Mercy gift shop to incorporate RFID technology
Rogers – Thanks to the enterprising effort and philanthropic spirit of a group of local college students, Mercy Medical Center will employ some of the latest retail technology at its volunteer-operated gift shop.
Three computer-science students at the University of Arkansas have custom-built a software program enabling Mercy to utilize Radio Frequency Identification in its gift shop, according to a news release from Mercy on Friday. This technology goes beyond current bar-code scanning. It allows customers to place their basket of items within range of an RFID reader that permits a computer to sort through the items in the basket and calculate the sale.
The program was presented to Mercy representatives Friday morning as an in-kind gift from the students.
“With the implementation of RFID technology, we’ll be bringing volunteer groups into the high-tech world, along with a higher level of automation, security and inventory control,” said Michelle Bass, director of compliance and customer relations at Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas. “We’re very excited about our health-care transformation taking place, and are ensuring it touches every level of Mercy, right down to the gift shop.”
