Democratizing RFID: How Koala Bay is transforming its stock management

At LogiCommerce Connect, Laura Sánchez, RFID Specialist at STC, presented a clear example of how RFID technology—previously seen as exclusive to large retailers—is now reaching mid-sized and smaller brands as well.

One of the most compelling cases was Koala Bay, a fashion brand that has optimized its operations by fully digitizing its stock management.

What is RFID and why is it revolutionizing retail?

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enables products to be identified in bulk, without needing line-of-sight scanning as required with barcodes. Each item carries its own digital identity, ensuring:

• Full traceability across the supply chain
• Reduction of losses due to theft or errors
• Automated inventories with over 98% accuracy
• Faster checkout processes
• Improved customer experience with services like click & collect or smart fitting rooms

The Koala Bay case: always summer—even in operations

Koala Bay, a fashion brand with 50 stores (25 of them in the Canary Islands), has adopted RFID technology to centralize and optimize the traceability of its products, from origin to point of sale. With a brand philosophy that embodies eternal summer, they also needed agile, frictionless operations—and they made it happen.

How? Through a gradual and accessible approach:

• Source tagging: Each garment includes an adhesive RFID tag from the start, without altering production processes
• System integration: The key is connecting RFID with the ERP, eCommerce, and POS systems
• Pilot testing before global rollout: STC provides the hardware for 30 days to ensure a smooth implementation
• Inventories in minutes: A handheld scanner can read over 4,000 SKUs in just 12 minutes
• Smart point of sale: No more scanning items one by one—just place them on a reader and they appear automatically
• Smart anti-theft systems: RFID-based alarms identify exactly which product hasn’t been paid for

RFID for all: beyond the giants

While brands like Decathlon and Uniqlo were pioneers in adopting RFID, today the cost has dropped significantly—making it accessible to more than just the industry leaders. Brands like Silbon, noon, and Koala Bay prove that RFID is a competitive advantage even for growing companies.

In addition, STC offers end-to-end solutions—from tagging to the phygital experience—with tools such as smart mirrors and interactive kiosks to boost cross-selling opportunities.

RFID and total digitization

The true potential of RFID goes beyond error reduction or process optimization. It lies in fully digitizing the product from creation to sale (and even resale!). With complete traceability, brands not only improve operational efficiency but also gain the ability to scale, adapt, and protect their data across omnichannel environments.