New Jersey retail technology company Checkpoint Systems has updated its Halo IoT software platform with omnichannel and task management functionality.

Halo now supports in-store fulfilment of omnichannel orders, that is buy online, pick up in store and ship-from-store. Using RFID and accurate inventory data, Halo helps distributing the orders among stores based on availability.

The Halo mobile app shows store staff the order information, helps scheduling the fulfilment, locating the items and preparing for pickup or shipment. The functionality should increase in-store productivity, raising the units per hour fulfilled, and boost sales and customer satisfaction.

“Today, to pack an order, the store associate typically uses a printout from the ERP system to look for products in the store,” said Phil Fisher, product manager for Halo. “Some items might be already sold, some misplaced. The associate will lose time looking for them and will sometimes have to reject the order. Halo uses near real-time inventory data and supports the associate with an easy-to-use app throughout the in-store fulfilment process, making it fast and efficient.”

Halo is a software-as-a-service platform that is part of Checkpoint’s RFID offering for retail. It tracks every tagged piece of merchandise across a retailer’s supply chain by collecting data from RFID readers in the stores and distribution centres. The platform synchronises with enterprise resource planning (ERP) and warehouse management system (WMS) software, driving inventory accuracy, on-shelf availability and efficiency across the supply chain.

Apart from omnichannel order fulfilment, task scheduling and locating items, store associates use Halo for cycle counts, receiving goods, replenishing shelves and display compliance.

“We continuously invest in logistics and IT to streamline the consumer-oriented omnichannel model,” said Daniel Muñoz, operations director of Desigual, the Spanish-headquartered international fashion brand. “With Halo’s new in-store fulfilment functionality, we expect to further optimise operations through inventory accuracy, creating a new level of customer satisfaction.”

• At this month’s NRF Retail Big Show in New York, Checkpoint unveiled a version of its Uno RF and RFID label that should enhance supply chain visibility and loss prevention. The patented and integrated label features more RFID chip options, including the recently launched Impinj M750 chip.

The label simultaneously offers retailers the benefits of EAS protection at the store exit and RFID inventory management, when paired with the appropriate hardware and software. This provides apparel retailers with dual-purpose technology, meaning only one label is required, helping decrease labour costs and process time.