Are Radio Frequency Identification Tags Beneficial For both Tesco Supermarket and Its Customers?

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

Abstract

The use of technology is everywhere around us. Go shopping is a phrase used by every family almost every day. The ease and convenience for consumers in the retail sector was there but not as much as it should have been. Thus there was a need of a technology which could prove to be beneficial for both the retail sector and the consumers associated with the rattail sector. Radio Frequency Identification has been the technology which has provided the retail sector and the supply chain sector with the desired and required ease and comfort. Radio Frequency Identification tags are widely used now for tracking purposes. Along with this, these tags have helped a lot in reducing the queues in the superstores and supermarkets. This technology has provided the desired alignment of the procedures and integration between the retail sector and supply chain. Tesco has also implemented this technology in its stores all over the world, in the regions where this technology is available. The main question that arises is that whether the consumers of Tesco know about the use of this technology. The implications for the customers and consumers are there which have proved to be a barrier in the way of success of Tesco in terms of the use of this technology. Tesco is using this technology for both tracking purpose and for providing its customer with the ease in shopping. This paper aims to focus on consumer side of the use of RFID technology is Tesco. The vulnerabilities of this technology which are now reaching at an alarming stage have also been discussed. The methodology which has been adapted for this study is the mixed method in which the most relevant literature has been taken for the support of the arguments made and the interviews have been conducted by the consumers of Tesco for asking their experience and satisfaction level related to the use of RFID tags.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1.Introduction to the study1

1.2.Background of the study2

1.3.Aims and objectives3

1.4.Research questions4

1.5.Justification of the study4

1.6.Structure of the study6

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW7

2.1.What is RFID7

2.2.RFID Tags8

2.3.RFID vs. Barcode8

2.4.Types of RFID tags8

2.4.1.Passive RFID tags8

2.4.2.Active RFID tags9

2.4.3.Semi-passive RFID tags10

2.5.Obstacles to the use of RFID10

2.5.1.Low battery10

2.5.2.Price11

2.5.3.Security11

2.6.Construction of RFID tags11

2.6.1.Low-frequency band 125 - 134 kHz (Low Frequency)12

2.6.2.Frequency 13.56MHz HF (High Frequency)12

2.6.3.Ultra-high frequency range 856 MHz - 952 MHz and 2.4 GHz13

2.7.Architecture of the retail supply chain with RFID capabilities13

2.8.RFID Applied to Logistics15

2.8.1.Picking - Separation Order with RFID15

2.8.2.Inventory control with ...