Omni Talk Retail Handheld vs. Overhead RFID Debate: The Final Countdown For More Exact Inventory Counts
Dec 15, 2025
Madalynn Lauria, Director of go-to strategy at GreyOrange, champions handheld RFID for its ease and fast ROI, while Pareiya Gupta, also of GreyOrange and co-creator of G-Store, defends overhead solutions for their continuous tracking and analytics. They debate how to implement RFID on a tight budget, drastically cut inventory counts, and reduce shrinkage visibility. The conversation reveals that choosing between handheld and overhead isn’t straightforward—many retailers are opting for hybrid solutions to best meet their unique needs.
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Use Overheads For Continuous Location
- Install overhead readers to get continuous, always-on visibility of front and back stock.
- Use overheads to pinpoint item location down to zone level and enable automated replenishment signals.
Prove ROI With Handheld Pilots
- Do start RFID pilots with handheld scanners to prove ROI quickly and cheaply.
- Use handhelds to count tagged items and show 98% accuracy before scaling investment decisions.
Side‑By‑Side Tests Reveal True Value
- Run side-by-side tests (one handheld store, one overhead store) to compare outcomes before committing.
- Use early sales uplift to self-fund broader rollouts when the data proves value.