Warehouse operators are reaching for the sky with new RIFD technology

We’ve seen the impressive reach of RFID technology, both from a read-range perspective and in terms of market penetration. Yet, everything has its limits – even the longest-range handheld RFID reader.

If your team is having difficulty identifying items on top shelves, managing a large volume of RFID-tagged inventory, dealing with significant forklift traffic, or conducting cycle counts in a facility too large to navigate on foot, then you might be interested in a new type of RFID reader, referred to as a mobile pallet RFID reader. This integrated RFID reader looks like a pallet but it’s equipped with an integrated RFID reader and specialised antenna, making it a practical solution to help streamline your inventory management process.

How does it work?

This technology is very simple to use. A lift truck operator would pick up the mobile pallet like any other, raise it to the desired height and then drive through all the aisles to confirm in-stock inventory quantities and locations. Zebra’s mobile pallet RFID reader can detect tagged goods up to 15 metres away, meaning you’ll no longer have to manually keep track of what’s on the top shelf or try to find another way to read tags out of range.

Technically, this mobile pallet RFID reader could be used for complete inventory counts in your warehouse or distribution centre (DC). Its value isn’t just derived from its ability to reach and read goods in multi-story facilities. The speed by which a forklift operator can confirm goods on hand and help locate missing items is remarkable. So, a strong return on investment (ROI) is guaranteed no matter how high your storage shelves climb.

You’ll also benefit from this technology if you need to conduct more frequent cycle counts, as the pallet is faster and more efficient than a worker walking through aisle after aisle. Furthermore, if you were to start using autonomous forklifts in your warehouse or DC, you could potentially automate the entire cycle counting or inventory locating process with this integrated RFID reader. It’s hard to find a downside with how quickly it can be brought online and how few resources are needed to deploy and manage it.

The mobile RFID pallet reader is known as a “fully integrated solution” because it is shipped fully assembled. It uses Power over Ethernet (PoE), so there isn’t much installation work required, and is also compatible with private 5G networks so you’ll have reliable and constant transmission of read data as the forklift moves throughout your warehouse or DC.

What makes it better than other cycle count options? It is comprised of Zebra’s FX9600 fixed RFID reader alongside specialised antennas that tune out crosstalk. This helps to reduce erroneous tag reads and gives you a highly accurate read rate throughout your warehouse aisles. And, yes, this is one of the fastest ways to count and locate inventory in warehouses and DCs, mainly because of the size of the facility, the volume of inventory that must be accounted for, and the numerous other tasks your team must complete in a day.

The best part of choosing a Zebra-integrated RFID portal is that they are fully compatible with Zebra’s broad portfolio of RFID and location systems and are backed by Zebra service and support teams throughout the solution’s lifecycle. There is instant help available – from site assessments, use case mapping, RFID solution design to component commissioning, go-live technical support and post-deployment troubleshooting. RFID solutions consistently deliver the inventory information you need to improve business performance and customer satisfaction as your operation continues to grow.

Learn more about Zebra’s RFID portfolio here.