The client
The client is a large retail chain operating multiple outlets.
Its stores carry a diverse range of stock, along with equipment and tools that keep them running. Stock levels, replenishment and the location of items had been tracked by hand in each outlet.
The challenge
Manual tracking was slow and often wrong. Stores ran out of some items and held too much of others, staff spent time looking for misplaced items, and customers did not always find what they came for.
- Manual stock tracking and location updates were slow and inaccurate.
- Stores faced both stockouts and overstocking.
- No real-time view of stock levels or item movements.
- Staff spent time searching for misplaced items.
- Gaps on shelves affected the customer experience.
What they set up in Asset Infinity
The chain tagged items with RFID and managed them in Asset Infinity, with readers in its facilities and alerts on dashboards.
RFID tags and readers
Items, equipment and tools carry RFID tags, and readers installed across facilities record their location as they move. (Connected)
Replenishment alerts
Reorder points and reorder advice show which items to replenish before shelves run empty. (Stores)
Records synced with tags
Each tag is linked to a record in Asset Infinity, so every read updates that item’s location and history. (Assets)
Dashboard and alerts
A dashboard shows location, use and maintenance status, with alerts for maintenance schedules and item movement. (Insight)
How it works day to day
Here is how stock and equipment are now tracked in the stores.
- Store staff: tag new items. New items, equipment and tools get an RFID tag linked to their record in Asset Infinity.
- System: records movement. Readers installed across facilities record tagged items as they pass, so their location stays current.
- Store staff: find an item fast. Instead of searching the store, staff check the item’s last recorded location and go straight to it.
- System: flags low stock. When an item falls to its reorder point, it appears in reorder advice for the store.
- Store manager: replenishes. The manager acts on reorder advice, keeping shelves stocked without overordering.
- Operations team: watches the dashboard. The dashboard shows location, use and maintenance status, with alerts for movements and maintenance that is due.
Before and after
| Before | With Asset Infinity | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock tracking | Manual and often inaccurate | RFID reads update records |
| Replenishment | Stockouts and overstocking | Reorder advice, 30% fewer stockouts |
| Finding items | Time spent searching | Last recorded location on each item |
| Visibility | No real-time view | Dashboard with alerts |
| Customer experience | Items not on the shelf | Products available, sales up 20% |
How it rolled out
- Needs assessed. The chain worked with the RFID team to map its workflows and pain points.
- Items tagged, readers installed. Equipment and tools were tagged, and RFID readers were installed across facilities.
- Dashboard and alerts set up. A dashboard and alerts for maintenance and item movement were configured.
The results
- 40% improvement in inventory accuracy
- 30% fewer stockouts
- 20% increase in sales
- 25% less time spent searching for misplaced items
- 15% lower carrying costs from optimized stock levels
- Customers find the items they look for more easily.
Why it worked
Reads, not counts
RFID readers capture items as they move, so records stay accurate without manual updates.
Stock where customers need it
Replenishment alerts keep shelves stocked, which is what lifted sales.
One view for every outlet
Head office and store teams see the same dashboard, so problems surface wherever they occur.
Looking ahead
By tracking items with RFID and acting on replenishment alerts, the chain improved inventory accuracy by 40%, cut stockouts by 30% and grew sales by 20%.
Store staff spend less time looking for things and more time with customers, and the chain carries less excess stock across its outlets.