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Type
Web Application Development
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Sectors
Technology, Devices, Startup
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Technologies
Code Igniter, PHP, MySQL, HTML5, CSS, Javascript, jQuery, Angular
A clever stock management platform combing web and RFID devices
Many businesses and government organisations which hold and carry physical stock are acutely aware of the complexities in managing stock and also the huge financial impact of stock loss through theft and condemned stock.
RFID or Radio Frequency IDentification refers to a technology whereby digital data is encoded in physical RFID tags or smart labels (attached to an item of stock) and captured by a reader via radio waves.
Hybrid RFID have been in the RFID tagging and reading business and identified a strong business case, where RFID tags and readers could be used in combination with a clever stock and data management platform, to address these stock losses and tracking problems.
Seeking a partner with loads of experience in designing and developing custom web platforms, and having the ability to integrate with the RFID devices, Elemental was a natural choice.
Integrating RFID devices with the Web Platform.
Picture thousands of items of stock all floating around a business premises, whether it be a factory, a plant, a hospital or a warehouse. Each stock item having an RFID tag attached to it and then RFID readers at certain entrances, exits and intersections, which scan these stock items and record their movement.
All this data is pretty useless on its own, however incorporating this data into a web platform and applying various rules and views makes this highly valuable and informative.
We custom developed a web platform that would integrate with the RFID stock items and also record the scans of these RFID tags, in real time. The platform was designed to equip Hybrid RFID and their clients with tools and functionality to allow them to understand and manage their stock and its movements.
A major problem with stock is loss and theft, which was addressed through intelligent, automated systems that would trigger automated alerts to stakeholders should certain stock breach a security check. This enables the issue to be pinpointed and addressed immediately, with additional information about the perpetrators.
New valuable insights that previously didn't exist
Previously, clients and stakeholders were working in the dark (no information) or relying on outdated stock takes, to understand the overview of their stock levels and usage.
This newly built web platform allows various users to have access to insightful information about their stock and its movement, over its lifetime. An advantage of the platform being web based is that it can accessed from anywhere at any time without the need to install any fancy software, only a web browser is needed to gain access.
These insights are presented firstly as high level summaries and overviews, with the ability to drill down further to get access to move in depth reports on stock movement and which staff members were responsible for the movement of the stock.
Having access to this information allows the client to witness trends and identify areas where stock loss and theft are occurring and install preventative measures.
It's clear that tagging and tracking stock items with RFID technology and porting that data to a web portal, allows all parties to have new insights, notifications and management tools to allow for better stock management, which results in highly insightful information and ultimately leads to less stock loss and theft.
INTERESTING FACTS
Certain RFID meters and readers act as multi readers. In other words they are located in a central location and perform multiple functions depending on what they are scanning. As opposed to a one way reader. We needed to develop clever logic and processing functionality to ensure that the correct updates were made to the stock and enforce the rules of stock movement limitation.
Coupled with this when stock was moved incorrectly to a department which it should not have been moved to, it triggers an alert to management, warning of possible theft.
WE LOVE A GOOD CHALLENGE
The way RFID readers work is that if an item with an RFID tag is in the vacinity to a reader (for example a 100cm), the RFID reader will read this item. To make things more complicated, it actually reads that item many times as it passes the reader. Therefore you actually have 10s or 100s of readings in a really short period of time for a single item.
This would undoubtably be problematic for the data integrity of the platform and accuracy of the stock movement and stock levels. To solve this we created an intelligent data manipulation alogrithm that would allow the system to uniquely identify and record the reading once, even though it was read and scanned numerous times.
Do you need the services of a solid web development agency?
Companies around the world choose Elemental as their tech partner for the design and development of custom websites, web apps, software, and mobile apps. We work with businesses of all sizes, from agile startups to well-established enterprises, to bring their ideas to life. Let's discuss your vision and explore how we can turn it into reality.
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