Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology works by using radio wave frequencies to identify objects. i RFID-enabled devices read information without making any physical contact or requiring a line of sight. Electromagnetic fields identify and track objects which carry either a passive or active tag. Unlike passive tags, which require energy from nearby RFID readers to be detected, active tags have their own power source which broadcasts a unique identification number.
Patented during the 1980s, RFID has become a vital tool for businesses around the world. Initially, the technology was used in sectors such as transportation, factory automation, toll roads, and animal tagging. RFID has now been adopted widely in the retail sector and brings efficient solutions to asset-tracking challenges across a wide array of industries. However, it is most widely used to support inventory tracking and logistics within the supply chain. The global RFID market size is expected to reach $25.47 billion by 2030, largely due to manufacturing.
Businesses use RFID both to streamline processes and increase productivity:
- Increases efficiency and eliminates error: With an RFID system in place, businesses have a reliable means of tracking items without the need for physical counting or manual filing of information. The speed and ease of RFID scanning enable employees to check inventory levels more frequently, which supports more accurate inventory counts. RFID technology also provides continuous location information about valuable assets.
- Saves time: Scanners can read RFID tags through any material without ever having to open a box. This helps to ensure that a store is receiving exactly what was ordered and speeds up the distribution process. Warehouse employees can use RFID readers to scan tags for information on packages, enabling them to organize each item quickly and easily.
- Improves safety: An RFID system allows organizations to verify when vehicles and equipment have been serviced or inspected. For businesses that ship sensitive materials, RFID chips can send an alert if a package is tampered with. RFID also allows supply chain stakeholders to keep track of products with specific expiration dates or temperature requirements such as food and life-saving medicine. This is an ideal way to manage assets, comply with various regulations, and improve the overall health and safety record of the business.
- Maximizes traceability: Today, retailers and distribution centers require more visibility to address bottlenecks in the supply chain and provide a better customer experience. Consumers want to know where their products come from and even track shipments from the warehouse. RFID technology can provide accurate real-time data about an item’s location.
RFID tagging for pallets:
RFID tagging of individual products is not cost-effective for many supply chains. However, pallet-level tagging of shipments provides an easy way to keep track of inventory without a significant initial expense. Compared to wood pallets, high-quality plastic pallets such as those from iGPS offer several benefits that complement RFID implementation, including embedded RFID tags. The durability and resilience of high-quality plastic pallets make RFID implementation in the warehouse beneficial as well as cost-effective, allowing enterprises to increase productivity and efficiency.
Companies committed to supply chain efficiency use plastic pallets from iGPS, which are lightweight, recyclable, and have embedded RFID tags. For more information, contact us at 1-866-557-0047, email [email protected], or visit our contact page. We also invite you to follow us on LinkedIn.
