Texas-based SML Group has combined the item-level tracking abilities of RFID technology with the loss prevention capabilities of an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag.

The retail RFID company has launched the GB24U8 dual-tag technology designed as a single tag for a wide range of retail apparel applications.

Incorporating UCode 8 capabilities from electronics giant NXP, the tag lets retailers combine traditional EAS functionality with the benefits of item-level RFID, including cycle counts, inventory management, auto-replenishment, and omnichannel and bopis (buy online, pickup in store) fulfilment.

Measuring 37.8 by 70.5mm, the tag has a clearly marked EAS tag area staying within a marked rectangle, delivering loss prevention and brand protection capabilities. As a result, apparel retailers can use it to deliver an enhanced customer experience focused on convenience and efficiency.

The tag has been approved by the RFID Lab at Alabama’s Auburn University and meets eight active ARC categories including – F, G, I, K, L, M, N and Q. The ARC categories set an industry standard needed to ensure that RFID technology meets or exceeds a level of performance that benefits both retailers and partners.

“The apparel industry has shifted in many ways in this last year, and retailers now have to navigate a number of challenges,” said Dean Frew, chief technology officer for SML Group. “For example, a significant shift within the last year has been the way retailers look at improving inventory accuracy, elimination of hard tags and more effective bopis models.”

As a full-service RFID provider and partner to large retailers and fashion brands, SML offers a broad spectrum certified RFID Inspire tags and a global network of encoding products to enterprise-class RFID software Clarity for retail stores throughout the supply chain. It has a presence in more than 30 countries.