For a shelf unit, this smart display box, once put into use, will be used to place HP inkjet printer cartridges and real-time information on the needs of different types of cartridges.
Hewlett-Packard Company unveiled its first smart display case at its RFID seminar in Sao Paulo, Brazil, last week. This display case, which is the size of a kitchen oven, can be used not only as a self-service vending machine, but also to improve the stock of inkjet printer cartridges in stores and to assist retailers in sales.
Didier Chenneveau, Hewlett-Packard's vice president and general manager of operations in the Americas, said: "With this shelf, we manage worldwide inventory." "It can ensure that the ink cartridges in the store are always available, and we can also supplement stocks according to actual needs. ."
One such display case can hold dozens of ink cartridges, each having an UHF EPC tag attached to each cartridge. The system consists of an RFID interrogator that continuously interprets tags, and a touch screen display screen that displays a variety of HP-branded printers. After the customer enters the store, he first selects the type of printer he owns. The system will prompt him whether there is an alternative ink cartridge he needs, and he is advised to find a clerk to help. Then, the clerk opens the smart display box and takes out the correct product.
Although the system cannot immediately identify the location of different products in the display box or indicate the location of a product is incorrect, it can identify the product type. After the consumer takes the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge can be placed on a table. The system interprets the serial number of the electronic product code on the product label, and checks the serial number of the electronic product code with the HP database to determine that the ink cartridge has not been taken wrong.
The display box uses built-in mobile phone technology, which uses this technology to upload data information for sold products. The data is then stored in the HP database so that Hewlett-Packard can supplement the stock based on this near-real-time sales data.
Chenneveau said: "It's not just an idea. We already have a product prototype. And we tested this technology. It's really workable. Now, we're trying to launch this product."