RTLS: Integrating RFID in your processes

The pre-requisite for process optimisation is a deep understanding of the process itself. Otherwise, you will change a process without understanding the consequences. You also need to understand the central interdependencies within your process. If not, it is try-and-error field research on a big scale. Indeed, this can be an excellent approach to innovating products and services, but when you want to maintain quality, reduce scrap, and improve production length and costs, you need data. Data are like glasses: You can see the flow clearly, uncover bottlenecks, identify idle times, and spot unnecessary process steps. This is where RTLS comes into play: To make a process truly visible by creating data.

An RFID RTLS integration project needs an audit and a strategy, but mostly the experience of a knowledgeable person or team who implements and integrates hardware and software into the existing enterprise software stack.

In our last whitepaper about RTLS RFID Integration, we dive into the technical aspects of an RTLS realization with RFID.

Effective RTLS integration can result in many significant benefits, such as streamlining inefficient procedures, eliminating redundant data, adding new business value, increasing scalability, and unifying device management.

Streamlining inefficient procedures

Procedures that require users to switch among applications are more error-prone and inefficient. Integration can simplify business processes; for instance, an RTLS solution is installed to locate assets, and you combine it with an existing material management software. With integration, you can access historical data from the RTLS asset-locating application without maintaining different lists.

Redundant data

Storing the same data in multiple databases increases hardware, software, backup needs, and administration costs. It also introduces inefficiencies, risks of data corruption and potential human errors.

Business value

RTLS integration is the most cost-effective way to add new business value to the enterprise through innovation.

Takeaway

An RFID RTLS integration project needs an audit and a strategy, but mostly the experience of a knowledgeable person or team who implements and integrates hardware and software into the existing enterprise software stack.