Warehouses have always been a cost center where companies seek to minimize expenses and overruns by optimizing processes. However, modern technology has helped bolster these efforts to the point where efficient logistics can now prove to be a competitive advantage for enterprises.
Technology such as software defined radios (SDRs) has helped revolutionize inventory control at warehouses. Increasing the speed and efficiency at warehouses not only adds to a business’s bottom lines but also helps create reliable supply chains, benefitting downstream stakeholders, such as retailers and consumers.
While radio frequency (RF) has been in the mix for a while when it comes to logistics and warehouse operations, it’s worth considering all the ways it can level up productivity at your storage and supply chain centers. If you’re looking to maximize your efficiency and logistics accuracy, explore XetaWave’s logistics automation solutions.
What Is SDR Technology?
Traditional or serial-only radios are often single-purpose devices in that they can only be used to broadcast on a given frequency that they have been configured for. To broadcast on a different frequency, you’d have to replace the hardware.
Software defined radios transmit and receive communication through software instead of hardware. The RF signal is converted into a digital bitstream and modulated via digital signal processors (DSPs). This means that if you’d like to transmit a different form of radio protocol, you can simply reformat the device without having to replace it.
This is a useful advantage for something like warehouse inventory control, where if you want to replace the radio tags on inventory or use differentiated frequencies for separate categories, you can simply reconfigure your radio devices. This gives you a lot of flexibility in managing your inventory, makes the process more efficient, and saves costs for your business.
Benefits of SDR Technology for Inventory Management
SDRs are very versatile devices and can be used in a variety of ways to improve inventory control and automation at warehouses.
Asset Tracking
Radio frequency identification (RFID) is often a staple at warehouses, helping track goods and providing real-time visibility for inventory levels and locations. RFID tags attached to pallets, cases, or individual items can be scanned altogether to obtain an accurate inventory count.
RF scanners can either be handheld or strategically situated to automate warehouse inventory tracking and control. The tag data is captured, analyzed, and fed to a central system to give warehouse managers a comprehensive picture of their logistics.
It’s also a particularly useful technology to have when you’re dealing with high-value assets and you want to continuously monitor them while they’re in transit.
Cycle Counting and Procurement
Keeping track of your inventory is crucial for any business, and much more so when you’re dealing with bulk goods, which if packed or shipped incorrectly can lead to significant losses. It’s also important because inventory has an impact on other business processes.
If you lose count of your inventory, you may have either inadequate goods for your manufacturing processes or to sell to your buyers. You may also have too many goods to accommodate in your warehouse. Inventory control involves a delicate balance that is directly linked to your business's profitability.
Wireless radio tags and scanners can automatically inform procurement managers when it’s time to replenish inventory. They can also alert you when your warehouse is nearing capacity, allowing you to postpone your incoming shipments or divert them to another warehouse with enough space.
Quality Control
Warehouse inventory control and quality control are intrinsically linked. If you’re a business that deals with a lot of perishable goods like food or even pharmaceuticals, you can’t afford to make mistakes. SDR technology can help you stay on top of it by allowing your employees to scan and keep an accurate count of your stock. Scanned information can include everything from product name and type to serial number, lot number, and expiration date.
With all this information accessible via a central system, you can efficiently control your inventory, not just within your warehouse, but throughout the supply chain process. It can help create positive customer relationships as well when they can rely on you for timely delivery of quality products.
Warehouse Automation
RFID technology can massively streamline operations at any logistics facility. Your employees need not physically sort through cases for specific lots or items; they can simply use their RF scanners to check where a specific order is supposed to be stored. It also makes shipping a lot easier, when all your employees have to do is attach an RF tag to various products as they’re being shipped and scan them at the exits. The items can then be tracked by everyone from the sellers to the buyers and end-consumers while they’re in transit.
SDRs can also help automate in-warehouse processes. Lots of large facilities use autonomous vehicles and machines to transport or sort items within the premises. Wireless radios can help control these machines and direct warehouse inventory without the need for human involvement.
Reduced Labor Costs
Warehouse automation has multiple benefits. It improves in-house efficiency and reduces the need for labor. Whether you’re short-staffed, in the middle of peak sales season or simply looking to cut costs, wireless radio and automation technology can help.
RFID tags and readers can facilitate seamless and accurate inventory counting, eliminating human error as well as the need for manual counting or reconciliation. If something is lost, employees can quickly track its location via its locator tag and retrieve the item to rectify the error.
Resilient Supply Chains
In the aftermath of the pandemic and subsequent supply chain crises, resilient logistics delivery systems have assumed greater importance. Buyers want to know that supplies of essential goods will arrive when promised. Delays are usually costly and can lead to dissatisfaction all around.
SDR technology can help with inventory control at warehouses and across fulfillment and logistics centers throughout the supply chain. This can provide customers with accurate ETAs on their deliveries and in the event of a misplacement, it can help logistics managers quickly locate and retrieve the lost items.
Partner With an Industry Leader in Logistics Automation
XetaWave is the largest independent U.S. supplier of wireless radio technology, including for automation of warehouse and logistics operations. Choose from an exhaustive range of fully customizable, high-performance wireless radio systems to improve inventory control at warehouses and beyond. Partner with the industry’s best engineering, sales, and support teams to achieve robust, real-time visibility across your supply chain. See highly cost-effective prices and excellent lead times when you work with XetaWave. Schedule a demo of our warehouse automation solutions today.
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