Accurate real-time stock management for error-free permanent inventory

Only items that are in stock can be sold. In order to be and remain able to deliver, companies need to keep an eye on their stocks at all times. However, exact stock figures are often not available. The consequences are missed sales opportunities due to understocking or unnecessary storage costs due to excess stock. What’s more, the statutory reporting date inventory only provides a snapshot, but not continuous inventory tracking in real time. In practice, traditional manual stocktaking is time-consuming, error-prone and costly. It is not uncommon for the business to have to take a break to “count” or for the inventory to only be possible with additional staff at the weekend.

Inventarisierung

Real-time inventory offers advantages for warehouse, sales and controlling

Real-time or perpetual inventory is one of the biggest advantages offered by RFID technology. With our RFID-based inventory management, you get a reliable, transparent real-time view of all items. And all without the classic, error-prone inventory effort. Your controlling, logistics and sales departments will all benefit:

  • Improved stock accuracy:
    By continuously monitoring and updating stock data, inaccuracies and discrepancies can be detected and rectified immediately. This leads to greater stock accuracy and reduces the risk of over- or understocking.
  • More efficient operating processes:
    As stocktaking is carried out in real time, there is no need for time-consuming, periodic inventories. This saves time and resources and enables smoother operations.
  • Faster response to changes in demand:
    With real-time inventory data, you can react faster to changes in demand. This enables more efficient replenishment planning and reduces the risk of missed sales opportunities.

Improve your stock accuracy, reduce errors and use your staff more efficiently.

Inventarisierung

RF KonSys Inventory Module

We select the right RFID tag for labeling your products. In doing so, we take into account the different material properties of the substrates, such as plastic, metal or textiles, and even difficult environmental conditions due to extreme temperatures, dirt and moisture. Before use, we put the selected tag through its paces under real application conditions (proof-of-concept) and in individual tests with our partner laboratories.

Our inventory solution is designed to work with both barcodes and RFID, and we can help you find the optimal combination for your specific needs.
This results in optional hardware possibilities: Option: Mobile handheld devices (handheld) with RFID

  • Advantage of simultaneous scanning without line of sight
  • Reduction of human error

Option: Stationary reading points (readers) / RFID gates, RFID tunnels / RFID bridges

  • Permanent inventory
  • Real-time updates
  • Fully automated, without an operator
  • Storage bin bound

Option: Stationary readers on forklifts or other industrial trucks

  • For storage and retrieval
  • Advantage of simultaneous scanning and assignment to the storage location
  • Fully automated
  • With connection to common forklift visualizations

We recommend the best combination within the solutions based on the greatest profitability.

First, we take a look at your current stocktaking process. Whether it is a guided or unguided inventory, we will provide you with an inventory concept that is optimized for your requirements based on an analysis of the current situation. It may be that a combination of barcode and/or RFID with intelligent filtering makes sense in your company. We always check the possibility of simplified readings. The task is completed when the inventory levels are recorded correctly, quickly and permanently. Either through mobile, stationary or fully automated readings. Sometimes a hybrid model can also be practicable. To this end, we also talk to warehouse employees and record their everyday experiences.
“All articles at a glance” – we mean that literally. We offer your team a graphically appealing visualization that is easy to work with. We use intuitive procedures, such as input confirmations via image or sound, to ensure a high level of user acceptance. User-friendliness is just as important to us as comprehensive analyses for your control center: filter options by item per storage location, difference lists or other filters. We provide the data that makes your team’s day-to-day work easier.
The inventory data automatically generated in the warehouse using RFID readers is permanently compared with your warehouse management system and  ERP system. Regardless of which warehouse management system you use, we can connect it to your proprietary WMS solution as well as to  Microsoft Dynamics, SAP™ WM or SAP™ EWM. We adapt all the necessary protocols. Maintaining ongoing operations and the security of your data are our top priorities.

Our sales department must be able to rely on the stocks in the system. We lose customers if we cannot deliver.

Scheduling Manager, in the “Real-time inventory” project

Application Examples

Inventory overview Cruise with RFID - RIFD Consortium
Catering operations on cruise ships monitor the condition of tablecloths and napkins by means of a so-called housekeeping linen inventory. The aim is to avoid bottlenecks in the cleaning cycle of the equipment. In the hotel industry, towels and bed linen are also tracked on board. Their quantities, condition (e.g. soiled or cleaned) and current location can be viewed transparently at any time via an RFID-based permanent inventory. The inventory does not have to be taken at night, but takes place automatically during ongoing (restaurant) operations.

Stationary readers and antennas in the warehouse record all items in the storage and retrieval process. Inventory movements can be recorded either by a forklift solution and/or the installation of RFID gates (gate solution). The resulting real-time inventory provides reliable stock transparency.

The differentiated inventory view of all items also makes the products that are stored according to the first-in-first-out principle (FiFo) visible. The real-time inventory allows monitoring of storage times and the time items remain in the warehouse. Inventory turnover rates and items that are subject to a shelf life or seasonal dependency are therefore always present and do not become a stock keeper.

Case Studies | References

Inventarverfolgung Schiffs Hotellerie - RFID Konsortium

Cruise Inventory

Inventory in the cruise hotel industry

READ PROJECT CASE

available modules
Rückverfolgung von Eventinventar - RFID Konsortium

Event rental

Europe's largest event service provider works more economically and makes party guests happy in the process

READ PROJECT CASE

available modules
Pharmalabor Sample Management mit RFID - RFID Konsortium

Pharma Research

Material Track & Trace in pharmaceutical research

READ PROJECT CASE

available modules

How Does Your Inventory Benefit from the RF KonSys Module?

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RFID-based inventory

  • Time saving: You capture many RFID tags at once, without visual contact, even when moving (industrial truck drives through RFID gate)

  • Real-time updates: You can track and manage your stocks in real time.
    This allows you to react quickly to changes in demand.
    You are independent of the key date inventory.

  • Accuracy: With RFID, you increase the accuracy of your inventory data by minimizing human error.
    The inventory data is automatically synchronized with the ERP.

  • Profitability: By improving stock accuracy and reducing errors, you save costs and increase your profitability.
  • Integration: Our RFID solutions can be easily integrated into your existing systems, enabling a seamless changeover.
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Manual inventory

  • Time required: Visual contact with the barcode is required to record an article.

  • Labor-intensive: Manual counting processes with paper lists or manual scanning of all item barcodes using a handheld device – extra personnel costs are often incurred due to weekend work.

  • Error-prone: Implies human error.
    Transfer of manually counted data or Excel lists to ERP necessary.

Conclusion

Our inventory solutions are designed to work with both barcodes and RFID.
We will find the optimum combination for your needs.
Available solutions:

  • Forklift localization with RFID
  • RFID reader stations on the conveyor system
  • Combined barcode and RFID solutions with printing systems and scanners (mobile and stationary)
Nehmen Sie Kontakt zu uns auf - RFID Konsortium

Interested in accurate stocks and real-time inventory?

We will be happy to answer your questions and discuss possible inventory scenarios.