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	<title>supply chain - RFID News</title>
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	<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk</link>
	<description>New RFID Implementations, Hardware and Tags</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:58:52 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Behind-the-scenes at UPS and their implementation of RFID</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/21/behind-the-scenes-at-ups-and-their-implementation-of-rfid/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=behind-the-scenes-at-ups-and-their-implementation-of-rfid</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:58:52 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Logistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAIN RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Packaging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UHF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Package Tracking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rain RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UPS]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/21/behind-the-scenes-at-ups-and-their-implementation-of-rfid/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>UPS has announced a major milestone in its RFID rollout, confirming that passive UHF RFID sensing technology is now deployed across its entire U.S. small package network from end to end. The logistics giant has integrated RFID into every U.S. package car, delivery facilities nationwide, and all packages shipped from more than 5,500 The UPS Store locations, including return shipments. The company is also extending RFID innovation into customer facilities to provide near-immediate pickup confirmation. [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/21/behind-the-scenes-at-ups-and-their-implementation-of-rfid/">Behind-the-scenes at UPS and their implementation of RFID</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>UPS has announced a major milestone in its RFID rollout, confirming that passive UHF RFID sensing technology is now deployed across its entire U.S. small package network from end to end.</p>
<p>The logistics giant has integrated RFID into every U.S. package car, delivery facilities nationwide, and all packages shipped from more than 5,500 The UPS Store locations, including return shipments. The company is also extending RFID innovation into customer facilities to provide near-immediate pickup confirmation.</p>
<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re lighting up customers&#8217; supply chains in real time with RFID, enabling precise tracking, faster insights, a smarter network and smarter packages,&#8221; said Matt Guffey, Executive Vice President at UPS.</p>
<p>The shift from traditional barcode scanning to RFID sensing represents a fundamental change in how packages move through the UPS network. Nick Basford, U.S. Strategy President, explained that conventional scanning is hands-on, time-consuming, and difficult to scale. RFID sensing frees up workers while automatically tracking packages as they move through facilities and vehicles, giving customers far greater visibility from order fulfilment through to final delivery.</p>
<p>One of the most significant operational improvements has been in misload reduction. Jon Bell, Strategic Innovation Lead, revealed that RFID has decreased misloads by nearly 70 percent. This translates directly into less rework, more reliable deliveries, and fewer customer service calls about package whereabouts. When the system senses a package is off track, the team can respond quickly enough to still achieve on-time delivery.</p>
<p>The better data flowing from RFID sensing also enables faster decision-making across the network. In some cases, UPS can manage potential delays before customers are even aware of an issue, turning reactive problem-solving into proactive service management.</p>
<p>UPS holds a significant portfolio of RFID patents, with its first filings dating back to 2003. The company became the first major carrier to broadly roll out RFID sensing across its operations, and that pioneering work has earned recognition from the industry. UPS has won RFID Journal awards in three consecutive years: Best Use of RFID in 2023, Best Large-Scale Deployment in 2024, and Best RFID Implementation in 2025.</p>
<p>The initiative, originally branded &#8220;Smart Package, Smart Facility,&#8221; is now expanding under new banners: &#8220;Smart Fulfilment&#8221; and &#8220;Smart Tracking.&#8221; These extensions aim to deliver end-to-end transparency across the entire supply chain, from the moment a label is printed to the point of delivery.</p>
<p>What makes the UPS approach stand out is its holistic, network-wide strategy. Rather than applying RFID at isolated touchpoints, the company has woven the technology into every layer of its operations. Labels, vehicles, buildings, IT systems, and personnel all work together as part of an integrated RFID ecosystem.</p>
<p>For the wider RFID industry, the UPS deployment serves as a powerful case study in scaling passive UHF technology across a complex logistics network. It demonstrates that RFID can deliver measurable returns in accuracy, efficiency, and customer satisfaction when implemented as a strategic, enterprise-wide initiative rather than a piecemeal solution.</p>
<p>Read more at <a href="https://about.ups.com/ae/en/our-stories/customer-first/lighting-up-our-u-s--network-end-to-end-with-rfid.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://about.ups.com/ae/en/our-stories/customer-first/lighting-up-our-u-s&#8211;network-end-to-end-with-rfid.html</a></p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/21/behind-the-scenes-at-ups-and-their-implementation-of-rfid/">Behind-the-scenes at UPS and their implementation of RFID</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Algo Bonito optimises its supply chain with RFID and gains +99% inventory accuracy and 80% less inventory time</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/20/algo-bonito-optimises-its-supply-chain-with-rfid-and-gains-99-inventory-accuracy-and-80-less-inventory-time/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=algo-bonito-optimises-its-supply-chain-with-rfid-and-gains-99-inventory-accuracy-and-80-less-inventory-time</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:35:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Garment Tags]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Logistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UHF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dipole RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fashion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inventory management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rfid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/?p=1035</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Spanish fashion brand Algo Bonito has achieved over 99% inventory accuracy and slashed stock-counting time by 80% after rolling out a full end-to-end RFID system developed by Dipole across its retail network. The brand, which operates more than 30 stores across Spain and works with manufacturers in both Asia and the Iberian Peninsula, had long struggled with the limitations of manual stock management. Receiving errors, shipping mistakes and a lack of real-time visibility into inventory [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/20/algo-bonito-optimises-its-supply-chain-with-rfid-and-gains-99-inventory-accuracy-and-80-less-inventory-time/">Algo Bonito optimises its supply chain with RFID and gains +99% inventory accuracy and 80% less inventory time</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Spanish fashion brand Algo Bonito has achieved over 99% inventory accuracy and slashed stock-counting time by 80% after rolling out a full end-to-end RFID system developed by Dipole across its retail network.</p>
<p>The brand, which operates more than 30 stores across Spain and works with manufacturers in both Asia and the Iberian Peninsula, had long struggled with the limitations of manual stock management. Receiving errors, shipping mistakes and a lack of real-time visibility into inventory levels were creating bottlenecks that held back growth.</p>
<p>The solution starts at the factory floor. Dipole supplies RFID web labels in roll format, organised by item, and manages the printing and encoding process. These labels are shipped directly to manufacturers, where they are applied to garment hangtags before the products ever leave the production line. This means every item enters the supply chain with a unique RFID identity from the very first stage, giving Algo Bonito full traceability from source to shelf.</p>
<p>At the company&#8217;s central distribution hub, Dipole&#8217;s Cubic reading system handles three key logistics tasks automatically. Goods receiving is verified without manual counting, store shipments are validated to ensure accuracy, and inventory counts are carried out quickly without disrupting day-to-day warehouse operations.</p>
<p>In-store, staff use PDA readers to receive incoming stock, run inventory counts and locate specific items on the sales floor in seconds. The system was integrated with Algo Bonito&#8217;s existing PowerSoft Operating System, and the company says the process was completed without any issues.</p>
<p>Ramiro Vega, General Manager of Algo Bonito, said the RFID rollout has been transformative. &#8220;Implementing RFID with Dipole has been a major improvement in our inventory management. Today we have much better stock visibility across our entire store network and we have drastically reduced the time dedicated to inventory counts.&#8221;</p>
<p>The headline results speak for themselves: inventory accuracy now exceeds 99%, time spent on stock counts has dropped by 80%, the business has real-time visibility into stock levels across every location, and stock shortages have been significantly reduced.</p>
<p>The project highlights how RFID technology is becoming essential infrastructure for mid-sized fashion retailers looking to compete on operational efficiency. With traceability built into the supply chain from the point of manufacture, brands like Algo Bonito can respond faster to demand, reduce waste and keep shelves stocked with the right products.</p>
<p>Read more at <a href="https://www.dipolerfid.com/en/rfid-blog/rfid-success-story-fashion-retail-algobonito-inventory-accuracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.dipolerfid.com/en/rfid-blog/rfid-success-story-fashion-retail-algobonito-inventory-accuracy</a></p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/20/algo-bonito-optimises-its-supply-chain-with-rfid-and-gains-99-inventory-accuracy-and-80-less-inventory-time/">Algo Bonito optimises its supply chain with RFID and gains +99% inventory accuracy and 80% less inventory time</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>The RFID Discovery Workshop: What It Is and Why You Need One</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/11/the-rfid-discovery-workshop-what-it-is-and-why-you-need-one/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-rfid-discovery-workshop-what-it-is-and-why-you-need-one</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[asset tracking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Process Improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rfid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Systems Integration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UHF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Warehouse Management]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/?p=541</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Every successful RFID deployment starts long before the first reader is mounted or the first tag is applied. It starts in a room full of the right people, asking the right questions. That room is the RFID Discovery Workshop, and if your vendor is not running one, you should be asking why. What Is a Discovery Workshop? A discovery workshop is a structured, collaborative session that brings together key stakeholders from across your business to [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/11/the-rfid-discovery-workshop-what-it-is-and-why-you-need-one/">The RFID Discovery Workshop: What It Is and Why You Need One</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every successful RFID deployment starts long before the first reader is mounted or the first tag is applied. It starts in a room full of the right people, asking the right questions. That room is the RFID Discovery Workshop, and if your vendor is not running one, you should be asking why.</p>
<h2>What Is a Discovery Workshop?</h2>
<p>A discovery workshop is a structured, collaborative session that brings together key stakeholders from across your business to explore how RFID technology can solve real operational problems. It typically lasts one to two days and is facilitated by your RFID vendor or systems integrator. The goal is not to sell you hardware. The goal is to understand your processes, your pain points, and your ambitions before a single line of specification is written.</p>
<p>Think of it as the blueprint stage. You would not build a house without architectural drawings, and you should not deploy RFID without a proper discovery phase.</p>
<h2>What Happens During Discovery?</h2>
<p>A well-run workshop covers four core areas.</p>
<p>First, stakeholder alignment. RFID projects touch multiple departments, from warehouse operations and IT to finance and compliance. Discovery gets everyone in the same room, speaking the same language and agreeing on shared objectives. Without this alignment, projects stall or deliver results that only serve one team.</p>
<p>Second, process mapping. The facilitator will walk through your current workflows in detail, whether that involves goods-in, pick and pack, asset tracking, or work-in-progress. The aim is to document how items move through your operation today, where manual steps create bottlenecks, and where visibility gaps exist. This mapping exercise often reveals inefficiencies that the business has simply learned to live with.</p>
<p>Third, technical feasibility. Not every environment is straightforward for RF. Metal, liquids, dense product stacking, and legacy infrastructure all present challenges. A good vendor will assess read ranges, tag placement options, frequency suitability (whether UHF, HF, or NFC fits your use case), and integration requirements with your existing WMS, ERP, or MES platforms. This is where experience matters. Seasoned integrators know how to spot potential issues early and design around them.</p>
<p>Fourth, quick wins identification. Not every RFID project needs to be a multi-year transformation programme. Discovery should highlight areas where you can achieve measurable ROI quickly. Perhaps it is automating a receiving process that currently relies on manual barcode scanning, or introducing real-time asset visibility in a single facility. These early wins build internal confidence and create momentum for broader rollout.</p>
<h2>How Good Vendors Run Discovery</h2>
<p>The best RFID vendors treat discovery as a partnership, not a sales exercise. They will challenge your assumptions, push back where timelines are unrealistic, and be honest about what RFID can and cannot do. They will leave you with a clear report that includes process flow diagrams, a recommended technology stack, a phased implementation roadmap, and a realistic budget envelope.</p>
<p>If a vendor skips discovery and jumps straight to quoting, that is a red flag. RFID is not plug-and-play. The technology works brilliantly when it is designed around your operation, and it fails when it is forced into one.</p>
<h2>The Bottom Line</h2>
<p>A discovery workshop is a small investment that protects a much larger one. It reduces project risk, shortens deployment timelines, and ensures the solution you build is the solution you actually need. If you are considering RFID, start here.</p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/11/the-rfid-discovery-workshop-what-it-is-and-why-you-need-one/">The RFID Discovery Workshop: What It Is and Why You Need One</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>How to Write an RFID Requirements Specification</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/09/how-to-write-an-rfid-requirements-specification/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-to-write-an-rfid-requirements-specification</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Asset Tracking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[asset tracking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rain RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Requirements Specification]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RFP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UHF]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/?p=538</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Getting your RFID requirements specification right can save months of frustration, budget overruns, and vendor misalignment. Whether you are putting together an RFP or an internal requirements document, the key is being specific enough that vendors can give you accurate proposals, while leaving room for them to recommend the best technical approach. Here is what every solid RFID requirements spec should cover. Start with Functional Requirements Before you get into the technical weeds, spell out [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/09/how-to-write-an-rfid-requirements-specification/">How to Write an RFID Requirements Specification</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Getting your RFID requirements specification right can save months of frustration, budget overruns, and vendor misalignment. Whether you are putting together an RFP or an internal requirements document, the key is being specific enough that vendors can give you accurate proposals, while leaving room for them to recommend the best technical approach.</p>
<p>Here is what every solid RFID requirements spec should cover.</p>
<h2>Start with Functional Requirements</h2>
<p>Before you get into the technical weeds, spell out what the system actually needs to do. Are you tracking pallets through a warehouse? Verifying items at point of sale? Managing tool cribs on a factory floor?</p>
<p>Define the use cases clearly. For each one, describe the expected workflow, the number of items to be read simultaneously, and any user interactions involved. If your system needs to support both bulk reads (such as a dock door portal reading 200 cases on a pallet) and single-item reads (like a handheld verifying a specific asset), document both scenarios separately.</p>
<h2>Define Read Performance Criteria</h2>
<p>This is where many specs fall short. Saying you need &#8220;reliable reads&#8221; is not a specification. Instead, quantify what success looks like. What read rate do you require? For most supply chain applications, a 99.5% or higher first-pass read rate is a reasonable benchmark, but your tolerance may vary.</p>
<p>Specify the required read range. UHF RAIN RFID systems can achieve 10 metres or more in ideal conditions, but real-world performance depends heavily on tag orientation, speed of movement, and the surrounding environment. If your items move through a read zone on a conveyor at 3 metres per second, state that. If forklift-mounted readers need to capture tags at 5 metres while in motion, that is a different challenge entirely.</p>
<h2>Account for Environmental Constraints</h2>
<p>RFID performance is highly sensitive to the operating environment, and this is an area where projects frequently run into trouble. Metal surfaces reflect RF energy, which can cause null spots or phantom reads. Liquids absorb UHF signals, reducing range significantly.</p>
<p>Document the physical conditions in detail: temperature extremes, humidity levels, the presence of metals or liquids near tagged items, and any sources of electromagnetic interference such as motors, welders, or other wireless systems operating in the 860 to 960 MHz band.</p>
<h2>Map Your Integration Points</h2>
<p>An RFID system rarely operates in isolation. Your spec should identify every system that will send data to or receive data from the RFID infrastructure. That typically includes your WMS, ERP, MES, or asset management platform.</p>
<p>Specify the integration method (REST API, MQTT, database writes, middleware) and the data format expected. If you need real-time event streaming rather than batch uploads, make that explicit. Also consider edge processing requirements, particularly if network connectivity at read points is intermittent.</p>
<h2>Set Clear SLAs</h2>
<p>Finally, define the service level agreements that will govern the deployment. This includes system uptime targets (99.9% is common for production environments), maximum acceptable latency from tag read to data availability, support response times, and hardware replacement timescales.</p>
<p>Include acceptance testing criteria tied directly to the performance metrics you defined earlier. A well-structured pilot phase with measurable pass/fail thresholds will protect both you and your vendor.</p>
<p>A thorough requirements specification is the foundation of every successful RFID deployment. The more precise your document, the better your vendor responses will be, and the fewer surprises you will encounter once hardware starts going on walls and tags start going on products.</p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/09/how-to-write-an-rfid-requirements-specification/">How to Write an RFID Requirements Specification</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>RFID in Logistics: From Warehouse Dock to Last Mile</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/05/rfid-in-logistics-from-warehouse-dock-to-last-mile/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rfid-in-logistics-from-warehouse-dock-to-last-mile</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 09:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Logistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conveyor Tunnel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dock Door Portal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Forklift RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inventory management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[logistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UHF RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Warehouse Management]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/?p=536</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Every warehouse operation runs on the same basic sequence: receiving, put-away, picking, packing, and shipping. Each step presents opportunities for errors, delays, and lost inventory. RFID technology addresses all of them, turning manual checkpoints into automated, high-speed data capture events that keep goods moving and records accurate. Receiving at the Dock Door The journey begins when a truck backs up to a loading dock. Traditional receiving means someone with a clipboard or handheld scanner checking [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/05/rfid-in-logistics-from-warehouse-dock-to-last-mile/">RFID in Logistics: From Warehouse Dock to Last Mile</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every warehouse operation runs on the same basic sequence: receiving, put-away, picking, packing, and shipping. Each step presents opportunities for errors, delays, and lost inventory. RFID technology addresses all of them, turning manual checkpoints into automated, high-speed data capture events that keep goods moving and records accurate.</p>
<h2>Receiving at the Dock Door</h2>
<p>The journey begins when a truck backs up to a loading dock. Traditional receiving means someone with a clipboard or handheld scanner checking items one at a time. RFID dock-door portals change this entirely. Mounted around the doorframe, UHF RFID antennas create a read zone that captures every tagged pallet or carton as it passes through. A full pallet load can be read in two to five seconds, with hundreds of tags identified simultaneously. The warehouse management system (WMS) updates in real time, confirming quantities against purchase orders and flagging discrepancies before the truck pulls away.</p>
<h2>Put-Away with Forklift-Mounted Readers</h2>
<p>Once goods are received, they need to reach the right storage location. Forklift-mounted RFID readers make put-away faster and more reliable. As a forklift driver moves a pallet into a racking bay, the reader confirms both the pallet tag and the location tag, verifying the placement without requiring the driver to stop and scan barcodes. Misplaced inventory &#8212; one of the biggest sources of warehouse inefficiency &#8212; drops dramatically when every put-away event is automatically validated.</p>
<h2>Picking: Faster and More Accurate</h2>
<p>Order picking accounts for a significant portion of warehouse labour costs, and pick errors are expensive. RFID-enabled picking uses handheld UHF readers or wearable devices that guide operators to the correct location and confirm they have grabbed the right item. Some facilities go further, installing RFID readers on pick carts that validate items as they are placed into totes. The result is fewer mis-picks, less rework, and faster order fulfilment.</p>
<h2>Packing Verification Through Conveyor Tunnels</h2>
<p>Once picked, items move to packing stations where RFID conveyor tunnels provide a final accuracy check. These tunnel systems surround the conveyor belt with multiple UHF antennas, reading every tag inside a carton as it passes through. Operating at speeds up to 600 feet per minute, they can validate 800 or more tags in just a few seconds. If a carton contains the wrong items or incorrect quantities, the system diverts it for correction before it ever reaches a shipping label.</p>
<h2>Shipping and Beyond</h2>
<p>At the shipping dock, another set of portal readers confirms outbound shipments. Every carton leaving the facility is logged automatically, updating inventory counts and generating advance shipping notices (ASNs) for customers. This same data feeds into carrier systems, enabling real-time tracking from the warehouse to the final delivery point.</p>
<h2>The Bigger Picture</h2>
<p>What makes RFID transformative in logistics is not any single read point but the connected chain of automated verification across every step. Dock-door portals, forklift readers, conveyor tunnels, and shipping gates create a continuous thread of data that eliminates manual processes and closes the gaps where errors and losses typically occur. Facilities that deploy RFID across the full workflow routinely report read accuracy above 99% and significant reductions in labour costs, shipping errors, and inventory shrinkage.</p>
<p>For logistics operations still relying on barcodes alone, the question is no longer whether RFID makes sense. It is how quickly it can be deployed.</p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/05/rfid-in-logistics-from-warehouse-dock-to-last-mile/">RFID in Logistics: From Warehouse Dock to Last Mile</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Comparing RFID Hardware Vendors: A Neutral Overview</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/01/comparing-rfid-hardware-vendors-a-neutral-overview/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=comparing-rfid-hardware-vendors-a-neutral-overview</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hardware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alien Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Honeywell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Impinj]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[logistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rain RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RFID Readers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RFID Tags]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UHF RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zebra Technologies]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/?p=532</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The RFID hardware market has grown into a multi-billion pound industry, and choosing the right vendor can make or break a deployment. Whether you are rolling out inventory tracking in retail, managing assets in a warehouse, or building a smart manufacturing line, the hardware you select will shape your results for years to come. Here is a practical look at the major players and what each brings to the table. Impinj: The RAIN RFID Specialist [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/01/comparing-rfid-hardware-vendors-a-neutral-overview/">Comparing RFID Hardware Vendors: A Neutral Overview</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The RFID hardware market has grown into a multi-billion pound industry, and choosing the right vendor can make or break a deployment. Whether you are rolling out inventory tracking in retail, managing assets in a warehouse, or building a smart manufacturing line, the hardware you select will shape your results for years to come. Here is a practical look at the major players and what each brings to the table.</p>
<h2>Impinj: The RAIN RFID Specialist</h2>
<p>Impinj has built its reputation almost entirely around RAIN (UHF) RFID. The company designs both reader ICs and endpoint ICs, giving it unusual control over the full signal chain. Its Speedway and R700 series readers are widely deployed in retail item-level tagging, and the Impinj Monza and M800 tag chips sit inside billions of inlays worldwide. If your project is centred on passive UHF and you need high read rates across large populations of tags, Impinj is a natural starting point. The trade-off is a narrower product range compared with the diversified giants.</p>
<h2>Zebra Technologies: The Full-Stack Integrator</h2>
<p>Zebra holds approximately 17% of the broader AIDC market and offers one of the widest RFID portfolios available. Fixed readers like the FX9600, handheld devices such as the MC3300 and RFD series, plus a deep bench of printers and label applicators mean you can source an entire solution from one vendor. Zebra is especially strong in retail, logistics and healthcare, where its ecosystem of software, analytics and support services reduces integration headaches. For organisations that want a single throat to choke, Zebra is hard to beat.</p>
<h2>Honeywell: Industrial Durability</h2>
<p>Honeywell leans into rugged, industrial-grade hardware. Its fixed and handheld UHF readers are designed for harsh environments, from cold-chain warehouses to outdoor yards. The company controls roughly 14% of the AIDC market and has deep roots in supply chain and transportation. If you need readers that will survive dust, moisture and temperature extremes while processing hundreds of thousands of tagged items daily, Honeywell belongs on your shortlist.</p>
<h2>Alien Technology: Cost-Effective UHF</h2>
<p>Alien Technology has long served as a value-oriented alternative in the UHF space. Its ALR-F800 reader and Higgs tag ICs offer solid performance at competitive price points, making them popular in logistics, tolling and access control applications. While Alien lacks the software ecosystem of Zebra or the IC depth of Impinj, it remains a viable choice for straightforward read-and-identify deployments where budget matters.</p>
<h2>Other Vendors Worth Watching</h2>
<p>Datalogic, HID Global, and CAEN RFID each carve out meaningful niches. Datalogic focuses on retail point-of-sale and automated conveyor reads; HID Global dominates in HF and NFC-based access control and identity management; CAEN RFID offers flexible desktop and industrial UHF readers popular in European markets.</p>
<h2>Choosing the Right Fit</h2>
<p>No single vendor wins every scenario. Impinj excels at pure-play UHF tag and reader silicon. Zebra offers breadth and integration. Honeywell delivers rugged reliability. Alien competes on price. The best approach is to define your frequency band, read environment, tag population size and integration requirements first, then match those needs against each vendor&#8217;s strengths. Request evaluation kits, run proof-of-concept trials, and let real-world performance guide your decision.</p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/07/01/comparing-rfid-hardware-vendors-a-neutral-overview/">Comparing RFID Hardware Vendors: A Neutral Overview</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>RFID Myths Debunked: Separating Fact From Fiction</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/29/rfid-myths-debunked-separating-fact-from-fiction/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=rfid-myths-debunked-separating-fact-from-fiction</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barcodes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inventory management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rain RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rfid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RFID Tags]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UHF RFID]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/?p=539</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>RFID technology has been around for decades, yet misconceptions continue to cloud the conversation. Whether you are a warehouse manager weighing up an investment or a retailer exploring inventory solutions, these myths might be holding you back. Let&#8217;s set the record straight on five of the most common ones. Myth 1: RFID Is Too Expensive This was a fair criticism fifteen years ago when passive UHF tags cost well over a dollar each. Today, the [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/29/rfid-myths-debunked-separating-fact-from-fiction/">RFID Myths Debunked: Separating Fact From Fiction</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>RFID technology has been around for decades, yet misconceptions continue to cloud the conversation. Whether you are a warehouse manager weighing up an investment or a retailer exploring inventory solutions, these myths might be holding you back. Let&#8217;s set the record straight on five of the most common ones.</p>
<h2>Myth 1: RFID Is Too Expensive</h2>
<p>This was a fair criticism fifteen years ago when passive UHF tags cost well over a dollar each. Today, the picture looks very different. The RAIN Alliance reported 52.8 billion UHF RAIN tag chips shipped in 2024, a 17% year-on-year increase. That volume has driven bulk inlay prices down near the $0.05 mark, making item-level tagging viable even in lower-margin sectors like grocery and automotive parts. Factor in the labour savings from automated scanning and the reduction in stock discrepancies, and RFID frequently pays for itself within the first year.</p>
<h2>Myth 2: It&#8217;s Only for Big Companies</h2>
<p>Enterprise retailers like Zara and Decathlon grabbed the headlines when they rolled out RFID, which left many smaller businesses assuming the technology was out of reach. In reality, scalable cloud-based RFID platforms and affordable handheld readers have brought the barrier to entry down significantly. A small boutique tracking a few thousand SKUs can deploy a basic UHF RFID system for a modest outlay and see immediate improvements in stock accuracy and replenishment speed.</p>
<h2>Myth 3: RFID Is a Privacy Nightmare</h2>
<p>This concern tends to surface whenever consumers hear that a product contains an RFID tag. The reality is far less dramatic. Passive tags, which make up the vast majority of deployments, have no battery and no GPS. They can only be read at short range by a compatible reader, and the data stored on them is typically just a serial number. Without access to the retailer&#8217;s database, that number is meaningless. Comparing a passive RFID inlay to a tracking device is like comparing a library barcode to a surveillance camera.</p>
<h2>Myth 4: RFID Will Replace Barcodes Entirely</h2>
<p>RFID and barcodes serve different purposes, and both have strengths. Barcodes are cheap, universally adopted, and work perfectly well for point-of-sale scanning where items are presented one at a time. RFID excels when you need to read hundreds of items simultaneously, track goods through a supply chain without line of sight, or perform rapid cycle counts. In most operations, the two technologies complement each other rather than compete. The GS1 standard even supports encoding the same product identifier on both a barcode and an RFID tag, allowing businesses to transition gradually.</p>
<h2>Myth 5: RFID Guarantees a 100% Read Rate</h2>
<p>No identification technology delivers perfection in every scenario, and RFID is no exception. Real-world read rates depend on tag placement, the materials involved, reader positioning, and environmental factors like metal surfaces or liquid proximity. A well-designed UHF system in a controlled environment can achieve read rates above 99%, but placing tags on metal packaging or stacking items tightly will reduce performance. The key is proper system design: choosing the right tag for the application, positioning antennas correctly, and testing under realistic conditions. Expecting a plug-and-play 100% read rate will lead to disappointment, but a thoughtfully engineered deployment will dramatically outperform manual processes.</p>
<h2>The Bottom Line</h2>
<p>RFID is not a magic wand, but it is also not the expensive, privacy-invading, barcode-killing technology that some still believe. Approached with realistic expectations and sensible planning, it delivers genuine operational value for businesses of all sizes.</p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/29/rfid-myths-debunked-separating-fact-from-fiction/">RFID Myths Debunked: Separating Fact From Fiction</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Impinj Move manufacturing of R700 from United States to Malaysia</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/26/impinj-move-manufacturing-of-r700-from-united-states-to-malaysia/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=impinj-move-manufacturing-of-r700-from-united-states-to-malaysia</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:34:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hardware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manufacturer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAIN RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Impinj]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Malaysia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manufacturing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[R700]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rain RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/?p=983</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Impinj has announced a significant change to the production of its flagship R700 Antenna Hub, transitioning assembly operations from the United States to Malaysia. Starting in July 2026, the RAIN RFID reader will be assembled at a new facility in Southeast Asia, marking a notable shift in the company&#8217;s manufacturing strategy. The Seattle-based company confirmed through a product change notification that the move is designed to maintain production flexibility and ensure supply continuity for customers [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/26/impinj-move-manufacturing-of-r700-from-united-states-to-malaysia/">Impinj Move manufacturing of R700 from United States to Malaysia</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Impinj has announced a significant change to the production of its flagship R700 Antenna Hub, transitioning assembly operations from the United States to Malaysia. Starting in July 2026, the RAIN RFID reader will be assembled at a new facility in Southeast Asia, marking a notable shift in the company&#8217;s manufacturing strategy.</p>
<p>The Seattle-based company confirmed through a product change notification that the move is designed to maintain production flexibility and ensure supply continuity for customers worldwide. The R700, sold under part number IPJ-A6010-000, will retain all existing specifications, performance characteristics, and certifications. In practical terms, the reader you receive from Malaysia will be functionally identical to one assembled in the US.</p>
<p>So why does this matter? The R700 is one of the most widely deployed fixed RAIN RFID readers on the market. It serves as the backbone of inventory management systems in retail, logistics, and supply chain operations globally. Any change to its production pipeline has ripple effects across the industry.</p>
<p>The decision to shift assembly to Malaysia reflects a broader trend among technology hardware manufacturers. Southeast Asia has become a hub for electronics assembly, offering competitive labour costs, established supply chains for components, and proximity to key markets in the Asia-Pacific region. For Impinj, diversifying its manufacturing footprint reduces dependence on a single production location and provides a buffer against potential disruptions, whether from trade policy changes, natural events, or capacity constraints.</p>
<p>There is also a tariff dimension worth considering. With ongoing trade tensions and shifting import duty structures, assembling products in Malaysia rather than the US can offer cost advantages when shipping to certain markets. While Impinj has framed the move purely in terms of supply chain resilience, the financial benefits of a Malaysian assembly point are difficult to ignore.</p>
<p>For existing customers, the transition should be seamless. No changes are required to open purchase orders. Units shipped before July 2026 will continue to come from US facilities, while shipments from July onwards may originate from either location. The only visible difference will be updated labelling: product and packaging labels will read &#8220;Assembled in Malaysia&#8221; rather than &#8220;Assembled in USA&#8221; or &#8220;Made in USA,&#8221; and shipping box labels will show the country of origin code &#8220;MY.&#8221;</p>
<p>This move also signals Impinj&#8217;s confidence in its global demand forecasts. You do not relocate assembly of a flagship product unless you expect sustained or growing volume. The RAIN RFID market continues to expand rapidly, driven by retail inventory accuracy programmes, airport baggage tracking, and pharmaceutical supply chain compliance. By establishing a second assembly location, Impinj is positioning itself to scale production without bottlenecks.</p>
<p>It is worth noting that Impinj is not alone in this kind of shift. Several RFID hardware manufacturers have moved or expanded production into Southeast Asia over the past few years. The region&#8217;s infrastructure for electronics manufacturing has matured considerably, and quality standards at Malaysian facilities are well established.</p>
<p>For integrators and end users, the key takeaway is straightforward: the R700 you deploy from July 2026 will perform exactly as it always has. The change is behind the scenes, but it tells an interesting story about where the RFID industry is heading in terms of global manufacturing strategy.</p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/26/impinj-move-manufacturing-of-r700-from-united-states-to-malaysia/">Impinj Move manufacturing of R700 from United States to Malaysia</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Change Management for RFID: Getting Your Team on Board</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/23/change-management-for-rfid-getting-your-team-on-board/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=change-management-for-rfid-getting-your-team-on-board</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Change Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rfid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UHF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workforce Management]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/?p=526</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Every RFID project has two halves. There is the technology side, which involves readers, antennas, tags, and middleware. Then there is the people side, which involves the staff who will actually use the system every day. Most organisations spend 90% of their energy on the first half and wonder why the second half derails the whole thing. The truth is straightforward. RFID deployments fail more often because of people than because of technology. A perfectly [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/23/change-management-for-rfid-getting-your-team-on-board/">Change Management for RFID: Getting Your Team on Board</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every RFID project has two halves. There is the technology side, which involves readers, antennas, tags, and middleware. Then there is the people side, which involves the staff who will actually use the system every day. Most organisations spend 90% of their energy on the first half and wonder why the second half derails the whole thing.</p>
<p>The truth is straightforward. RFID deployments fail more often because of people than because of technology. A perfectly tuned UHF reader on the dock door means nothing if warehouse operatives bypass the scan zone or ignore alerts because nobody explained why the system matters.</p>
<h2>Why staff push back</h2>
<p>Resistance rarely comes from stubbornness. It comes from uncertainty. When a company rolls out RFID-enabled inventory management, workers may worry that automated reads will make their roles redundant. Others simply distrust what they do not understand. If leadership announces a new RFID system without context, the rumour mill fills the gap with worst-case scenarios.</p>
<p>Privacy concerns surface too, particularly in environments where RFID-tagged ID badges or wearables track movement. Without clear communication about what data is collected and how it is used, pushback is inevitable.</p>
<h2>Training that actually sticks</h2>
<p>Too many RFID training programmes amount to a one-hour slideshow followed by a printed quick-start guide. That approach checks a box but changes nothing. Effective training is hands-on and role-specific. A picker in a distribution centre needs to understand how HF or UHF inlays on cartons interact with portal readers along the conveyor. A retail associate needs to know how to use an RFID handheld for cycle counts. Different roles require different depth.</p>
<p>Scheduling multiple short sessions over several weeks beats a single marathon day. This gives staff time to practice, ask questions, and build confidence before go-live. Pairing new users with experienced colleagues during the first few weeks of live operation also smooths the transition.</p>
<h2>Redesigning workflows, not just adding technology</h2>
<p>A common mistake is layering RFID on top of existing barcode processes without rethinking the workflow. RFID reads happen at the speed of radio waves, not one scan at a time. If you still require staff to handle items individually just to trigger a read, you have wasted the core advantage of the technology.</p>
<p>Workflow redesign should involve the people who do the work. Frontline staff know where bottlenecks exist and what steps feel redundant. Involving them early creates ownership and surfaces practical issues that engineers miss.</p>
<h2>Building a champion network</h2>
<p>Identify enthusiastic early adopters across departments and give them a formal role. These RFID champions become the first point of contact when something confuses their team. They relay feedback upwards and translate technical updates into plain language. Research consistently shows that peer influence drives adoption faster than top-down mandates.</p>
<p>Champions also provide a feedback loop that keeps the project team honest. If a read point is failing or a process is clunky, the champion network surfaces it before frustration spreads.</p>
<h2>The bottom line</h2>
<p>Budget 15 to 20 percent of your RFID project cost for change management activities, including training, communication, and workflow redesign. The organisations that treat RFID as a people project supported by technology consistently outperform those that treat it the other way around.</p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/23/change-management-for-rfid-getting-your-team-on-board/">Change Management for RFID: Getting Your Team on Board</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>How RFID Powers Reusable Packaging and Reduces Waste</title>
		<link>https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/19/how-rfid-powers-reusable-packaging-and-reduces-waste/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-rfid-powers-reusable-packaging-and-reduces-waste</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Houldsworth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Asset Tracking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Logistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Packaging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[circular economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[deposit return scheme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loss Prevention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reusable packaging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smart packaging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply chain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waste management]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/?p=516</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Single-use packaging generates millions of tonnes of waste every year. Businesses across food service, logistics and retail are turning to reusable containers as a practical alternative, but managing those containers at scale is a challenge in itself. RFID technology is proving to be the missing piece, giving organisations the visibility they need to track reusable assets through every cycle of use, return and cleaning. Reusable packaging comes in many forms. Logistics companies rely on tagged [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/19/how-rfid-powers-reusable-packaging-and-reduces-waste/">How RFID Powers Reusable Packaging and Reduces Waste</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Single-use packaging generates millions of tonnes of waste every year. Businesses across food service, logistics and retail are turning to reusable containers as a practical alternative, but managing those containers at scale is a challenge in itself. RFID technology is proving to be the missing piece, giving organisations the visibility they need to track reusable assets through every cycle of use, return and cleaning.</p>
<p>Reusable packaging comes in many forms. Logistics companies rely on tagged pallets and totes that move between warehouses and distribution centres. Restaurants and stadiums use RFID-enabled cups and tableware that customers return after use. Grocery retailers run deposit-return schemes for bottles and containers, scanning each item at collection points to verify returns and trigger refunds automatically.</p>
<p>The core value of RFID in these systems is individual item identification. Each container carries a unique tag, typically a UHF RAIN RFID inlay embedded during manufacture. Readers installed at key points along the journey, such as loading docks, wash stations and return kiosks, capture every movement without manual scanning. This creates a complete lifecycle record for each asset, showing exactly where it is, how many trips it has completed and when it last went through cleaning.</p>
<h2>Cutting Losses and Proving Compliance</h2>
<p>Loss prevention is one of the biggest financial drivers for RFID-tracked reusable packaging. Returnable transport items such as pallets and crates represent a significant capital investment, and shrinkage rates without tracking can reach 15 to 20 percent annually. With RFID, operators know exactly which containers left a facility, which ones came back and which are overdue. Automated alerts flag missing items before they become write-offs, and data patterns reveal problem locations or partners with consistently poor return rates.</p>
<p>Wash-cycle monitoring is another area where RFID delivers clear results. Food-grade reusable containers must be cleaned to strict hygiene standards, and regulations often require proof that each item has been properly sanitised before reuse. RFID tags survive commercial dishwashing and industrial cleaning processes, allowing automated logging of every wash cycle a container passes through. If a container has not been cleaned within the required timeframe, the system flags it and prevents it from re-entering circulation.</p>
<h2>Deposit-Return Schemes at Scale</h2>
<p>Deposit-return programmes depend on accurate identification of returned items. Barcode-based systems can struggle with damaged labels and slow throughput at collection points. RFID removes these friction points by reading tags through dirt, moisture and stacking, often capturing dozens of items per second. Customers get faster refunds, operators get accurate counts and the entire programme runs with fewer errors and less manual handling.</p>
<p>Several European countries have expanded deposit-return legislation to cover a wider range of containers, and RFID is quickly becoming the preferred tracking method for these schemes. The technology scales well because the same infrastructure that tracks returns can also feed data into sustainability reporting, giving brands verified reuse metrics for ESG disclosures and regulatory compliance.</p>
<h2>Building a Circular Supply Chain</h2>
<p>The long-term benefit of RFID-enabled reusable packaging extends beyond cost savings on lost containers. It provides the data foundation for a genuinely circular supply chain, where every container is accounted for, maintained on schedule and kept in service for as long as possible. As more businesses face pressure to reduce packaging waste and demonstrate measurable environmental impact, RFID offers a proven, scalable way to make reusable systems work reliably in the real world.</p><p>The post <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk/2026/06/19/how-rfid-powers-reusable-packaging-and-reduces-waste/">How RFID Powers Reusable Packaging and Reduces Waste</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.rfidnews.co.uk">RFID News</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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