One of the first supply chain processes recognized as gaining benefit from the use of RFID technology is automatic shipping of finished goods to other storage facilities, distribution centers and stores.

Current RFID mandates have focused on the use of RFID technology to automatically read pallet tags as they are driven into a truck and out of a facility. Using RFID technology to capture the EPC code on an outbound pallet provides some of these benefits:

• Eliminate the need for a hand held or truck mount terminal and/or bar code scanner for material handlers
• Eliminate the need to point and shoot at a bar code on each pallet loaded
• Provide visual indicators to a fork truck operator regarding pallets being loaded onto the proper truck
• Automatically confirm loading of product without human intervention
• Streamline the amount of time it takes to load a pallet into the truck:
  • Eliminate the need to stage, scan the bar code, then pickup and load the pallet
  • Loading is accomplished simply by driving the pallet into the truck
• Provide increased visibility to loaded product
  • There is no delay between the time product exits the facility and when it is recorded/confirmed
  • Pallets are read as they are loaded not after they are loaded and the dock door closed

Current RFID mandates have also focused on the use of RFID technology to automatically read carton tags as they pass along on a conveyor system. In many distribution centers and freight depots cartons of product are floor loaded into trucks for parcel delivery. Using RFID technology to capture the EPC code on an outbound pallet provides some of these benefits:

• Eliminate the need for a fixed mount scanner on the conveyor:
  • Scanners have optical lenses and oscillating components that require regular cleaning and/or maintenance
  • RFID interrogators are solid state and have no moving parts
• Automatically confirm loading/manifesting of product without human intervention
• Streamline the amount of time it takes to load cartons onto a truck:
  • Eliminate the need to handle cartons one at a time. Multiple cartons may be read at once
  • Loading is accomplished simply by conveying the carton past an RFID reader
• Provide increased visibility to loaded product

You do not need to rely on a material handler to scan each individual carton