RFID and Contactless Payments in Japanese Consumer Markets

Implementation Cases and Industry Implications for Kiosks, Vending Machines, and RFID Consumer Trials

This research brief discusses contactless and RFID applications in the Japanese consumer environment, and explores the implications of each.

FeliCa is widely deployed in the transportation and payment fields in Japan. Japanese manufacturers and other users of FeliCa are now seeking new ways to offer this solution where it will have the most impact on consumers. In the RFID space, recent ‘future store’ projects sponsored by the Japanese government have delivered positive results. They promise to speed transactions and enhance the purchasing process with additional information, as well as helping merchants manage inventory and distribution effectively.

Further, contactless and RFID systems allow enterprises to augment CRM strategies by improving inventory accuracy and potentially by storing customers’ historical data through FeliCa/POS connections with databases. This study explores the high level implications and lessons to be learned from these real Japanese case-studies.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Section 1.
OVERVIEW

Section 2.
CONTACTLESS APPLICATIONS IN CONSUMER ENVIRONMENTS
2.1. FeliCa Pocket: Point Program Solution
2.2. UBWALL: An Interactive Kiosk with FeliCa Interface
2.3. Implications for Kiosks with FeliCa
2.4. Implications for Vending Machines with FeliCa
2.5. Contactless Solutions for Multiple Applications
2.6. FeliCa as a CRM Solution

Section 3.
RFID APPLICATIONS IN CONSUMER FIELDS
3.1. METI’s Shop Project for the Future
3.1.1. Virtual Real-Time Makeup
3.1.2. RFID-Equipped Shopping Cart in Supermarket
3.1.3. Wine Shelf with RFID
3.1.4. RFID and Contactless Combined Solution for Speedy Payment
3.2. The Cost of Tag Attachment

Section 4.
CONSUMER SOLUTIONS
4.1. POS/Shelf with RFID
4.2. Content Display Solution with RFID



Tables
  • FeliCa: Service Introduction and Cumulative IC Chip Shipments: Japan Market
  • NFC Device Shipment for Japan, Japan Market, Forecast: 2007 to 2012
  • Contactless Reader Shipment by Environment, Japan Market, Forecast: 2007 to 2012 (000s)
  • Contactless Reader Revenue by Environment, Japan Market, Forecast: 2007 to 2012

Figures
  • Sanwa New Technology: CLS-2 Reader and Writer for FeliCa Pocket
  • Fujitsu’s Interactive Kiosk with FeliCa interface
  • Suica for Vending Machines in Hamamatsucho Station
  • Fujitsu: Cosmetic Multi-Sample Display with RFID
  • Toshiba TEC and Uchida: POS/Shelf with RFID
  • Hitachi Joho: Chipin/Show