Shortlist Revealed for 2026 RTIH RFID Project of the Year

The finalists showcase the breadth of RFID adoption across the global retail sector. JD Sports is currently scaling its partnership with Checkpoint Systems, moving from a 2024 pilot to a deployment across 400 stores in the UK and Ireland, with a broader European rollout scheduled for completion by October 2026. Their implementation of ItemOptix software focuses on real-time inventory visibility and improved shelf replenishment.

In the sporting events sector, Edgbaston and Levy are recognized for their RFID Smart Cup System. By replacing legacy deposit processes with automated validation, the project achieved a 95.7% cup return rate during the 2026 cricket season, significantly reducing losses and labor requirements. Meanwhile, Swedish fashion retailer Lager 157 has partnered with ClarityRFID to achieve inventory accuracy levels as high as 99.8% across pilot stores in Scandinavia, with plans for a full production expansion in 2027.

Completing the shortlist is RADAR, a provider of vertically integrated overhead RFID technology. The company currently tracks over 55 million products across 1,700 stores, processing more than 130 billion tag reads daily. This data-heavy approach allows retailers to apply the same analytical precision to physical storefronts that is typically reserved for ecommerce operations.