Running a warehouse facility is a huge responsibility, especially if the facility is crucial to the supply chain and production of goods. Taking inventory is one of the most complex tasks when managing a warehouse, but things have come a long way since the days of using clipboards and a pen to take inventory.

Inventory visibility and control have gotten more traction with the fusion of technology in the inventory process, which has led to inventory automation. The use of barcodes and labels for inventory tracking has improved warehousing operations. But, radio frequency identification (RFID) has become one of the fastest-growing technologies for inventory control, a massive game-changer for warehouse operations.

RFID is a wireless technology that uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data. RFID uses tags and labels to scan and locate items remotely. These tags or labels are encoded with unique identifiers and are equipped with a tiny wireless radio transmitter that communicates to RFID readers. Whether the readers are handheld or fixed devices does not matter, it still sends signals to the tag or label from up to 30 feet away.

This new state-of-the-art technology is essential to warehouse operations and takes inventory automation to a new level for the following reasons.

Enhances Inventory Control

RFID readers and antennas can be placed in strategic locations inside a warehouse to automatically read RFID tags or labels as they pass the reader. This means RFID readers can scan an entire case or pallet of goods in a few seconds and also know their location within a few feet.

With the RFID readers, you know the products or materials in stock and how many you need to maintain and replenish in the warehouse.

Improves Inventory Accuracy

RFID reduces human error in tagging and cataloging. Each tag contains a unique ID that will be read and matched to a database with an automated process, so there would be no chance of a mismatch or a typical mistake.

Unlike barcode-based inventory, which relies heavily on workers never making mistakes, forgetting a scan or scanning the wrong barcode causes inaccuracies. An RFID reader raises inventory accuracy within a warehouse.

Reduces Labor Cost

Warehouses require a large staff to keep up with inventory, especially large warehouses. But, the RFID reader will help to reduce labor costs as it shrinks inventory cycle count times, improves receiving time for goods, and hastens the location of goods within the warehouse.

Automating the warehouse using RFID technology will reduce overall operating costs and improve service delivery within the supply chain.

More Data Management

An RFID tag can store more data and information than barcodes which you can use to potentially track items and gain more significant insights into each item without manual data entry. More information also has natural benefits for tracing products and keeping consumers and other supply chain partners informed about the warehouse's new product shipping and offerings.

Automation is good for efficiency, especially in warehouse operations, where managers need to be abreast of their current inventories faster and more accurately.

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i recall working with WAMCO. Getting to use labels awaiting goods from the facory into the warehouse was such an uphill task. We had to climb pallets and even get raised by forklifts to place labels on pallets stacked as high as 15 13-15 feet. It was hell! Then came the RF scanners in 2016. It was mad easy for us as all we had to do was 'shoot'at pallets or products to get them into the database of our warehouse management software (SpeedWMS) Inbound rexeipt became a thing of joy as so many tally clerks hustled to join the Inbound team back in 2016. Memories! Indeed technology is great!