Athletic brand On combats grey market, streamlines fulfillment with RFID

A fast-growing Swiss athletic brand is rolling out RFID technology across its enterprise.

On is deploying the Nedap iD Cloud RFID platform in factories, warehouses, distributors and stores worldwide, which will enable the company to track and trace every single item from source to consumer. The company’s goals for this implementation include improving operations in warehouses and stores and optimizing fulfillment, as well as protecting products from being sold in unauthorized “grey markets.”

Utilizing radio waves, Nedap’s RFID technology enables wireless identification and tracking of objects, providing efficient data capture and real-time monitoring, On decided to run a pilot program in cooperation with Nedap to test its iD Cloud technology. Utilizing detailed item-level data throughout the process, including from manufacturing, sales, return processing, and loss prevention, On has seen positive results.

On is deploying RFID-based supply chain tracking as it expands operations in the U.S. The retailer opened in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., in July 2023, following its U.S. debut in December 2020, opening a tech-enhanced flagship in downtown Manhattan. Looking ahead, On plans to open stores in Miami, Chicago, Austin and Portland, Ore., home to the company’s North America headquarters.

“We have begun implementing RFID across our supply chain, enhancing accuracy in lead time data and optimizing inbound and outbound processes,’ said Craig Foster, head of technology at On, “This provides us with valuable insights into shipment expectations, origins, and distribution channels, supporting our commitment to an exceptional brand experience, while also operating more efficiently and sustainably. Choosing Nedap’s iD Cloud technology is a part of our long-term plan, providing end-to-end coverage and scalability.”

“We are delighted to be selected by On,” said Hilbert Dijkstra, GM, iD Cloud at Nedap. “We feel their unique and forward-thinking approach is the perfect base for their ambitious growth plans, and it has already proved to be working. We are excited to accompany On during this journey and look forward to helping them implement future use cases that can be found in, for example, product lifecycle insights driven by data coming out of our iD Cloud platform.”

On operates 23 stores and is present in more than 60 countries globally.