The Bar Code People

Posted by – Steve Cohen, Director of Community Development

Did you ever wonder why bar codes are put on stuff?  Well, Auburn Hills-based RGIS can tell you.

RGIS, which stands for Retail Grocery Inventory Specialists, is the largest retail inventory and data collection company in the world.  Founded in 1958, they now have over 350 offices in 40 countries.  Their 25,000 employees perform more than 500,000 retail inventories a year.  We are proud that RGIS selected the City of Auburn Hills as the home of their world headquarters 12 years ago.

“Inventory Intelligence” is their bread and butter.  Retailers hire RGIS to send its employees, with their handheld data collection devices, into their stores.  They collect information which provides an instant snapshot of the retailer’s inventory.  Using that information, RGIS’ proprietary software tells the retailer how much new inventory to order based on the amount of product sold at the register.  It also tells the retailer how goods are selling in all their stores chain-wide, which helps them keep their shelves stocked with the right mix of products.

So, next time you drive along I-75, look for the 4-story, gray office building with the number 2000 on it.  It is near the Fieldstone Golf Club.  Right here in Auburn Hills is the home of the world’s leader in inventory and supply chain intelligence.  Pretty cool!