adidas creates an open entrance with overhead article surveillance

Resolving the conflict between security and design

In its flagship store in Madrid, adidas wanted to avoid the visual impact of typical floor-standing antennas. The goal was clear: create an open entrance that supports the customer journey, without compromising store security.

This created a familiar retail challenge. Traditional EAS systems can be effective, but they often take up visible space at the entrance. For a brand like adidas, where the entrance forms part of the first customer impression, the loss prevention solution needed to work with the store design rather than compete with it.

Overhead RFID-based EAS at the entrance

adidas found the answer in Nedap’s iD Top: a concealed RFID reader installed at the ceiling of the store’s two entrances.

By moving RFID-based article surveillance overhead, adidas was able to keep the entrance open and welcoming while maintaining the required level of security. The solution combines strong detection performance with a minimal impact on the store design, helping adidas protect merchandise without adding physical barriers at the entrance.

The iD Top acts as the RFID capture layer at the store edge, detecting item movement at the point where security matters most. This reflects the broader direction of modern retail loss prevention: using RFID readers and sensors to capture trusted item-level movement and turn it into usable operational insight. Nedap’s editorial framework positions RFID readers and sensors as the physical data-capture layer for trusted item-level data, while keeping the practical solution clear for buyers.