RFID in Warehouse Management System: Definition And Example

While RFID has been present since the mid-1940s, logistics managers have just lately begun to use this technology for warehouse management. That has altered considerably in the decade after RFID made its first debut. Since then, RFID has become one of the most essential instruments in the supply chain manager’s toolkit. RFID usage and advancements in associated technologies have made it a far more reasonable and cost-effective choice for warehouses wanting to improve inventory management and operations. 

If you are considering whether to use RIFD in the warehouse management system, let’s spend some time reading this article to understand this technology.

What Does RFID Mean?

RFID which is the abbreviation of radio frequency identification is a radio-wave-controlled technology. Individual RFID tags may connect with reader devices even when they are not in a direct line of sight. The data may then be shared with software, such as warehouse management systems through the reader. 

An RFID tag is typically made up of a microchip connected to a radio antenna installed on a substrate. This technology links items to the Internet for tracking and sharing data with companies along the supply chain. 

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RFID systems are classified into two types which are active and passive. Active RFID tags are commonly utilized for big assets such as train carriages, containers, and cargo containers carried over long distances. Passive RFID tags lack transmitters and just reflect radio waves generated by the reader antenna. RFID transponders which refer to a microchip with an antenna are placed on items, and the information is accessible via a reader to be passed to a computer.  Passive RFID tags are cheaper than active RFID tags because they lack power sources and transmitters. 

How Does RFID in Warehouse Management System Work?

In an RFID-based asset monitoring and management solution, every asset to be tracked is connected with an RFID tag. RFID tags contain an electrical radio transmitter, a small batter, and an antenna in their thin, microchip-like construction. Similar to barcodes, they can be applied on any surface with a little glue. They can also connect to identification cards, persons, and agricultural animals. Each RFID tag is assigned a unique identification number (UIN). It transmits a radio signal with the UIN at the appropriate moment. 

Therefore, a receiver device known as an RFID reader or scanner retrieves and updates the UIN of every tag in its range.

RFID's Key Advantages In Warehouse Management

Understanding the benefits of RFID in warehouse inventory management is critical in deciding whether to implement this new technology.

• It helps to smoother company operations. You can know exactly what and where inventory is, minimizing out-of-stock products because a more accurate real-time view of the warehouse is accessible at facilities.
• Labor expenses are reduced by lowering the manpower required for monitoring and warehouse management.
• Order entry mistakes are reduced because less manual intervention is required and staff productivity is increased.
• Lower inventory stocking levels and corresponding warehouse space needs.
• Provide the data needed to execute FIFO or LIFO inventory management, which can have a substantial influence o the business’s profitability analysis and tax obligations.
• Quick and easy access to the transaction database gives the real-time visibility required to cross-dock inbound items for quick transportation to fulfill client orders.
• Real-time data guarantees that the correct dock and placed into the correct truck.
• Advanced data collection capabilities, like imaging, can give evidence of conditions for return records, reducing the possibility of customer disputes.
• A simple scan of an RFID tag offers rapid confirmation that the correct item was selected, and the item is substracted from inventory.

The Cons of RFID for Warehouse Inventory Management

These tags offer various properties that make them ideal for inventory management problems. However, they do have certain downsides. 

• RFID tags are pricey. Individual tags are not only costly, but the inside batteries are not replaceable, requiring the complete tag to be changed every 3 to 5 years. In contrast, passive tags are less durable but cost far less, roughly $0.20 per tag. However, there is still a significant sum if you want to utilize the tags to track each item in your warehouse.
• RFID tags can experience interference. Indeed, accessing data from an RFID tag does not need line-of-site. It does not imply that they can be accessed from everywhere or under any conditions. When there are a lot of metals or liquids between the reader and the tag, the reader has a more difficult time performing its function.
• RFID tags have yet to be standardized. Tags and data formats can change among businesses, tag makers, and even from nation to country. If you track inventory across borders, your expenditures may increase since you will need to implement various systems in different areas.
• RFID tags may generate a large amount of data. RFIDs can store more information than barcodes. Handling the amount of data accessible via RFID tags, on the other hand, maybe frightening and time-consuming. And you will want systems that can control data flow or settings that accept some data while denying others.

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The RFID Subsystem's System Architecture

Inventory management and asset tracking systems are now built on a logistical mobility technology RFID subsystem that encompasses a broad range of application areas. An inventory management software is made up of many software components that work together to collect and process data, including UINs, from RFID tags. 

Numerous RFID readers are deployed inside warehouses, transportation, and crucial sites linking them in a typical corporate configuration, including each entry and departure. The data collected by the readers is processed by the host computer before being sent to the database storage.

On the other hand, the database store is connected to the Rfid system, which includes the Entity framework and RFID reader API. The host computer may examine data from several readers at the same time. It analyzes the data and stores it in a buffer for a certain period of time. 

RFID in the warehouse management systems is an effective real-time business solution that supports better management of supply chains, covers inventory entry, picking, inspection, delivery, and many different operation processes, and boosts profit while decreasing costs by enhancing visibility into the warehouse management system.