Forklift picking enhanced with RFID labels

Internal logistics control is still often based on pen and paper and print-outs from WMS and ERP. These time-consuming procedures cost a lot of money, have numerous disadvantages and entail inefficient operations, such as the incorrect placing of products and random driving around of forklifts.

So how to get rid of these, while staying in control of ongoing operations? This case study tells how Brady Corporation helped its customer to answer this challenge.

Custom RFID labels and integrated forklift scanners

RFID can help locate forklifts quickly. Location detection can take place in real time and continuously, or at crucial places such as zone changes, or when items are scanned, picked up and dropped off. The data generated enable pick-up and drop-off location control, efficient route calculation and route registration.

On top of that, forklifts can also be equipped with detection equipment to read RFID packaging labels on your warehouse pallets, boxes or containers. Brady can supply its L-2588-26B UHF packaging RFID label with a modifiable read range up to 10m. They can be programmed on-site with an RFID print-and-program printer, which also enables adding a barcode or serial number on the label.

Fixed RFID scanners can be set up to detect the entire inventory, and these data can be sent automatically to an asset management software linked to the company’s ERPsystem. This equipment enables automatic scanning and registration of the articles or load carriers carried along such as pallets, boxes and containers. Manual scans, and the resulting frequent forklift stops, are avoided, and drivers can fully focus on driving.

RFID forklift track & trace solutions enable an accurate and up-to-date overview of internal logistic movements through automatic location and load control. Through registration of routes, you are able to organise your rides as efficiently as possible.

Smart forklifts

Smart forklifts support flawless and efficient order picking and considerably reduce the number of inventories. The technologies used are RFID location detection, automatic load control, wireless communication and control of the drivers through a panel PC with touch screen. These technologies can considerably increase the efficiency and effectiveness of any large warehouse with forklifts.

CLICK HERE to find out more about RFID Smart Labelling

CLICK HERE to download the RFID Guide

RFID brings improved inventory management to retail

The use of RFID offers a whole range of advantages, two of which clearly stand out: precision and speed. DENSO explains what this means for the retail sector.

From inventory control to increasing sales and reducing inventory costs, RFID has a positive impact on various aspects in retail. Even though RFID is not a new concept – a patent for the first RFID tag was developed as early as 1973 – a lot has changed, especially with the increased use of mobile computers, mobile data collection, and the implementation of digitalisation processes. Thanks to the development of less expensive RFID tags, the use of the technology has become more and more established, especially in retail.

DENSO WAVE EUROPE, member of the Toyota Group, offers innovative RFID readers and Cloud Based Solutions to enable retailers to work more efficiently. “With our RFID scanners and RFID solutions, employees in the retail sector can optimize and accelerate their processes,” says David Walker, Business Development Manager – RFID Solutions at DENSO WAVE EUROPE.

DENSO’s RFID readers are ideal for working along the entire supply chain. In addition, the RFID-based inventory management, which DENSO implements with their partner RFKeeper, offers clear advantages for the retail sector. How DENSO WAVE EUROPE and RFKeeper optimize the various processes in retail with RFID can be read here.

Less risk, more precision

“By combining our efficient RFID technology with RFKeeper’s Cloud Based and mobile applications, we digitalise our customers’ inventory management,” explains Walker. This is possible, as RFID-based solutions create a more accurate overview along the supply chain and minimize risks such as over/under stock, shrinkage but also process errors in the supply chain. “Furthermore, the customer experience can be improved with RFID,” says Walker.

“Imagine a customer looking for a specific product in a brick-and-mortar store because they discovered it while browsing online and was informed that the goods were available locally. But if the customer visits the store and the specific product is not in stock, meaning it was displayed incorrectly due to an error in the inventory, they will be very disappointed and may well go elsewhere to purchase a similar product. But with RFID, such a negative customer experience can be prevented,” explains the expert for mobile data collection and RFID.

The modular plug & play solution that DENSO offers with RFKeeper, improves inventory and sales efficiency in the store through circa 99 % accurate shipping confirmations, inventory counts, search options, and replenishment reports. This video shows how the RFID Inventory Management of DENSO and RFKeeper works.

“Moreover, the RFID Inventory Management offers in-store customer engagement solutions,” Walker continues. Retailers can increase their sales opportunities, for example, with smart fitting rooms, digital signage or self-checkouts. DENSO and RFKeeper’s RFID Inventory Management comes with user-friendly analytics dashboards and the ability to track every item in the supply chain. The management of daily processes is also one of the functions of the RFID-based system from DENSO and RFKeeper.

Innovative RFID scanners

DENSO says its SP1 UHF RFID Scanner is the perfect companion for the RFID Inventory Management with RFKeeper. Thanks to the newly developed Autopilot function, the RFID scanner now reads up to 1,000 tags per second and reduces inventory count by up to 50 percent compared to the use without the Autopilot function.

At the POS, another RFID scanner from DENSO can create advantages for retailers. With the UR20 RFID scanner, long queues at the cash register can be avoided. With the UR20, employees in retail can quickly and easily scan all of a customer’s products at once. Since the scanning range of the UR20 RFID scanner is around 80 centimetres, other goods are not accidentally scanned.

“This is how we support our retail clients in regards to digitalisation processes – with our data collection devices and the RFID-based solution with RFKeeper,” says Walker happily. More information about the RFID scanners and RFID solutions from DENSO WAVE EUROPE, part of the Toyota Group, and how they can optimise processes in retail can be found here.

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 this link.

 

Smart item supply, engagement & authentication with dual-frequency RFID labels

Brady Corporation presents a new, highly reliable dual-frequency RFID label that combines the advantages of UHF and NFC RFID technology. With a single label, companies can improve product and item supply chain management, authentication and end-user engagement.

Track, trace, and engage with almost any item or product via a single, reliable and industrial-grade label with dual frequency UHF and NFC RFID technology. Locate multiple items at once from a distance and access additional information up close. Easily add more data anywhere, including birth and maintenance records, shipment dates, product manuals, authentication data and warranty information.

Provide an extended product reality

Simply tap the label with an NFC enabled smartphone to read and write data. All products or items with a dual frequency RFID label can enable entire supply chains to participate in track & trace programmes, from part manufacturing, assembly, logistics and distribution to installers, maintenance and end-users.

Data added may include codes, links to online information or to documents stored in databases.

Multiple labelled products and items can be counted and identified at once from a distance up to 11m with portable or fixed UHF RFID readers. Signals ignore line of sight to considerably increase inventory management speed and flexibility.

Relevant traceability data can also be accessed quickly per scanned item, and scanners can guide professionals to the right items.

CLICK HERE to watch the video and view the infographic to visualise your advantage.

 

DENSO scanner offers ‘highest reading performance’

RFID technology does not just exist since yesterday, but especially now it has a major impact on the profits and losses of companies, for example in retail and logistics. RFID tags that are attached to goods can be read with mobile computers in such a way that real-time results for transactions, stock levels or the order history of customers are displayed.

With the SP1, DENSO WAVE EUROPE has already launched an RFID scanner that turns simple smart devices into high-speed UHF RFID scanners. Now the experts in mobile data collection go one step further and accelerate processes even more with the new Autopilot function for the SP1.

“The newly developed technology scans tags even faster and more completely than before,” says Dirk Gelbrich, General Manager Technical Department at DENSO WAVE EUROPE. “Compared to the previous SP1, companies can reduce their inventory time by up to 50%.”

The SP1 RFID scanner offers the highest reading performance in the industry.

A study from the University of Leicester found that RFID improves inventory accuracy by more than 25%. While the accuracy was around 65-75% before the technology was used, it was increased to 93-99% with RFID.

“The almost self-explanatory SP1 Autopilot provides decisive support for employees in retail and logistics. The reading mode adapts automatically to the situation, meaning that the highly sensitive tags are scanned first, followed by the difficult tags. This saves a lot of time when taking inventories,” explains Gelbrich. The ergonomically designed handle and the low weight of only 400g make the SP1 RFID Scanner an ideal companion for processes.

The pairing between the SP1 and a smart device is quick and easy: fastenings or quad locks on the SP1 ensure that DENSO devices, such as the BHT-1800, but also smart Android and iOS devices, can be connected easily.

“The connection itself is made by reading a QR Code on the SP1 and by using the Connection App”, Gelbrich explains the automatic Bluetooth pairing. While users were able to scan up to 700 tags per second from a distance of up to 13m, they can now scan up to 1,000 tags per second with the Autopilot function for the SP1. The RFID scanner thus covers an area of up to 530 sq m – a great advantage for warehouse management and inventories.

The new Autopilot has been available since software version 1.14. The OS and SDK of older devices can be updated with an upgrade. DENSO WAVE EUROPE offers the latest software version as a download on its QBdirect website.

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.

 

RFID tech firms merge

Omni-ID has announced that it has been acquired by HID Global, worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions.

Omni-ID brings to HID its extensive range of ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, including passive hard tags and labels and a growing range of active devices that are used by world-leading companies to track and monitor manufacturing components, energy infrastructure, logistics containers, IT assets, and equipment on the International Space Station.

CEO Tony Kington, who was part of the team that founded Omni-ID when it was spun out of QinetiQ in 2007 commented, “Since Omni-ID started life as a dynamic and highly ambitious spin-out, we have been on a mission to provide our customers with a wide range of industry-leading passive and active UHF based hardware for a broad array of applications in the logistics, energy, manufacturing and IT sectors. HID Global provides the perfect platform to push our ambition even further, combining the RFID market leadership and structure of a major multinational organization with our renowned product development and agile engineering prowess”.

Omni-ID has developed original, patented technologies for on-metal tagging to enable a broad range of applications to improve asset tracking, inventory management and material flow management. Omni-ID continues to lead the way driving the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution in Manufacturing & Logistics, Oil & Gas, IT Asset Management, Transportation and Government & Defence, utilizing market leading technologies. Omni-ID’s versatile portfolio of award-winning products provides a complete range of tags with unprecedented accuracy in any environment. Omni-ID is a global company with offices in USA, United Kingdom, Europe, India and China.

HID Global powers the trusted identities of the world’s people, places and things. We make it possible for people to transact safely, work productively and travel freely. Our trusted identity solutions give people secure and convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be accurately identified, verified and tracked digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID® products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and billions of things are connected through HID technology. We work with governments, educational institutions, hospitals, financial institutions, industrial organizations and some of the most innovative companies on the planet. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID Global has over 4,000 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID Global® is part of the ASSA ABLOY Group.

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.

 

SML launches high-performance RFID inlay

SML RFID has today announced the latest addition to its range of high-performance RFID inlays, one of the market’s first UCode9 ARC certified inlay – GB3U9. Designed to support retailers with a wide spectrum of inventory management and customer experience use cases, the GB3U9 is equipped with the latest RFID chip from NXP, UCODE 9, enabling industry best read sensitivity, resulting in high quality and rapid inventory counting in dense RFID tag populations.

Available immediately, the SML GB3U9 provides a high-quality RF performance improvement for any given sector. The GB3 inlay offers a unique solution for the retail apparel, footwear, cosmetics, and electronic industries. Featuring a 3D orientation design, the inlay can be used for item management across various materials, including denim, poly bags, apparel tags, and boxed items, and its broadband design offers outstanding performance across worldwide regulations to support retailers as they manage items along the supply chain from source to store.

The inlay, like any of the SML inlays, can be converted into an adhesive label, integrated price ticket or a sew-in tag form factor to support every merchandizing strategy. SML has a family of U9 based inlays that will also be certified in the next few months, establishing the benchmark in inlay performance for the retail industry.

The GB3U9 inlay meets a number of ARC categories, including Spec N, Spec Q, Spec M, Spec G, Spec F, Spec L, Spec W1, Spec W2, Spec W3, Spec W4, Spec W5, Spec W6, Spec I, and Spec K. Set by Auburn University, the ARC categories are a set of industry-wide performance requirements needed to ensure that the RFID technology meets or exceeds a performance level that benefits both retailers and suppliers.

Dean Frew, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of RFID solutions at SML Group, said: “As adoption of Item-Level RFID in retailers of all types continues to see dramatic growth, technology innovation like this tag is one of the elements fuelling that adoption. Our tests in retail store environments show that our U9 family of tags can reduce handheld stock count time while achieving >98% inventory accuracy, greatly enhancing in-store and BOPIS inventory availability. The tag will also improve accuracy in numerous retailers’ supply chain scenarios such as reading high density packed cases of product in-tunnels and dock door use cases.”

Dr. Jeremy Liu, Vice President of RFID Technology, SML Group, commented: “SML global innovation centres fully brought out the capabilities of UCODE 9 chip. The advanced antenna design of GB3U9 showed a great balance between forward and reversed sensitivity. It enables the inlay to provide an exceptional solution to the modern retailer’s inventory management requirements. The compact antenna design, along with global frequency operation and omni-directional radiation capabilities, has created a versatile inlay that perfectly caters to the demands of today’s supply chain and in-store operations.”

HandScanner: Smallest, Lightest Wearable Scanner

Datalogic, a global leader in the automatic data capture and factory automation markets, is pleased to announce the launch of the new HandScanner™, the smallest and lightest non-intrusive hands-free scanner designed to streamline workers’ daily operations. This wearable allows workers to use both hands to pick items or packages faster and increase their productivity dramatically

The HandScanner allows workers to be faster, more efficient and improve the quality of their work, saving 4 seconds per scan and cutting reading errors by up to 33%.

The ergonomic design of the HandScanner delivers higher 1D and 2D barcode scanning accuracy, faster scanning times and drastically reduces errors. Workers can easily interact with objects while wearing the HandScanner, as it comfortably adapts to the operators’ natural movement. In addition, users are notified for each successful scan with optical, acoustic, and haptic technology feedback, so they can quickly proceed to the next step.

Compared to ring scanners, the HandScanner is thinner and has the unique advantage of being positioned on the back of the hand. Unlike a ring scanner that is held on the fingers of the worker, the HandScanner is not intrusive, more resistant, and is not exposed to bumps at every movement. Any kind of environment benefits from the HandScanner. Markets such as Transportation and Logistics, Manufacturing, Retail, and Healthcare will benefit from its flexibility and versatility. Workers can perform, among other applications, picking, packing, palletizing, receiving, sorting, shipping, store inventory, price checking, assembly, replenishment, finished product verification, pharmaceutical and laboratory warehouse management.

Customers can optimize the HandScanner’s capabilities by choosing the model that best suits their business requirements. The HandScanner is available in two versions: the “Standard range” is designed for close range scanning, between 10 to 80 cm / 3.9 to 31.4 inch, and fits well for Manufacturing, Retail and Healthcare applications. The ‘Mid-range’ model has a 30 to 150 cm / 11.8 to 59 inch scanning range and is the perfect solution for Transportation & Logistics environments like warehouses, plant floors, docks, and stock yards.

Workers can use a charged device for much longer than a full working shift. The HandScanner is designed to be always up and running. The battery runs up to 15 hours and 10,000 scans and is fully recharged in only 2 hours with its 2-slot charging station.

When staff are scanning while at static, semi-static or dynamic workstations, the data transfers automatically to a connected smartphone, mobile or industrial computer or tablet through Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity.

Paired with Datalogic mobile computers the HandScanner helps streamline processes to eliminate wasted time and steps. The HandScanner is easily coupled with Datalogic handheld (i.e. Memor™ 10 and Memor 20) and vehicle mount computers (i.e. Rhino™ II), providing workers with a complete and top performing solution for data collection.

Accurate Inventory with Powerful RFID Sled

Datalogic is significantly increasing the value of its innovative wireless charging PDA Memor™ 10, with the new UHF RFID 2128P hand held reader, bringing unmatched reading, writing and localization capabilities.

Now workers can complete a faster and more accurate inventory, with extended nominal read range up to 9 meters – 33% longer compared to other similar units on the market – due to a 34 dBm of maximum RF output power. When connected with the Memor™ 10, the combination simplifies work and increases the precision of inventory in Retail, Transportation and Logistics, Manufacturing and Healthcare applications in an ergonomic design.

The 2128P RFID reader allows users to locate hard-to-find RFID tagged assets more easily than ever. Advanced visual and audio indicators, coupled with embedded processes and accelerometers, makes it the most configurable, in-depth and “search and find” capable RFID reader currently available on the market. In addition, any duplicated tags are automatically and instantly discarded by the de-duplication software system, improving reading performance and facilitating data flow.

Users can directly connect the 2128P RFID reader to the Memor™ 10 PDA with an easy to use ePop-Loq® mount. In addition, this mount enables an ultra-secure wired connection for data transfer. This innovative mounting solution provides a one-piece UHF RFID scanning solution. Recharging operations are simplified and accelerated, as the RFID reader and PDA are charged simultaneously in one charging station – without the need to disconnect. Up to 500 million transponder EPCs can be stored offline on a 32GB Micro SD card. The RFID Sled comes packaged with useful applications and tools making it ready to go out-of-the-box.

www.datalogic.com

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