Application For Bar-Coding And Rfid Course Ict In Freight Forwarding.pdf

1.1.3 Some usual RFID applications: - Traceability in the supply chain - Logistics and inventory in the retail industry - Security control for jewelry and cosmetics - IT asset tracking

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

VIETNAM AVIATION ACADEMY FACULTY OF AVIATION ECONOMICS

-o0o -APPLICATION FOR BAR-CODING AND RFID COURSE: ICT IN FREIGHT FORWARDING

Teacher: Nguyen Phuong Lien

Class:010100160801

Group: 1

Ho Chi Minh City, May 1st 2024

Name Students ID

TEACHER EVALUATION

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January 25th, 2024

Teacher

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 What is barcoding and RFID?

1.1 What is RFID ?

1.1.1 Definition:

1.1.2 Types of RFID

1.1.3 Some usual RFID applications:

1.2 What is barcoding ?

1.2.1 Definition:

1.2.2 Types of barcode

1.2.3 Some usual barcode applications:

2 Application for bar-coding and RFID?

2.1 Introduction to Uniqlo:

2.2 Application for RFID in Uniqlo:

2.2.1 RFID Hang Tags:

2.2.2 RFID Fitting Mirrors

2.2.3 RFID Self-checkout

2.3 Limitations of RFID when applying to Uniqlo:

2.4 Application for barcoding in Uniqlo:

2.4.1 Purposes

2.4.2 How Uniqlo applies bar-coding

2.5 Limitation

2.6 Comparison RFID and barcoding

2.6.1 Similarities:

2.6.2 Differences:

3 References

1 What is barcoding and RFID?

1.1 What is RFID ?

1.1.1 Definition:

RFID stands for Radio frequency identification RFID is a form of wireless communication that incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling

in the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, or person (remote wireless connection)

1.1.2 Types of RFID

Figure 1: types of RFID tags

RFID tag is divided into 3 main types:

1.1.2.1 Active tag RFID:

RFID active tags have their own power source The card is mainly used in the Logistics industry, automatic toll collection, smart parking However, due to high cost, bulky design, and limited usage time, both types of cards are often not very popular in practice

1.1.2.2 Passive tag RFID:

Passive tags have no power source Passive tags are compact, convenient, and low-cost, so they are widely used in identification solutions, security control, goods management, etc

1.1.2.3 Semi-passive tag RFID

Semi-passive tags do not actively transmit radio signals to the reader, but instead lie dormant and conserve energy until they receive a radio signal from the reader that activates the system Semi-active RFID tags are faster in response and therefore more robust in reading transmitted numbers than passive tags Therefore its reading distance

is also farther than that of passive tags

1.1.3 Some usual RFID applications:

- Traceability in the supply chain

- Logistics and inventory in the retail industry

- Security control for jewelry and cosmetics

- IT asset tracking

- Libraries

- Files and archives

- Tool tracking

- Laundry management

- Sports Timing

- Human traceability and access control in facilities

- Traceability of animals

- Vehicle tracking

1.2 What is barcoding?

1.2.1 Definition:

Barcoding is a printed series of parallel bars or lines of varying width that is used for entering data into a computer system The bars are typically black on a white background, and their width and quantity vary according to application It's like a special code that stores information For example, you've probably seen barcodes on products at the grocery store or on library books

1.2.2 Types of barcode:

Figure 2: Types of Barcode

Aztec

Comparison 1D and 2D barcodes

- Represent data by varying the widths

and spacing of parallel lines

- Low data capacity: Limited capacity,

typically holds less than 100

alphanumeric characters Suitable for

basic data like product codes or prices

- Require as much as 80% contrast

- Encode data on both the horizontal and vertical axes

- High data capacity: Stores significantly more information A standard QR code can hold up to 3,000 numbers or 7,000 letters

- Can be read in low contrast

- Alphanumeric characters.

- 1D barcodes are simpler and faster for

basic data

- Imagine, website links and others

- 2D barcodes offer more data storage and flexibility for complex applications

1.2.3 Some usual barcode applications:

- Retail Revolution: The Fundamental Use of Barcodes

- Healthcare: Enhancing Patient Safety and Data Accuracy

- Library Logistics

- Manufacturing: Improving Production Efficiency

- Logistics: Optimizing Supply Chain Management

- Events: Streamlining Attendee Management

- Asset Accountability: Tracking Valuables with Precision

- Smartphones: Barcodes in the Digital Era

In general, using RFID as an alternative to barcodes is increasing in use RFID and barcode technologies are used in similar ways to track inventory, but there are some important differences between them

2 Application for bar-coding and RFID?

2.1 Introduction to Uniqlo:

UNIQLO is a clothing apparel company, which was originally founded in Yamaguchi, Japan in 1949 as a textiles manufacturer Uniqlo is an international clothing retailer that has a specialized knack for designing apparel that lasts And now Uniqlo has been established as a global brand with over 1000 stores around the world to redefining clothing, with a focus on quality and textiles This company was created with a unique business model called the SPA manufacturer retailer model With this model, a company controls the whole process of clothing retail product planning and production to distribution and marketing For instance, it has basics-inspired clothing created at trend cycle after trend cycle, season after season

Figure 3: Uniqlo Figure 4: Uniqlo store

2.2 Application for RFID in Uniqlo:

UNIQLO marked supply chain transformation since 2016 and has applied RFID since

2017 in 3000 stores worldwide In order to overcome such challenges from these digital giants, the company needs to transform our supply-chain system by using digital technologies

2.2.1 RFID Hang Tags:

RFID hang tags are embedded with UHF RFID tags Based on the size difference, Uniqlo uses a variety of tags and only three antennas as below:

Figure 5: Slim UHF tags Figure 6: Omnidirectional RFID

Figure 7: Good Directional RFID

And to be more specific, Uniqlo uses 3 types of UHF tags:

For retail stores, inventory management is the process of buying, manufacturing, storing, and using a company’s product Taking control and tracking of enterprises’ inventories requires a systematic and organized approach such as RFID technology

By hanging products with these RFID tags, items can be read through a nearby RFID scanner in an appropriate and precise manner

RFID stock control has three components: RFID tags, interrogators, and software to manage the products in UNIQLO stores By embedding RFID tags in products, logistics staff can read through RFID scanners without a line-of-sight feature The RFID interrogator is then further attached to the software to display product details such as model or brand, size, shape, color, and price

All the products in UNIQLO stores contain UHF RFID tags operating at 860-960 MHz However, the brand embraces multiple types of UHF RFID tags depending on their sizes to detect products wirelessly to cut down labor and inventory costs

2.2.2 RFID Fitting Mirrors

UNIQLO RFID fitting mirrors let the customers check all the products present on their shelves, place orders with just one click, and they will have favorite items in their hands RFID fitting mirrors are valuable in making shopping guides Similarly, customers just need to take a shirt, and then let the reader read RFID tags, we can choose colors and sizes on the system and the product will be displayed on the mirror

2.2.3 RFID Self-checkout

Figure 8: Self-checkout process for Uniqlo

The RFID self-checkout process is also present in UNIQLO stores The product from the shopping cart is ready for the checking process The system contains a small machine with a flat surface to scan the items And how does it work?

- Customers will pick up each piece of clothing one by one and hold it close to the scanner

- The RFID tag on the clothing will receive a signal, prompting it to send back information about the cloth’s price and sizing to the scanner

- The scanner then will display the details of the Uniqlo on a screen (name, size, color, price, )

- The self-checkout counter processes the product by popping up billing information, allowing the customers to swipe the code to make a transaction and receive a receipt after that process There are also guides for customers to make payment easier

2.3 Advantages of RFID when applying to Uniqlo:

From the above description, it shows that RFID technology is improving the UNIQLO shopping experience, inventory management, and checkout process Since in all these steps, everything is automatic, and there exists no need for a cashier, or retailing staff

to help the customers, enabling UNIQLO stores to reduce transaction time and checkout process

Uniqlo said that RFID has resulted in “a significant reduction in out-of-stock” items

on the sales floor and that it has contributed to “reducing lost opportunities and improving customer satisfaction.” The company declined to provide more specific information regarding the business impact of the technology

In contrast, sometimes, RFID still has some technical problems, especially when there are too many items at the same time in the basket The system may find it hard to distinguish them when they lie on each other

2.4 Application for barcoding in Uniqlo:

2.4.1 Purposes

The purpose of implementing barcoding in Uniqlo is to improve the efficiency and accuracy of inventory management and sales processes

2.4.1.1 Inventory Management:

Barcoding allows for efficient tracking and management of inventory Each product

on Uniqlo can be assigned a unique barcode, enabling quick and accurate identification This streamlines stock control, and inventory replenishment, and reduces the likelihood of errors in stock counts

2.4.1.2 Point of Sale (POS) Systems:

Barcodes are used to facilitate smooth and fast checkout processes By scanning barcodes, sales associates can quickly retrieve product information, including price and stock availability, reducing the time customers spend at the checkout counter

2.4.1.3 Operational Efficiency:

Barcoding streamlines various operational processes, such as receiving shipments, stock transfers between stores, and inventory audits By scanning barcodes, employees can quickly and accurately update inventory records, eliminating manual data entry and reducing the likelihood of errors

2.4.1.4 Customer Experience:

Barcoding systems contribute to a smoother and more efficient shopping experience for customers Accurate inventory tracking ensures that products are readily available, reducing instances of out-of-stock items Additionally, faster checkout processes improve customer satisfaction by minimizing wait times

2.4.2 How Uniqlo applies bar-coding

2.4.2.1 Inventory Management

The UPC barcode provides a unique identifier for each product It allows Uniqlo to differentiate and track individual items in its inventory system The barcode contains information such as the product's manufacturer and specific item number

Figure 9: Check for inventory at shops by scan barcodes

2.4.2.2 Point of Sale (POS) Systems

Scanning UPC barcodes at the point of sale speeds up the checkout process It enables cashiers to quickly scan the barcodes on the products, automatically retrieving the corresponding product information and pricing in the store's system This reduces errors and helps maintain a smooth and efficient customer experience

By using UPC barcodes, Uniqlo can accurately track and manage its inventory Each time a product is sold, the barcode is scanned, and the system updates the inventory levels accordingly This information helps Uniqlo optimize its stock, identify popular products, and facilitate restocking

But in reality, POS is used just in some stores of Uniqlo not all of the stores because the stores are still in the transformation between the traditional cashier and cashierless stores For example, Uniqlo’s checkout machines are available in all 47 U.S and 16 Canadian stores, and 14 of the 25 markets where it has stores, the company said Stores also offer cashier checkout

Figure 10: UPC Barcode 2.5 Limitation

2.5.1 Scanning Limitations:

Barcodes require a direct line of sight for scanning, which means they must be visible and accessible for accurate reads In a retail environment like Uniqlo, where products may be folded or stacked on shelves, it can be challenging for scanning devices to capture barcodes easily This can lead to slower checkout processes or potential errors

if the barcode is not scanned correctly

2.5.2 Limited Information:

Barcodes typically contain a limited amount of information They are primarily designed to store numeric or alphanumeric product identifiers If Uniqlo wants to include additional details like product attributes, sizes, or colors, they would require a more advanced barcode system such as QR codes

2.5.3 Inventory Management:

Barcodes are useful for tracking products and managing inventory, but they may not provide real-time data updates Uniqlo operates on a large scale with a wide range of products, and relying solely on barcodes may result in delays or inaccuracies in inventory management

2.6 Comparison of RFID and barcoding

2.6.1 Similarities:

- Barcodes and RFID tags allow you to track objects with ease

- Both can store data that can be easily read

- You can read information using both fixed or mobile scanners

2.6.2 Differences:

Data capacity

RFID tags can store larger amounts of

data, including product details, expiration

dates, and batch numbers RFID tags can

also be updated with new information,

making them more versatile in certain

applications

Typically store limited information, such as product identification numbers, which can

be decoded using a barcode scanner

Reading

distance

RFID tags can be read from a distance

without requiring direct line-of-sight The

reading range for RFID can vary

depending on the technology used, but it is

generally greater than that of barcodes

Require line-of-sight scanning, meaning the barcode scanner must

be in close proximity and aligned with the barcode for successful reading

Speed and

Convenience

- RFID technology enables faster and more convenient reading of multiple items simultaneously

- A reader can scan multiple RFID tags within its range, making it suitable for high-speed inventory management and tracking

Require individual scanning, which can be time-consuming for large inventories

Durability and

Environment

- Can be more durable, especially if they are embedded within the product or packaging

- Typically printed on labels

or packaging, their durability depends on the quality of the label and the environment in which they