DENSO: Why RFID is the future

DENSO WAVE EUROPE, member of the Toyota group, has developed and deployed various RFID readers and solutions, which are used for inventory management, in-store product movements at the POS, for warehouse management or shipping controls. The experts for mobile data collection and auto-ID solutions know that RFID technology will continue to play a significant role in optimising processes and bringing the benefits of digitisation to physical locations.

One of these experts at DENSO WAVE EUROPE is David Walker, who has specialised in RFID. “Two of the key advantages of RFID are precision and speed,” he says. “However, there are so many more benefits of the RFID technology, especially in retail and logistics with their complex structures and new challenges.”

Walker refers to the increasing demand of digitisation processes in general and during the corona virus pandemic in particular. “New business models are emerging quickly nowadays, hence, supply chains will need to make shifts to accommodate the new demands. RFID is the technology that can help companies, especially retailers and logisticians, meet a new future,” explains Walker.

RFID increases sales and profit

As the old saying goes “time is money”, and RFID saves companies, especially in retail, logistics, warehouse management, at the POS, and inventory management a lot of time. “It can be stressful to scan individual items one at a time, which can also lead to human error”, says Walker. “With RFID however, employees can quickly scan an entire area within seconds, rather than having to point at and scan each item individually. DENSO’s RFID readers impress, among other things, with their outstanding reading speed. As we have developed a range of RFID devices, DENSO offers the right one for every purpose.” More information about DENSO WAVE EUROPE’s RFID readers and solutions and how they can optimise processes in retail, logistics, inventory management, POS systems, warehouse management, and shipping controls can be found at https://www.denso-wave.eu/en/denso-products/rfid.html.

RFID implementation can be flexible as supply chains can implement RFID solutions at any point in their processes. “The key benefit of this concept is that when distributing RFID tagged items to different locations, these items do not need to be tagged over and over again. Instead, accurate interpretation of cases and pallets is possible along the way,” says Walker. “The further upstream in the supply chain a product is tagged, the more benefits it garners. Thus, it provides more accuracy,” he continues. Greater inventory accuracy also leads to more customer satisfaction and ultimately to more turnover and profit.

RFID is the present and the future

In the current omni-channel landscape, it has become even more important to have the products customers want or need in stock. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to face – and service against – the ever-increasing competition on the market. The corona virus pandemic has even accelerated the processes in this development.

For instance, when a customer sees an item online and rushes over to the brick-and-mortar store to buy it, only to find that the desired item is not actually in stock even though the “Inventory Management System” says it is. This customer is not likely to visit either the online shop or the brick-and-mortar location again anytime soon. The solution: better stock accuracy with RFID. It virtually eliminates “Out of Stocks” due to poor inventory accuracy. The inventory-tracking technology can offer up to 99% accuracy, ensuring stock is replenished and thus minimize out-of-stock problems. RFID is not only essential for inventory accuracy, however. It can ultimately improve the employee and customer experience, resulting in more sales and lower costs. “If a product is not there, employees cannot sell it. Case studies tell us that in retail the adoption of RFID have increased sales by over 10%, whilst most see an increase of five of 6%,” adds Walker.

All in all, RFID is extremely multifaceted, which makes it so beneficial for numerous industries – from cashless store concepts to supply chain management, and even tracking lost luggage by airlines.

“As DENSO’s mobile RFID computers are extremely robust, they can be used ideally for work in the warehouse, but also in stores – and practically any location. Cloud-based mobile applications in combination with DENSO’s RFID devices are the perfect end-to-end solution for any company that wants to optimise its processes,” explains Walker.

The theoretical basis for RFID was already born in 1948. Since then, RFID has been further developed and continues to be a vital area of exploration, especially as it relates to business intelligence in our fast-paced century. Thus, it will be essential in order to work more efficiently now and in the future. DENSO provides further information about the benefits of RFID and NFC, and their auto-ID solutions, mobile computers, and innovative models of the QR Code at https://www.denso-wave.eu.

For the European market, DENSO WAVE EUROPE is the contact point for all enquiries on RFID, QR Codes, mobile data collection, handheld terminals, and scanners. The durable and robust terminals and scanners manufactured by DENSO are to be found in storage, logistics, at the POS, in production, and field & sales automation applications.

Short and informative video clips about the terminals, scanners, and solutions from DENSO WAVE EUROPE can now be viewed on YouTube. The clips include the 20th anniversary of the QR Code, a company presentation, and introductions to the various devices for mobile data capture such as the BHT-1500, BHT-1400 and the GT20 scanner. For more information, click on the this link below: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHp4Yboj7IccPlSeRxQ6yBQ.

 

Oakland International embraces RFID technology

One of the first UK chilled FMCG consolidators to invest in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) despatch technology, Oakland International has installed state-of-the-art RFID technology throughout its Bardon operation, working alongside traditional barcodes where individual cases are barcoded and the pallet is RFID tagged.

RFID technology identifies tagged objects using radio waves and is capable of automatically reading hundreds of barcodes per second without line of sight, compared to a standard barcode system which requires sight and manual, individual scanning. RFID technology supported with quality software development provides greater accuracy through the removal of human error on missed or duplicated barcode scans.

Oakland International Group Innovation Officer Lindsay Winser explained: “RFID technology means we are now able to provide more accurate data for our customers including showing when goods pallets left the warehouse and confirming which bay they left from, the vehicle they were loaded onto and the time loaded.

“Whilst manual barcode systems can also provide some of this information, it is the automation and removal of human error which makes this information so precise, giving our customers enhanced confidence in our ability to deliver correctly. Tagged pallets cannot exit bays without being read and warning alarms are triggered if pallets pass through an incorrect bay or are removed from a bay once marked as loaded.”

Having surveyed and tested numerous systems, the one chosen by Oakland is able to provide directional path information, for the most accurate bay confirmation. Different tag sizes were also rigorously tested to ensure readability and optimum positioning. Printer heads have also been upgraded to enable the onsite printing of the RFID tags and RFID readers are now installed in each bay with a viewing tablet to show the operator the status of each tag in their vehicle load.

Staggeringly, due to the complexity of the RFID system, after only five months it is fully operational from initial concept feasibility to installation, with the equipment IP rated for use within chilled environments where condensation from cold can be problematic. The software will continue to be developed and amended, as Oakland fine tunes the new information and integrates the functionality with additional technology as it comes online, including CCTV and vehicle recognition.

Chief Operating Officer Lee Whiting added: “RFID is yet another indicator for our customers that Oakland International remains an innovator and forward thinking FMCG consolidator at the forefront of an industry known to be slow to adopt to technological change that some other sectors more readily embrace.

“RFID technology provides our customers with added confidence that we have the most robust and evidenced delivery system, with the added benefit of a receipt tagged pallet should they adopt the same technology.”

Investigating RFID technology as an option for its transport fleet to offer a fully monitored closed-loop solution, Oakland International operates 24-hours/7 days a week and is a D2C/B2C/B2B specialist in contract packing, storage, picking, food distribution and a brand development support provider for ambient, chilled and frozen food to the retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets in the UK, Ireland and via its partner in Spain.

 

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