RFID And AI: Where Can They Be Used At The Same Time?

Amidst the work-from-home movement and an uncertain post-pandemic economy, businesses are relying on technologies to help them enhance efficiency and boost bottom-line development. Specifically, they are taking advantage of technologies that facilitate automation and help streamline operations without the necessity for additional manpower. Among these technologies are RFID (radio frequency identification) and AI (artificial intelligence).

RFID and AI are two of the most prominent and promising technologies that can be used in many ways, such as in tracking and identifying objects, predicting behaviour, and optimising processes. The combination of RFID and AI basically enables users to access massive amounts of data and consolidate otherwise isolated information into useful applications.

Read on to find out some examples where combining RFID with AI would be beneficial.

1. Manufacturing

RFID can work with AI to enhance efficiency in the manufacturing industry. Particularly, manufacturers can use the technology to monitor inventory, staff, and materials handling machines to guarantee that products are not transported to the wrong place or mishandled. For instance, an RFID system can help a company identify the movements and locations of materials handling machines like clamp trucks and forklifts to make sure that they are not driving goods off the shelf in an erroneous direction.

2. Materials handling 

The use of RFID for inventory management has long been common in many warehouses around the world. RFID is a versatile, cost-effective technology that uses radio signals to identify and monitor objects. As such, it is often used in an array of industries to automate inventory tracking, management, and logistics.

AI can greatly help companies seeking to implement RFID into their supply chain. It can boost efficiency and minimise costs by reducing labour and delivering real-time data about the movements of raw materials. It may also be used to enhance inventory accuracy by determining which items are in stock or not, ultimately preventing loss and damage. Similarly, the combination of RFID and AI can be used to scale construction projects by giving precise data about the materials necessary for a specific project.

3. Shipping

RFID and AI are working hand in hand to boost efficiency in shipping. This combination can help with route optimisation, inventory, and safety. With RFID, specifically, it is easy for companies to track cartons, containers, or cases with tags containing information about their content. This means that authorised staff can accurately and quickly scan every container to ensure everything is in order.

Furthermore, using RFID (and potentially AI) in shipping eliminates the need for personnel to count goods manually. Instead, they can sweep an RFID around the warehouse’s stockroom or shelving and verify each item’s location in real-time. The speed of these procedures enables logistics companies to deploy more workers to more essential tasks and enhance their bottom line. 

4. Supply chain

For supply chains to function optimally, they must transport items from point A to B as accurately and quickly as possible. This can be achieved with the use of RFID, which aids businesses in identifying and tracking inventory from raw materials to finished outputs. RFID in the supply chain boosts data accuracy, speeds up processes, and produces traceability throughout the chain. It also lessens loss and refines inventory management, which is why using RFID for inventory tracking is quite common.

Now, AI can work alongside RFID technology to make it more scalable and accurate. Additionally, AI can assist in determining when a product needs to be restocked and when it is out of stock. AI systems can increase warehouse efficiency and ensure the prompt fulfilment of orders. They can also monitor workplace safety and notify manufacturers when risks occur.

Conclusion

Although AI may still be in its infancy, businesses can already start banking on its benefits and potential by particularly pairing it with more established technologies like RFID. With the RFID technology already ingrained in various sectors, it would make a lot of sense for businesses to combine these technologies together to achieve more efficiency and stronger security. Indeed, as AI continues to develop as a technology, it is only a matter of time before it joins RFID in retail, manufacturing, and many other industries.