Marks & Spencer (M&S) this week completes the latest stage of one of the world’s most extensive rollouts of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

Following a successful trial in 42 stores, the high street retailer has installed the infrastructure in its 120 largest shops.

Staff scan individually tagged items and use mobile readers to transmit the information wirelessly to a secure database.

RFID makes for more accurate and efficient stock taking and improved availability of products, says M&S head of clothing RFID James Stafford.

‘Ensuring products are available at all times is at the heart of the technology – it is vital to any retailer that when a customer sees our merchandise, it is available to purchase,’ he said.

‘The benefits of RFID tagging have been consistent throughout the trials and we expect that to continue.’

The company is now also finalising training on the BT RFID technology. But the implementation, which has been completed on schedule, was relatively straightforward because staff were familiar with the technology from earlier pilots (Computing, 16 November 2006).

‘Staff already understand the concept of how it works, so we have been able to focus on training them to use the technology,’ said Stafford.

Now that RFID is in place in all major M&S branches, it will be extended from six to 13 in-store clothing departments in July.

Retailers such as Wal-Mart and Tesco are struggling with tagging on warehouse pallets, but M&S has one of the world’s most successful item-level projects, says Peter Harrop, chairman of RFID analyst ID TechEx.

‘M&S is on target to tag more than 350 million items a year within the next two years, and the return on investment is sure to be significant,’ he said.

The implementation has benefited from a measured approach and close involvement of suppliers, says Harrop.