Efficiency is the name of the game in business.
The more efficient an enterprise is, the more money leaders save and can reinvest in it. Technology has made this endeavor increasingly possible, and RFID is one of the many modern tools offering this advantage and more.
However, integrating RFID into existing systems requires careful attention.
Determine the Integration’s Goals
To find the best RFID option for the company, decision-makers must outline why they want to include it in the first place.
Are stockers trying to reduce manual errors stockers? Considering poor inventory management costs brands worldwide over $1 trillion, is the team looking to spot bottlenecks faster? Is real-time visibility more of a necessity? Pinpointing specific parameters that determine success assists in choosing the right solution and measuring its usefulness.
Take Stock of the Existing Systems
Next, conducting a few analyses is vital for a clear view of the current tech layout. Staff should look into shipping, tracking and inventory management systems to find gaps RFID could fill. A waste audit of software like enterprise resource planning (ERP) can help spot unnecessary inventory, defects, overproduction and more.
The IT department must ensure the existing systems are compatible with RFID to avoid later hindrances. The facility also has to be able to support RFID technology, so leaders should examine if infrastructure updates are necessary.
Find the Best RFID Solution
With those considerations in mind, it’s time to look for RFID technology offerings that suit the needs and requirements of the organization. Factors like the reader range, scalability, and active and passive tags are also important to note. Some solutions may also have extra but valuable capabilities, potentially for a higher price.
For example, quality is critical for consumer safety and corporate survival in the food and beverage industry. In 2024, researchers proposed an RFID tag with artificial intelligence assistance that enables accurate and fast product quality assurance. This capability increases productivity by eliminating manual processes so workers can focus on business-critical tasks. Evaluate if such features justify the additional cost and fit within the budget.
Leaders should also select an integration platform. Gaining the tools to manage the process and the following data flows is crucial.
Prepare to Integrate the Data
Now, the early steps of integration can begin. Leaders should start by checking that the RFID system will communicate with the current warehouse software, utilizing an application programming interface as a bridge wherever necessary. Making sure all the information is compatible can reduce the chance of error and improve consistency.
In addition to preparing the software and data, IT employees must utilize security features to ensure both are safe from outsider or insider threats.
- Encryption: The data should not be legible while in transit or storage. Encrypting it ensures thieves can’t do anything with it.
- Access control: No one should be able to access these systems who doesn’t need to for their work. Locking things down this way helps stop cybercriminals if they’re able to reach them via stolen credentials. If the worker doesn’t need that data, the threat can’t get to it.
- Logs: Creating an integration log is helpful for spotting errors and potential bad actors. The former means someone can more easily locate where the mistake occurred, while the latter takes users’ typical activity into account to pinpoint when credentials may have been stolen.
After guaranteeing cohesion and implementing security, RFID integration can begin.
Test the Newly Integrated Systems
If all has gone well, the RFID system should work alongside tracking, inventory management, ERP and other relevant software. However, before fully launching the new process, begin with small tests. There are likely still some bugs to fix, so factoring in a few test runs helps verify the security and efficiency of the integration at full launch.
Choose a few small areas of the company to test the system in, such as certain locations, items or workflows. Does it achieve the goals outlined in the first step? Successful integration should make processes smoother and more efficient, which can help brands earn more. If the integration is lacking according to their specific metrics, evaluate the test’s results to see if there are still issues or possible refinements slowing operations down.
When RFID merges with existing systems, it helps decision-makers better their inventory management, gives them real-time insights into multiple points of the supply chain and increases efficiency to save them money. However, the process requires care to be done right. Use these steps to integrate RFID into existing systems safely, optimally and cost-effectively.