CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — A startup founded on technology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is expanding the use of radio-frequency identification, or RFID, systems to help retailers track inventory in real time, a move aimed at improving product visibility and reducing time spent locating merchandise in stores.
Cartesian Systems, a company founded by MIT associate professor Fadel Adib and MIT alumnus Isaac Perper, said this month that its platform is now operating in more than 700 stores across 15 countries. According to MIT News, the system uses wireless signals from RFID tags attached to products to determine their location on sales floors and in stockrooms.
Retailers have increasingly adopted RFID technology to improve inventory accuracy, particularly as they expand online ordering and in-store fulfillment services. Traditional inventory systems often indicate whether an item is in stock but not its precise location, creating challenges for store employees and customers, industry experts say.
“The big problem we’re solving is that about 50 percent of working hours in retail stores go to managing inventory,” Adib told MIT News. He said the company’s technology uses algorithms to interpret wireless signals and provide indoor location information for tagged products.
According to the company, the platform works with handheld RFID readers already used by many retailers. Data collected during routine inventory scans are processed through machine-learning systems that generate maps showing where products are located within a store. Retailers can then use the information for replenishment, order fulfillment and inventory management.
The company said it is working with major retail groups, including Spain-based Inditex, the parent company of brands such as Zara and Pull&Bear. MIT News reported that Cartesian signed its first major commercial contract in 2025 and has since expanded its deployment footprint internationally.
The development comes amid broader investment in real-time retail inventory technologies. Other companies have also introduced RFID-based platforms that combine sensors, software and artificial intelligence to provide item-level tracking and inventory intelligence. Industry participants say retailers are seeking more accurate inventory data as they contend with labor shortages, fulfillment demands and customer expectations for product availability.
Perper said one of the company’s objectives was to make the technology compatible with existing retail hardware. “One of our first big bets was, ‘Can we build this entirely on existing hardware?’” he told MIT News. “That bet is starting to pay off.”
As of June 22, Cartesian said it plans to continue expanding deployments and explore applications beyond retail, including manufacturing, logistics and robotics. The company has not disclosed detailed financial information, and details regarding future expansion timelines remain unclear.
