Department of Engineering / News / Cambridge tech can track 100,000 items of clothing throughout the store

Department of Engineering

Cambridge tech can track 100,000 items of clothing throughout the store

Cambridge tech can track 100,000 items of clothing throughout the store

It’s one of the most frustrating experiences in shopping; you find an item you like but the shop doesn’t appear to have it in your size. But now an alumnus of the Department of Engineering and Cambridge entrepeneur says he has found the answer with a revolutionary stock control system.

Movement of items within the store can be monitored in real-time, highlighting clothes that are not displayed on sales floors, clothes that are tried on but never purchased, collections of items selected together.

Sithamparanathan Sabesan

PervasID believes its Space Ranger 9100 system can replace the current ‘passive tags’ used in many stores. Though these tags are cost-effective and don’t need batteries, they have a reliable detection range of only 2–3 metres and so require the shop assistant to check each item with a handheld reader.

Space Ranger uses a network of antennas located discretely at intervals across the shop floor and stockroom. A single radio frequency identification (RFID) reader can cover up to 400 m2 with almost 100% detection accuracy, allowing automatic monitoring of nearly all the tags and constant update of stock control.

PervasID says its system could be particularly beneficial for high street shops that have large and complex stock with a rapid turnover. It maintains records of stock levels, alerts shop assistants to popular items that are selling fast and gives information about other stores that have the item available. It has already been trialled by an unnamed, major high-street brand, which installed the readers in a ~4,000 square metre retail store with about 100,000 tagged items. The system covers intake, storage, sales and fitting room areas over two floors.

Dr Sithamparanathan Sabesan, who was a researcher in the Electrical Engineering Division and currently is co-founder and CEO of PervasID, says the system can provide intelligence to drive up sales.

“An advantage of having readers located on the ceiling is that movement of items within the store can be monitored in real-time, highlighting clothes that are not displayed on sales floors, clothes that are tried on but never purchased, collections of items selected together, and it can track how the shopper moves through the store,” he said.

“All of this can be used to help the retailer improve the shopping experience. It also offers opportunity for up-selling by suggesting companion items and alternatives based on success with other shoppers.”

The core technologies underlying PervasID’s new products were developed by a team in the Department and commercialised through Cambridge Enterprise, which has worked with the founders since 2009. Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds led a £720k investment round for PervasID which was announced in October 2016.

Gillian Davis, Cambridge Enterprise technology manager, said: “It is absolutely fantastic to see PervasID move into the next phase with their company. The founders have worked on this so hard.”

The potential for the PervasID system has been recognised by Victor Christou, CEO of Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC). CIC invests long-term, ‘patient capital’ into companies in the Cambridge cluster, including PervasID, that have disruptive technologies and the potential to become significant players.

Sithamparanathan Sabesan

Christou said: “Low cost, long distance sensing of passive RFID tags is an unmet need in the retail and logistics industries. PervasID offers a new approach that facilitates a move towards the ‘Internet of Things’ while offering potential for a significant return on investment in the short term.

“The retailers that we have introduced to PervasID are excited by the potential of the technology to boost sales in their high street stores.”

Space Ranger 9100 provides greatly extended coverage area compared to PervasID’s current reader, requiring 60% fewer readers and significantly reducing the cost of installation. PervasID is also launching Gate Ranger 9100, a portal reader for strategic locations, such as entrances and exits and loading areas. This provides highly accurate portal solution with tag direction capability.

The original version of this article appeared in Cambridge News. 

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