Today’s economy has become focused with fulfilling orders on-demand. Customers want speedy order processing and fulfillment. To keep up with this speedy economy, companies must be able to know what they have and where it is at any given time. This can become problematic when you’re managing an inventory of similar items, lose track of totes, or have truck loads pallets that are difficult to scan.
Regular barcode labeling requires a direct line of sight to scan, which can slow processes down. RFID labeling can provide greater accuracy of scanning without a direct line of sight, even reading through a wall, without having to manually scan the label. Items tagged with RFID technology simply need to be within proximity of the reader. This provides easier reading of similar inventory items, increases the tracking of totes, and can direct cross-docking.
Zebra Technologies is the global leader in the barcoding industry. With technology constantly updating, Zebra Technologies ensures their product are up to date with top-of-the-line quality and support. Zebra Technologies is always looking at ways to expand industry needs, helping other companies to keep up with economic demands.
RFID Refresh
RFID technology can provide real-time data, offering insight for better decision making and precise asset management. It uses a miniature chip and attaches an antenna inlay to a hard physical tag or is inlaid with a principal label for identification purposes. Each tag has its own unique serial number and can be read in groups as far away as 65 feet (20 meters), instead of having to scan each one individually and within eyesight of the barcode.
RFID is becoming more prevalent with the advancement of geo-location, security, and automation. Hundreds of tagged items can be quickly located, authenticated, and tracked all at once by waving a handheld reader or automatically with a fixed reader. This can reduce the amount of time needed for a manual labor and routine tasks, such as an inventory count, or locating the exact item needed in a sea of similar items.
RFID is very secure, using encryption and password protection features. The miniature chip within an RFID tag is where all data and information are stored, available in various storage sizes, or capacities, including 96-bit, 128-bit, and 512-bit. For more information and answers to common questions, please refer to our RFID technology FAQ.
RFID for Tires
Tires are a prime example of the versatility of RFID and what it can be used for with inventory management. When you look out at a sea of tires in stock, it can be hard to tell the minute differences in sizes by sight. Every specification of a tire can be printed, encoded, and applied to a RFID label and applied to a tire using a special adhesive that will not damage the material.
This solution solves real business problems in lack of visibility with inventory, which can also be applied across multiple locations within the same database. Connecting databases across multiple locations helps companies know which store has what items, what stores need to stock up on, and what is being sold.
For example, a company has multiple stores all using the same system. A customer can go into one location for new tires. Employees can easily find out if they have the tires the customer needs in stock, and where those tires are located. If their store doesn’t have the tires in stock, they can easily see what location does or order them on the spot.
RFID for Totes
RFID can provide precise and accurate tracking to products moving through workflows or supply chains, such as totes. Reusable totes can be a costly investment to carry raw materials for order fulfillment, or even be used for products that have timed needs (such as curing materials or rising dough). When those totes go missing, that is money lost.
RFID increases real-time visibility without having to actively scan items at each station. For constant-loop uses, this provides the company with data on the status of items the totes are used for. It also provides data on when the tote leaves the facility, where it is at, and when it is returned.
For closed-loop totes, RFID can be used to track how long it takes to pack an order at each station and where the order goes for packing. This can minimize confusion and unnecessary paperwork. It can also keep track of time to properly cure materials or to complete rising times for dough without having to keep an eye on items. This can increase effectiveness and efficiency.
RFID for T&L
RFID technology aids in minimizing errors and non-compliance by decreasing the amount of hands-on needed for transportation and logistics. RFID sensors located at each dock of a distribution center eases cross-docking by housing all the necessary data within each tag.
For example, a distribution center receives an entire truck load of soap. Each store that the DC provides stock to only need so many pallets of soap. The RFID tags can indicate how many pallets of soap go to each dock to be transported out for delivery.
For bigger items that are shipped upon purchase, such as furniture, forklifts that are equipped with RFID readers can accurately and quickly locate the furniture and place it at the appropriate dock for shipping. RFID enhances the visibility and movement of bigger items, making processes more accurate and less of a hassle.
Imprint Enterprises is the RFID Specialist for Zebra Technologies
Thinking about making the switch? Imprint Enterprises can help make the discussion and transition to RFID painless and seamless, giving your company a cutting technological edge on all available markets. Imprint Enterprises is a Premiere Solution Partner with Zebra Technologies, a leader in the RFID technologies industry.
Reduce the amount of time it takes to track inventory, while increasing the accuracy of locating items. Reduce the cost of replacing expensive totes. Minimize confusion and complications within distribution centers and with cross-docking. Automation using RFID technology can assist with labor shortages and make inventory management more hands-off.
RFID technology can give your company a technological advantage over your competition. Maintain compliance with industry regulations with multiple options available between hardware and software.
Imprint Enterprises has decades of experience in RFID solutions
Imprint Enterprises will support you in making the most informed decision for your enterprise and can outfit your company with RFID technology from Zebra. Contact us to begin building your comprehensive RFID solution for your enterprise.
