In an interview, CARA Jewellers directors and brothers Anil and Kiran Pethani speak about how the implementation of Tagit Ice has assisted with loss detection and prevention to streamline operations, accounting compliance and growing their business bottom line

What has been the need for RFID solutions for your business?
Anil: We have been in partnership with Tagit RFID Solutions since 2013 and use RFID tags on our jewellery items for our inventory accounting and stock management.

Which Tagit products and solutions is CARA currently utilising?
Anil: We currently use Tagit’s THS handheld scanners and TCB box scanners to account for jewellery items. We also use Tagit Counter footfall solution for staff & customer movement analysis.

What are types of losses incurred in your business?
Kiran: Typically losses across all businesses can occur throughout daily operations from storage warehouse, transportation, in-store and human error. Most losses are due to lack of proper accounting of items and in their movement from one place to another.

Anil: There is also the unfortunate element of theft via dishonest staff and even walk-in criminals posing as customers. Jewellery items in gold and diamond are highly priced, covetable and easily disposable so it’s in our and the industry’s best interest to track and safeguard our jewellery and assets throughout their life cycle with us, until these leave our stores.

How do Tagit products and solutions assist in your business’s loss prevention?
Kiran: Tagit Ice has revolutionised the way we work especially in-store; RFID scanning is conducted daily and several times throughout the day within seconds, as the devices are easy to use and accurate readings can be had at literally a wave of the hand. This easy technique has cut down on the previously heavy manpower and counting hours deployed on stock checks that would take up to two days at a time, with stores having to remain shut to customers.

Anil: Cara’s stores carry over 40,000 pieces of jewellery, so it serves us well to be able to track every given item at any given time and to know if it is missing and has moved from its known location to another e.g. from one store to another. If we find something is missing, we can run a quick scan in other locations to locate and replace the item. A few cases I can highlight where loss has been prevented is where an item may fall under a counter and needs hunting down. There have been a few cases where an item has been stolen by a customer and we have found the item on the culprit while instore via Tagit’s RFID scanner “Search” function that has a reach of 2 feet and will beep an alert. Our CCTV systems can also provide vouchsafe and enhance vigilance. Our staff are of course well trained to deal with these matters in a deliberate yet delicate fashion. This detection function in turn also acts as a security layer for us and keeps our staff honest. Plus detection of a loss means we can make an immediate claim to our insurers with peace of mind that is done within the 3 day grace period for rightful claims to be addressed. I can say over the past 3 years we have probably saved around $200,000 in loss prevention due to our RFID implementation.

How have Tagit’s products and solutions enhanced operational and cost efficiency?
Anil: Saving time means saving money so where accounting is concerned, that is the start of our cost savings. Of course tracking items via RFID’s coded tags that carry a diverse range of information regarding that items’ specifications, also allows us to quickly locate an item that a customer prefers, in particular styles, sizes and colours. We can also use this information to quickly identify that this stock is available, which store may carry it and if not available, we can place an order for its duplication and delivery right away. This way we respond to our customer’s demand immediately and also do not lose out on a sale nor the customer’s interest.

Kiran: Another very important application of Tagit RFID tags I should mention is in keeping our important documentation such as our administrative filing and solitaire diamond certificates that may number many thousands, in order. There are many staff members on the move in a dynamic space or office and keeping track of file movements can add to operational efficiency.

How have these solutions encouraged your business growth and reach?
Anil: Jewellery is a high-end business and the investment into a partnership with Tagit has been a priceless move. We can be confident in carrying more stock knowing it is all well accounted for. We are planning the opening of our standalone CARA brand emporium on main Sheikh Zayed Road in the coming year and we will be enhancing our RFID capabilities throughout our showroom.

How may CARA expand using RFIDsolutions?
Anil: We are looking to expand the number of devices and data collection touch points to enhance our Business Analytics. Tagit is working closely with us to provide item level analytic dashboards and dynamic reports. We find these exciting tools for planning our future growth.