Traditionally, warehouse management has relied on manual system to track inventory levels and location. This has led to inefficiencies and errors that can cost businesses dearly.
Barcode and RFID technologies offer a much-needed solution to these age-old problems.
By automating the tracking of inventory, these technologies can help businesses improve operational efficiency, make better decisions and save money.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how barcode and RFID technologies are changing the warehouse management landscape – and why you should consider adopting them for your business.
How does RFID and barcode technology benefit warehouse management?
Barcode and RFID technologies offer many benefits for warehouse management. Firstly, they automate the process of tracking inventory levels and location. This eliminates the need for manual data entry, which is often error prone.
Additionally, these technologies provide real-time visibility into inventory levels. This helps businesses to avoid stock-outs and to make more informed decisions about restocking levels.
Importantly, barcode and RFID technologies can also help businesses to save money. They can do this by reducing the amount of time needed to complete stock take and by reducing the amount of inventory that is lost or misplaced.
The Warehouse Management Process
The warehouse management process generally consists of five key steps: receiving, put-away, picking, shipping and returns.
Barcode and RFID technologies can be used to automate all these steps. For example, when inventory is received at the warehouse, it can be scanned with a handheld device to validate the purchase order and record receiving. This would then update the inventory management system with the new stock levels.
When it comes time to pick inventory for an order, a handheld device can be used to scan the barcodes of the items that need to be picked. This would then provide the picker with real-time information about where the items are located in the warehouse.
Shipping orders can also be streamlined with barcode and RFID technology. For instance, when an order is ready to be shipped, the items can be scanned and the shipping information can be automatically generated. This would save time and reduce the chance of errors.
In conclusion, barcode and RFID technologies offer many benefits for warehouse management. By automating the process of tracking inventory, these technologies can help businesses to improve operational efficiency, make better decisions, and save money.