Real-time store inventory with overhead RFID

GreyOrange and Zebra Technologies have formed a technology partnership to address persistent store inventory inaccuracies by combining overhead RFID sensing with autonomous in-store execution. The joint solution links Zebra’s SmartLens overhead RFID infrastructure with GreyOrange’s gStore platform to deliver near-real-time visibility into on-shelf availability and trigger immediate corrective actions at store level.

Why store inventory accuracy remains a challenge
For many retailers, inventory data at store level is still fragmented, delayed, or manually maintained. According to Zebra’s global shopper studies, inaccurate inventory data continues to drive lost sales, inefficient labor utilization, and canceled omnichannel orders. Traditional cycle counts and handheld audits are labor-intensive and often fail to keep pace with fast-moving assortments and frequent store replenishment cycles.

The GreyOrange–Zebra solution targets this gap by shifting inventory tracking from periodic checks to continuous, automated monitoring.

How the combined solution works
Zebra SmartLens overhead RFID readers continuously capture item-level signals across the sales floor without requiring staff interaction. Unlike handheld scans, the overhead system provides persistent coverage, enabling detection of item movement, absence, or misplacement in near real time.

GreyOrange’s gStore execution platform consumes these RFID data streams and applies rules to identify availability gaps, such as empty shelves or misplaced items. Once an issue is detected, gStore automatically generates and assigns tasks to store associates via mobile devices, directing them to replenish, relocate, or verify items. This closed-loop workflow replaces reactive processes with automated, data-driven execution.

The architecture integrates with existing handheld RFID systems, allowing retailers to leverage previously deployed infrastructure rather than replace it.

Measured impact in early deployments
In an initial deployment with a national fashion retailer, the combined system achieved on-shelf availability rates of up to 98 percent. This improvement was attributed to continuous inventory sensing and faster response times, rather than increased labor hours.

By reducing manual cycle counts, the solution also reallocates staff time toward customer-facing activities, improving labor productivity while maintaining higher inventory accuracy.

Implications for omnichannel retail operations
Accurate, real-time store inventory is a foundational requirement for omnichannel fulfillment models such as buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) and ship-from-store. By improving confidence in store-level inventory data, the GreyOrange–Zebra solution helps reduce order cancellations, accelerate fulfillment decisions, and strengthen the store’s role within the broader retail network.

The partnership demonstrates how combining sensing hardware with orchestration software can transform the store from a reactive endpoint into an active node within the retail digital supply chain, supporting more reliable omnichannel execution and scalable store operations.