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Farmacias del Ahorro Prescribes RFID to Track Assets
Nauter leveraged Tracient's software development kit (SDK) to integrate the readers with the BlackBerry 8700G, then developed a Java application to run on the 8700G's RIM operating system. The company also created an interface application so the BlackBerry could send RFID data via a cellular network to a central server at Farmacias' data center in Mexico City.
Following the 2007 trial, Nauter worked with Farmacias to roll out the system to all of its franchise stores. Camacho and his colleagues taught 40 of the pharmacy chain's employees how to affix tags to office furniture, worktables, chairs, computer equipment, store displays, plasma TVs, security equipment (such as video cameras and video recorders), network routers, and motorcycles and small trucks used to deliver medicine and other goods to pharmacies. Nauter also instructed the staff on how to use the interrogators in conjunction with the BlackBerries, and how to operate the Java application. The firm calculates that one person can inventory an entire store's assets in approximately 45 minutes, Camacho says, and about four or five stores in a single day.
According to Camacho, plans are currently underway to expand the Java application in the second quarter of 2009. Nauter will work with the pharmacy chain to modify the software so that when stores periodically inventory their assets, they can compare the new tag reads with inventories previously conducted.
"When Farmacias wants to do a follow-up on inventory at a certain store," Camacho states, "the employee will just download inventory information to the PDA from a central server, start reading tags, and if there is a difference, the application will tell them that there are some assets that aren't showing up." Additionally, he notes, Farmacias will incorporate the RFID system into two new warehouses, and may also begin tagging assets at all five warehouses before sending those items to the individual stores.
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Following the 2007 trial, Nauter worked with Farmacias to roll out the system to all of its franchise stores. Camacho and his colleagues taught 40 of the pharmacy chain's employees how to affix tags to office furniture, worktables, chairs, computer equipment, store displays, plasma TVs, security equipment (such as video cameras and video recorders), network routers, and motorcycles and small trucks used to deliver medicine and other goods to pharmacies. Nauter also instructed the staff on how to use the interrogators in conjunction with the BlackBerries, and how to operate the Java application. The firm calculates that one person can inventory an entire store's assets in approximately 45 minutes, Camacho says, and about four or five stores in a single day.
"When Farmacias wants to do a follow-up on inventory at a certain store," Camacho states, "the employee will just download inventory information to the PDA from a central server, start reading tags, and if there is a difference, the application will tell them that there are some assets that aren't showing up." Additionally, he notes, Farmacias will incorporate the RFID system into two new warehouses, and may also begin tagging assets at all five warehouses before sending those items to the individual stores.
