{"id":26680,"date":"2023-02-13T13:24:01","date_gmt":"2023-02-13T19:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/?p=26680"},"modified":"2023-02-13T13:24:02","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T19:24:02","slug":"improve-returnable-container-tracking-with-rfid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/improve-returnable-container-tracking-with-rfid\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve Returnable Container Tracking with RFID"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returnable Transfer Items (RTIs), or returnable containers are critical assets for almost all manufacturing and logistics organizations. RTIs transport stock and commodities from one site to another. However, keeping track of your RTIs is a different story. Well-known manufacturers and logistics expert still often rely on manual methods, such as traditional scanning, spreadsheet, or pen and paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This leads to a major issue: inventory shrinkage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"\/<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mismanagement of returnable containers owing to theft, unrecorded damage, or simply the inability of consumers to return empty pallets, kegs, and boxes costs a fortune<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How are Your Returnable Transfer Items Being Tracked Currently?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Barcode labels used to tag the cargo of a container during shipment are often non-permanent. Traditional barcode scanners and labels identify the contents<\/em> of the container, but seldom provide reverse logistics tracking for the containers themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using permanent barcode labels as the foundation for a container monitoring system is not feasible. I know that might be strange to hear from a company called Barcodes, Inc. But scanning labels at various stages of the supply chain sometimes necessitates extra human effort, which is even more difficult when empty containers pile up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One solution is to establish a tracking system utilizing modern asset tracking technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reducing Yearly Inventory Shrinkage with RFID<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

“15% of all pallets in circulation vanish” or “20% of all packaging\/equipment is lost owing to consumers retaining them for their own use or third parties removing them for their own use.”<\/strong><\/p>\nSLS RFID 2016 Study<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Inventory shrinkage is a major issue in the management of returnable transfer items (RTIs), which include all types of shipping containers, packaging, pallets, kegs, and boxes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shrinkage due to theft, unreported damage, or just consumers failing to return empty containers is a serious concern in this field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estimated annual shrinkage rates are anywhere from 3 to 9%<\/strong>. If you’re constantly replacing lost or stolen RTIs, the impact on profitability is a huge problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For organizations to decrease RTI shrinkage, RFID is appealing due to completely automated scanning without line-of-sight, as well as mass tag reading. The key advantage of RFID-based container monitoring systems is an improvement in container return rates. New containers are purchased in smaller batches and less frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Data Can Be Tracked with RFID Tags?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Integrating the RFiD Discovery system with your ERP system enables company-wide visibility of your RTIs, ensuring that essential assets are accessible at the relevant locations to fulfill any transportation request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exactly what<\/em> the RFID ultimately tracks depends on your unique tracking requirements. Here are some examples of the depth of data you can store in a small RFID tag:<\/p>\n\n\n\n