ZigBee Retail Services development gets started

On 26 January 2010, the ZigBee (R) Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, commercial and consumer applications, today announced it has begun the deployment of ZigBee Retail Services ( TM), a new standard focuses on retail experience from the point of manufacture to point of sale. This effort is expected to use the wide range of existing capabilities of ZigBee profile, enhancing the full benefits of the global set of open solutions for ZigBee, as well as add new capabilities to leading supply chain improvement retailing. Focusing on this key market area is expected to achieve significant opportunities for new products and services.

The public application profile Retail Services ZigBee can be used within the retail sector. The anticipated outcomes for the retail market is a marked improvement in the quality and management and supply chain efficiency while improving customer satisfaction. Define the applications for mobile terminals, while providing connectivity modules to simplify its adoption. The public application profile Retail Services of the ZigBee standard will define the methodology for the provision of a variety of services including:

- In-store Information: collects, provides, selecting, sharing data with customers, stores and performs retail applications in mobile payments.

- Location Based Services: Conducts monitoring, warning of arrivals and helps locate the items.

- Retail At Home: create a wireless network in the homes of customers for purchasing, inventory levels, availability of orders and sales processes search engine.

- Retail Assistance Device: supports employees using voice and instruments for customers in a variety of retail environments.

- Health Care: Provides welfare, drug interactions, orders to fill, refill availability, alerts and callbacks.

- Supply Chain Management: Warehouse management, management of cold chain and inventory management to full production supply customers.

- Regulatory Compliance: safety and control in the store, retail regulatory compliance and monitoring of freshness for food, pharmaceutical and other perishables.

- Energy Management: sensors designed to monitor and reduce energy consumption and improve the management of complete building.


"ZigBee Retail Services will change the current shopping experience with the deployment of new services for consumers and retailers," said Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "ZigBee Retail Services will improve many of the profiles of ZigBee public application, as well as defining new capabilities for creating user-friendly tools for consumers that can make everyday purchases easier, more interactive and fun. The retailers can increase quality and improve the overall experience of operations while deployed an innovative consumer experience. "

Several innovative companies are dedicated to developing the ZigBee Standard Retail Services. The ZigBee Alliance is an open organization.
Any company that wants to be part of this process and be at the forefront of the development of standards activities should join the alliance as a participating member. The ideal members include, but are not limited to retailers, distributors, companies connected to the portable instruments / mobile handheld, point of sale, tables, refrigeration, HVAC, lighting, building management systems, supply chain management supply and delivery logistics.

ZigBee Retail Services will be the seventh public application profile of the alliance. The profiles available today include ZigBee Smart Energy (TM), ZigBee Home Automation (TM), ZigBee Remote Control (TM) and ZigBee Health Care (TM). ZigBee Telecom Services (TM) and ZigBee Building Automation (TM) are under development.

ZigBee is a global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to work together and enhance everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a nonprofit association formed more than 340 member companies that carry out the development of ZigBee wireless technology. The Alliance promotes the adoption of ZigBee as the leading wireless networking system, standard sensors and controls for use in consumer electronics in the areas of energy, home, commercial and industrial ..