplier Validation
1550 East Glenn Avenue
Auburn, AL 36849 USA
Auburn University’s phone
(334)-844-7513

Is there anything a supplier needs to do prior to shipping tags to Auburn for validation?

Prior to sending your label samples, Auburn University asks that you fill out an online form with more information about your company, product and specifications used.

What happens if a supplier adds new products shipping to Walmart after the June 3 deadline?
You are still required to submit samples to Auburn University for these products.
Can suppliers use encoded information on the RFID labels for their internal inventory management purpose?
Yes. It is encouraged to leverage the technology within your business.
Do suppliers need to apply RFID tags to items, packages or pallets?
The Walmart mandate dictates all products must be applied at the item level into the disposable packaging or adhesively applied to specified areas of packaging.
If a supplier has different skus and all are the same tags, how many need to be sent?
Not every sku a supplier makes must be submitted for validation. Send a representative sku per product supplier, brand, packaging type, packaging agency, and RFID Inlay type.
Can I use any RFID tag?
The tag must be compliant to GS1 and RFID lab ARC Standards.
What resolution should be used for printing these labels?
For best results a printer of 300 to 600 dots per minute (DPI) should be used. This is a measurement of the quality of the print.
Does Walmart have the ability to re-print labels if damaged, missing a tag or if the item is returned?
Yes. Walmart stores will have the ability to reprint labels, if needed.