Warehouse Management and an Automatic Identification System

An automatic identification system is the only way forward, with the market estimated to soon be worth £49 billion.

After the pandemic, with its countless lockdowns and restrictions, it is easy to see why.

The system is more than barcodes and scanners. It can change your warehouse management landscape.

Wondering how? Below we’ll cover not only what the system is, but how your warehouse management system can benefit from it.

What Is an Automatic Identification System?

An automatic identification system is a collection of automatic identification devices used in warehouse management. The system provides increased efficiency and accuracy in stock-keeping. It doesn’t require any heavy equipment. as you capture data by simply using a mobile computer or fixed scanner.

The automatic identification or Auto-ID devices provide ease in data capturing and reduce human errors connected to inventory taking.

Look at it this way, a new batch of products arrives at your warehouse and you need to capture their expiration dates, batch codes, weight and likely more information. Done manually by a human worker, that process is time-consuming and open to clerical errors.

An Auto-ID system, be it barcodes, RFID or QRC, helps warehouses develop an automatic data-capture system that is easy, accurate and efficient.

Auto-ID Technology for Warehouse Management

Auto-ID technology has advanced since the first barcode was scanned in 1947. Today automatic identification systems are more interconnected than ever and integral when it comes to providing accuracy in the supply chain.

Here is the best Auto-ID for warehouse inventory management:

Barcodes:
Barcodes hit the commercial scene with the emergence of the Universal Product Code (UPC). UPC is the most widely known barcode of the existing 30 major barcodes.

Barcodes encode the information of a package. They are like an identification card for products. When scanned, barcodes will reveal information like weight or date of manufacturing, name etc.

There are two major types of barcodes used in manufacturing; traditional linear barcode (1D) and two-dimensional barcode. (2D)

The traditional 1D barcodes don’t allow for as much data storage as the more advanced 2D/QR barcodes.

To capture the data from barcodes, you will need a quality barcode reader/scanner.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
An RFID system provides an advanced tracking system that facilitates two-way communication. Like with a barcode, an RFID encodes a package’s data on an RFID tag.

The upside of an RFID tracking system is that it doesn’t require direct contact with the package. The system uses a transceiver to send information to an antenna through radio waves. The transceiver will then communicate with the RFID tag which is a transponder.

The major downside of an RFID system is the price tag. They are expensive and are a substantial investment for small businesses.

QR Code (QRC)
Take a barcode, change its shape to a square then pixelate it. What you have is a QR Code.

QR Codes were first introduced in 1994 by a Japanese engineer. The idea was to create a high-paced tracking system for vehicles during manufacturing. And even in warehouses, the idea is still the same.

QR Codes carry a product’s data and can easily be captured by most digital devices including smartphones.

Implementing Auto-ID into Your Inventory System

An automatic identification system is essential if not a must for any inventory system. Successful implementation of auto-ID will bring productivity to your warehouse.

But to do that, you will need quality products from a trusted brand. That is what you will find at Supplyline ID. We are a family-run business that is crazy about Auto-ID.