Application of UHF RFID Readers in Warehousing and Logistics Industry

In today's era of rapid development of informatization and intelligence, the warehousing and logistics industry, as a key link in the supply chain, is facing the dual challenges of efficiency and accuracy. Traditional manual scanning, manual recording and other operating methods can no longer meet the requirements of modern logistics for real-time, accuracy and automation. To this end, more and more companies have begun to introduce ultra-high frequency RFID (UHF RFID) technology, among which ultra-high frequency RFID readers, as one of the core devices of this technology, are reshaping the operation mode of the warehousing and logistics industry.

This article will systematically analyze the basic principles and technical advantages of UHF RFID readers, and deeply explore their application and value in various links of warehousing and logistics.

1. What is an ultra-high frequency RFID reader?

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a technology for non-contact identification of tags through radio waves. Ultra-high frequency RFID refers to a radio frequency identification system with an operating frequency range of 860 MHz to 960 MHz. Compared with low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) RFID, UHF RFID readers have the advantages of long reading distance, fast recognition speed, strong anti-interference ability, and can recognize multiple tags at the same time. They are especially suitable for scenarios such as warehousing and logistics that require fast batch recognition.

The core function of the UHF RFID reader is to send signals to RFID tags through the built-in antenna and receive information returned by the tag, thereby completing the data reading, transmission and processing process. Its common types include fixed readers, handheld readers and integrated integrated antenna devices.

2. Challenges in the warehousing and logistics industry

Before the introduction of RFID technology, warehousing and logistics generally had the following pain points:

Low efficiency in warehousing and outbound delivery: The traditional scanning method requires scanning barcodes one by one, which is inefficient and prone to errors.

Inventory information lags: Manual records easily lead to inaccurate data, and inventory information often deviates.

Difficulty in locating goods: Manual search for goods in large warehouses is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and prone to errors.

High personnel costs: A large amount of manpower is used for operations such as picking and inventory counting, and the cost remains high.

Difficult to track and trace: Barcodes are difficult to support tracking and anti-counterfeiting throughout the entire life cycle.

In response to these problems, UHF RFID readers provide a new solution for warehousing and logistics through automated identification and real-time data collection.

3. Main application scenarios of UHF RFID readers in warehousing and logistics

Goods entry management: In the entry link, UHF RFID readers can realize automatic identification of goods with RFID tags through fixed equipment installed at the unloading port or conveyor belt. The system simultaneously records the entry time, item type, quantity and other information, without manual scanning, to avoid missed scanning and wrong scanning.

Real-time inventory counting: Traditional manual inventory counting is time-consuming and inefficient, while using a handheld UHF RFID reader, only one person needs to walk through the shelf to instantly complete the identification and inventory of hundreds of items, and the data is automatically uploaded to the background system, greatly improving the inventory counting frequency and accuracy.

Outbound and picking operations: The pickers wear or equip the carts with UHF RFID readers, which can automatically identify the label information on the pallet or packaging when the goods are outbound, and realize paperless picking and automatic generation of outbound records. At the same time, the wrong goods can be picked by comparing the system instructions, reducing the human error rate.

Accurate positioning of cargo locations and route optimization: By installing RFID readers on the shelves, real-time reading of each cargo location label can be achieved, and the goods can be accurately located on a certain shelf or warehouse area, and assist WMS in recommending the optimal route, improving picking efficiency and saving labor costs.

Logistics and transportation tracking: UHF RFID readers can be used for card identification, vehicle access control, etc. By reading the labels on the vehicles or goods, the whole process from the warehouse to the logistics distribution center can be visually tracked, and the supervision and control of the transportation process can be strengthened.

4. Advantages and characteristics of UHF RFID readers

Long-distance identification: The reading distance can reach several meters to more than ten meters, meeting the reading requirements of large goods and high shelves;

Multi-tag identification: Supports batch reading, and can process hundreds or thousands of tags per second;

Non-contact identification: No alignment required, strong penetration, suitable for complex environments;

Real-time data upload: Can be connected with WMS/ERP/MES and other systems, information synchronization;

Support multiple protocols: Compatible with mainstream standards such as EPC Gen2 and ISO 18000-6C;

High stability and long life: Adapt to high-intensity industrial application scenarios;

Mobile deployment: Handheld readers are suitable for temporary inventory and mobile applications.

5. Precautions for deploying UHF RFID readers

Reasonably arrange the antenna and reader positions to avoid blind spots and interference;

The tag material and installation position must match the material of the goods (metal, liquid, etc. require anti-interference tags);

The reader and system interface must be compatible, and it is recommended to choose open protocol devices;

The tag encoding rules must be standardized to facilitate data management;

Do a good job of authority management and data encryption to ensure information security.

6. Typical Case Analysis

Take a large e-commerce storage center as an example. The center handles up to 100,000 pieces of goods every day. After the introduction of the UHF RFID reader system:

The staff was reduced from 300 to 180;

The inventory time was shortened from 3 days to 4 hours;

The picking error rate was reduced to 0.05%;

The delivery accuracy rate was increased to more than 99.9%;

The overall operating efficiency was increased by about 35%.

This case clearly demonstrates the practical value and huge potential of RFID technology in warehousing and logistics scenarios.

As an important part of the perception layer of the Internet of Things, UHF RFID readers have shown strong vitality in the field of warehousing and logistics. It not only improves operating efficiency and reduces labor costs, but also lays the foundation for enterprises to achieve intelligent and digital management. In the future, as the technology continues to mature and costs are further reduced, it will play a core role in a wider range of application scenarios, helping the warehousing and logistics industry to move towards a new era of greater efficiency, precision and intelligence.

If you need to learn more about the RFID reader solution for your business scenario, please contact us, and we will tailor a suitable intelligent warehousing system solution for you.