Enhancing Asset Management with Forefront RFID Technology
Warehouses are busier than ever before, with operators struggling to keep up with exponential demands, rising logistics costs, and labour challenges, all while satisfying rising customer expectations. Achieving maximum operational efficiency and workforce productivity is absolutely critical in 2023, but that all hinges on the visibility of critical assets. Without this, businesses face challenges in streamlining operations, reducing costs, and improving customer service. The advancement of RFID technology has enabled businesses to not only track the whereabouts of inventory, equipment, and employees but also monitor their movement and direction. Additionally, the cost-effectiveness and performance of RFID readers and tags contribute to a superior return on investment.
More and more businesses are considering an investment in RFID technology to help automate their inventory, data capture, and tracking processes. A global leader in the RFID space for over 30 years, Zebra Technologies has introduced a new class of RFID reader – the ATR7000 – which offers exclusive, advanced technology that enables businesses to see the pinpoint location of all their inventory, forklifts, equipment, workers and more in real-time. This deep visibility allows businesses to streamline their operations, improve workforce productivity, reduce costs, and better serve their customers.
So how does it work?
The ATR7000 electronically steers and processes several hundreds of narrow flashlight-style beams simultaneously, providing highly accurate asset location, within 2 ft./0.6m or less. Meanwhile, the wide-angle antenna delivers up to double the coverage area of typical competitive fixed readers. Dual circular and linear coverage patterns ensure all tags in the coverage zone are visible, regardless of the size or complexity of the environment.
The device also simplifies deployment with its streamlined and integrated configuration and management interface, allowing for automatic discovery and configuration of connected ATR7000 readers on the local network without any manual intervention.
Installation of the Zebra readers is also made convenient with various mounting and power options available. The built-in pole mounting facilitates overhead installation, and the standard VESA mount offers additional versatile mounting choices. By utilising the +24 VDC power supply and supporting 802.3at Power-over-Ethernet Plus, the requirement for an outlet and the associated time and cost of installing a power drop are eliminated.
Zebra's software tools offer efficient development for RFID applications, accommodating both basic single dock door setups and extensive coverage of large warehouses or manufacturing plants. The RFID Application Programming Interface (API) facilitates quick and easy deployment, while the Configuration and Location Analytics Software (CLAS) saves significant application development time by automating data collection, real-time location calculation, and streaming of precise location data to any Warehouse Management System (WMS). With passive UHF tags and the ability to cover a much larger area – up to double that of other readers – hardware and maintenance costs are also significantly reduced.
In the warehouse, labour is the biggest operational cost. Profitability and customer service quality are directly tied to the productivity of the warehouse workforce. As a result, businesses need to continually find ways to increase productivity, despite the issues that plague virtually every warehouse.
Advanced RFID technology like the Zebra ATR7000 has emerged as a game changer to this problem, providing unmatched visibility, streamlining operations, reducing costs, and improving customer service. By embracing this technology and unlocking new levels of efficiency, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and drive success in today's dynamic marketplace.
Find out more about Zebra’s ATR7000 here.