How to Eliminate Manual Inventory Counts with RFID

Inventory management is arguably the most important part of the decision making process in a company, this applies to the departments of retail, hospitality, manufacturing, or logistics alike. However, the manual counting of stocks using traditional methods is still a very lengthy process, prone to mistakes, and it affects the performance of other activities. Those businesses which are still dependent on clipboards, spreadsheets, or barcode scans usually face the problem of inaccuracies, delays, and the misappropriation of labor hours.

This is exactly the point where RFID Inventory Management can make a difference. Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology, companies can keep their inventories updated automatically, minimize the number of errors, and register the movement of their goods even at the very moment of the transaction. To be more specific, we will look into the ways of how RFID can solve the most burdensome part of inventory management, which is manual count, what benefits this technology can bring, and how companies can implement the technology to make RFID tracking more efficient. 

The Problem with Manual Inventory Counts

Most businesses are quite familiar with the inconveniences that come with manual inventory counting.

• Time consuming processes – Staff may be counting stock in warehouses or retail stores for several hours and hence the process may take several days.
• Human error – Along with miscounts, data entry mistakes and skipped items are among the causes of the problem
• Disruption of operations – Businesses usually have to stop sales or production during stocktakes.
• Inaccurate insights – Relying on outdated data makes it challenging to plan for replenishment, track the loss of goods, or forecast demand.

It is not only that manual counts are inefficient but they are also costly. The lack of accurate inventory data can lead to overstocking, stockouts, or financial losses.

What is RFID and How Does It Work?

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is one of the technologies which uses an electromagnetic field to identify and track items with tags automatically. In contrast with barcodes, there are no line of sight requirements for scanning RFID tags. Tags can be read simultaneously, from far away, and in real time.

Typically an RFID system consists of:

• RFID tags – Identified by small chips with embedded unique identification data.
• RFID readers – Instruments that use radio waves to scan and get the information of the tag.
• RFID software – The main unit that fetches, arranges, and exhibits the real time inventory data.

Such a smooth integration allows companies to know instantly what they have, where it is, and how the inventory levels are changing without doing manual counts.

How RFID Eliminates Manual Inventory Counts

The entire inventory tracking process is changed fundamentally by switching to RFID Inventory Solution. The reasons are the following:

1. Real Time Tracking

RFID offers constant visibility instead of manual checks that are done periodically. The RFID tag of the item that is going into or out of the facility is scanned automatically and therefore the system is updated instantly.

2. Bulk Scanning

RFID can read one hundred items at a time even if they are inside boxes or are on the shelves whereas barcodes can only read them visually. The time used for cycle counts or audits is cut down to a fraction of the original time.

3. Accuracy Without Human Error

Counting manually can lead to errors, but RFID will eliminate those errors because it uses automated data capture. Companies can get accuracy levels exceeding 99%.

4. Faster Audits and Stock Checks

It is now possible to do in minutes what used to take days. To illustrate, a warehouse staff member equipped with a handheld RFID reader can stroll the aisles and scan thousands of products in less time than with other methods.

5. No Operational Disruptions

As a result of the continuous monitoring enabled by RFID, businesses are no longer required to halt their activities for a physical stocktaking. Inventory modifications are made quietly behind the scenes.

Benefits of RFID Inventory Tracking

RFID Inventory Solution adoption covers a wide range of benefits:

• Time and labor savings – Significantly reduce the number of man-hours required for manual counting.
• Improved accuracy – Guarantee that the inventory data is not only current but also trustworthy.
• Enhanced productivity – Make employees happier by letting them carry out the tasks that really matter instead of the monotonous counting.
• Better decision-making – The access to data in real time gives the opportunity to buy, stocking and forecasting become smarter.
• Loss prevention – Continue the flow of inventory that will enable you to identify the cases of theft, shrinkage, or misplacement.
• Scalability – It is very easy for the RFID systems to adjust to stock requirements without further manual work as they grow.

Use Cases of RFID in Inventory Management

RFID technology is bringing good fortune to various sectors:

• Retail – Achieve stock accuracy, make replenishment more efficient, improve customer experience with the availability updated in real time.
• Hospitality – Using the technology to track the linens, uniforms, and other high value assets without involving manual checks.
• Manufacturing – Keep the record of the raw materials, components and finished goods to the production process without any interruption.
• Healthcare – Locate medical supplies, equipment and pharmaceuticals with the help of technology to ensure compliance and availability.
• Logistics & Warehousing – Make stock counting a non-laborious task, storage becomes more versatile and order picking is done with the highest accuracy.

Implementing RFID for Your Business

Changing over from manual inventory counts to RFID does not necessarily have to be a confusing process. Here is the procedure one step at a time:

• Analyze your inventory problems – Recognize the places where manual counts have caused delays, errors, or a decrease in money.
• Select the RFID solution that fits you best – Get the tags, readers, and software that are suitable for your business requirements.
• Try out the system through a pilot test – Be brief with the product line or the warehouse area.
• Combine it with your present systems – Coordinate the software of RFID and the systems of ERP, WMS, or POS for an easy flow of data.
• Make sure of the staff’s competence – Employees need to be trained on the use of handheld readers, portals, or dashboards.
• Implement throughout the company – After that, you can take cover of all stock and locations and spread it to the extent of the organization.

Why RFID is the Future of Inventory Management

Manual inventory counts tend to be less and less frequent. In the rapidly moving business world today, real time and accurate inventory visibility of the stock is no longer a nice to have, but a must have. RFID Inventory Management not just saves the company from human errors but also provides the company with the new levels of efficiency and the control.

RFID Inventory Tracking allows businesses to:

• Use resources in a more efficient and intelligent way.
• Increase customer satisfaction by ensuring the continuous availability of products.
• Save money by reducing the stock of which the capital is tied or the risk of lost inventory.
• Be prepared for changes in the future using a technology that allows them to adjust easily.

Conclusion

RFID to do away with manual inventory counts is not just a mere technological upgrade; it is a strategic decision that has a direct correlation with efficiency, accuracy and profitability. The technology is the game changer that offers a quicker, more intelligent, and reliable way to keep your stock in check no matter the industry you are in.

We at Acube Infotech, are the go to people for the most innovative RFID Inventory Management system that fits your business perfectly. We do everything from hardware and software integration to full scale deployment, enabling companies to switch off manual counts and on to real time visibility without any difficulty.

Do you want to get rid of spreadsheets and manual stocktaking?

A call to Acube Infotech and a visit to your premises will be enough to tell you how RFID technology can bring a revolution in your inventory management.