The client
The client is a large logistics enterprise headquartered in Rotterdam, with warehouse facilities across Europe.
Its warehouses handle high volumes of stock through receiving, storage, transfers, verification and dispatch. Stock records were kept in a system, but finding and confirming physical items still meant scanning them one by one.
The challenge
Warehouse counts took a lot of time and effort. Every item had to be found and scanned by hand, so the records were only as current as the last count.
- Physical verification was slow because items were scanned one at a time.
- Manual identification led to discrepancies between records and shelves.
- Stock updates lagged behind what was actually moving through the warehouse.
- Counting took significant effort across high-volume operations.
What they set up in Asset Infinity
The company added RFID tags and readers to its warehouse operations in Asset Infinity, linking each tag to the item’s record and location.
RFID tags linked to records
Selected stock categories carry RFID tags, each linked to its record in the system, so a read identifies the item without a line-of-sight scan. (Connected)
Readers where stock moves
Fixed readers at doorways and gates record items moving between areas, and handheld readers are used for counts and checks in the aisles. (Connected)
Stock by location
Stock is recorded by warehouse area, so counts, transfers and verification are matched against what should be in each location. (Stores)
Movement visibility
Reports show stock and its movements by area, giving supervisors a clearer picture of what is where. (Insight)
How it works day to day
Here is how RFID fits into a working day in the warehouse.
- Receiving team: tags incoming stock. Items in the RFID categories are tagged on arrival, and each tag is linked to the item’s record and storage location.
- System: records movements at the gates. Fixed readers at doorways and gates read tags as items pass, so moves between warehouse areas are recorded without a manual scan.
- Warehouse staff: transfer stock. When stock is moved between locations or storerooms, the transfer is recorded against both places so each stays accurate.
- Counter: counts with a handheld reader. During a count, a handheld reader picks up tags in an area at once instead of scanning each item, and the results are compared with the record.
- Supervisor: resolves differences. Items missing or in the wrong place show up after the count, so they can be found and the record corrected.
- Dispatch team: confirms outgoing stock. Items leaving the warehouse are read on the way out, keeping the movement record complete.
- Operations manager: reviews stock by area. Reports show quantities and movements by warehouse area, so problems with accuracy or flow are easy to spot.
Before and after
| Before | With Asset Infinity | |
|---|---|---|
| Counting | Item-by-item scanning, high effort | RFID reading during counts |
| Verification | Slow physical checks | Quicker checks against the record |
| Accuracy | Manual identification errors | Tags linked to each item’s record |
| Stock updates | Delayed | Movements recorded as items pass readers |
| Visibility | Limited view across areas | Stock and movements by warehouse area |
How it rolled out
- Areas and items chosen. The team reviewed volumes and counting problems, then picked the stock categories and warehouse areas suited to RFID.
- Tags and readers set up. Tags were linked to inventory records, and compatible readers were configured for the relevant tracking workflows.
- Teams trained, process refined. Warehouse teams learned RFID scanning and verification, and tagging was refined as it was used.
The results
- Quicker physical inventory checks with RFID reading
- Less repetitive item-by-item scanning
- Fewer manual identification errors in stock verification
- Clearer view of inventory across warehouse areas
- Better traceability of stock movements
- Less manual effort in verification and tracking
Why it worked
Started where it pays
RFID went first to the stock categories and areas where manual scanning cost the most time.
Tags tied to records
Each tag points to an item record, so every read updates the same data the rest of the business uses.
Refined in use
Tagging and workflows were adjusted after go-live based on how the warehouse teams actually worked.
Looking ahead
The logistics company moved from heavily manual verification to RFID-supported tracking across receiving, storage, counting and dispatch.
Teams identify stock faster, verify it with less effort and see movements between areas as they happen. That has improved inventory accuracy and made warehouse work more efficient.