Rent.Group increases process quality in its circular economy with RFID for 7 million items

Especially in the event business, the demands are very high. Everything must be delivered in the type, quantity and exactly at the time agreed. Keeping the delivery promise essentially depends on the speed and quality of the logistics processes. RFID Konsortium has digitalised and automated logistics processes for Rent.Group. A project challenge of particular complexity due to very specialised and individual processes.

• Error-sensitive list checks via triple checks and manual ticking off
• Reduced transparency of inventory, especially across all locations
• Increased customer complaints put a strain on all departments in the rental process: service, warehouse, accounting, etc. and are cost-intensive
• Expensive last-minute deliveries
• Dissatisfaction with incorrect deliveries
• Time-consuming replacement of lost or defective items

• 100% stock transparency across all warehouse locations
• Online availability enquiry for all warehouses
• Track & Trace of each individual item throughout the entire rental cycle
• Electronic delivery note
• Automation of all logistics processes

With 100,000 events per year, it was essential to switch from paper-based picking to a digitalised system. Before the new solution was introduced, the visual inspection of the type and number of items was still carried out manually. After their return, all items had to be checked again using a list in a time-consuming process before being put back into storage. Missing items not only had to be recorded as shrinkage, but also retrieved. A manually initiated process that also took time. It was also critical for items that were already scheduled for the next order. If items ordered at the event location were missing, they usually had to be delivered under extreme time pressure.

The company’s expansion and the range of rental items, which has now grown to 7 million, made automated intralogistics and efficient track-and-trace in the entire event industry necessary.

The management opted for RFID-based labelling of all items as the basis for digitalised inventory management, paperless order picking and the introduction of electronic delivery notes.

On this basis, two further key objectives were realised:

1. the introduction of a new warehouse management system (WMS), taking into account company-specific processes and

2. the implementation of RFID-supported processes, such as inventory, picking, loading, delivery, retrieval, unloading, cleaning, VDE testing and restocking.

At the loading gates, consignments in RF KonSys Gates are matched with their respective order within a few seconds. The loading process is thus automatically secured. At the gate monitor, the employee receives confirmation of the successful loading order check via a green light. Errors are displayed there via an alert.

HU (handling unit) labels are also attached directly to the load carriers to clearly identify them and ensure an additional control instance of the loading order directly at the gate. This allows handling units (HUs) to be found and allocated throughout the warehouse via track and trace. A valuable feature, especially during the peak season.

Rent.Group’s equipment logistics now run smoothly, error-free, automated, digitalised and cheaper than before. Complaints, customer dissatisfaction and time-consuming search and research processes or expensive subsequent deliveries no longer exist. All departments now have an overview of every customer status within the circular economy. Items are also available for reletting more quickly across all locations. Deliveries and returns are monitored and are reported back in real time. The entire circular economy can be tracked via a Track&Trace system.

The system enables Rent.Group to react very flexibly to customer orders.
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