See RAMP RFID
ROI in action
RAMP has delivered powerful RFID solutions to a range of clients across many industries. The selection of case studies here demonstrates the real business improvements that an RFID solution provides.
In all these cases, we consulted with our clients to understand their specific needs and how to implement the most effective and efficient solution for their business.
If you want increased visibility of your assets and a healthier business bottom line, talk to RAMP to find out how RFID can help you.
Tuchuzy
RAMP RFID delivers a stylish and effective solution for leading fashion retailer
THE PROBLEM
Tuchuzy needed to improve integration across their retail and online stores to meet customer demand, avoid out-of-stock situations and reduce shrinkage for high-end fashion products. At the same time, they needed to reduce the time it took for manual stock takes while increasing real-time visibility of stock on hand.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP designed and implemented the Loca.fi Retail RFID solution for Tuchuzy to work seamlessly across their retail and online stores, as well as the busy stockroom. The solution included RFID tags, handheld readers and POS readers, as well as Loca.fi software, fully integrated with the existing Cin7 POS, inventory and order management system.
THE RESULTS
Since the implementation of the Loca.fi Retail RFID solution, Tuchuzy has seen a reduction of around 20% in working capital tied up in stock and less shrinkage. Customer satisfaction has increased from 90% to over 99% due to stock being available when and where customers want it. Tuchuzy envisages a 6-month payback period, representing 200% ROI over the first 12 months.
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Department of Finance
Changing the game with fast and accurate audits
THE PROBLEM
With over 10,000 ICT assets such as computers, laptops and tablets, as well as highly sensitive Government documents, the Department of Finance needed a more efficient way to conduct audits and integrate the information with their corporate asset database.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP RFID used a combination of RFID tags, hand-held readers and the Loca.Fi asset management software to create an integrated solution for asset and document audits that is both fast and accurate. The solution was enhanced when combined with the use of a bot to link Loca.Fi asset information to the corporate asset database.
THE RESULTS
Time-consuming manual asset audits are a thing of the past. The Department of Finance can now audit an entire building in as little as a day, with none of the errors encountered with previous bar code scanning technology.
Rio Tinto Alcan
RFID helps the laboratory test samples, not patience
THE PROBLEM
A large alumina refinery in Central Queensland running a 24 hour laboratory to test samples had to manage up to 600 plastic sample bottles per day. Containers of bottles from various parts of the refinery would arrive at random times without notice, making it difficult to commit to timing of test results. The lab also had workflow management issues with over and under-utilisation of resources common.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP designed and implemented a custom RFID solution to improve lab workflow and the accuracy of captured information as samples arrived at the lab. Including where the sample came from, what time it arrived etc. Tags affixed to sample bottles, table top readers (that could scan multiple bottles at once) and automatic update to the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) created an integrated laboratory workflow.
THE RESULTS
Better information about sample arrival and processing cycle times is helping deliver on laboratory KPIs. Managing resources, understanding turnaround times and the ability to provide accurate information in a consolidated manner has drastically improved laboratory performance.
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Otago Museum
Keeping track of two million valuable artefacts
THE PROBLEM
Otago Museum is home to an estimated two million artefacts of all kinds. The movement of items around, into and out of the Museum was done by manual entry into the Vernon Collection Management System. The process was inaccurate, time-consuming, inefficient and prone to errors. This presented a major problem with such valuable artefacts at risk of loss.
THE SOLUTION
Installation of the Smarttrack RFID asset tracking system involved affixing an RFID tag to each artefact over a period of time. Readers placed strategically in and around the Museum captured movement of items within the premises, as well as those moving out or coming in. When a reader detects item movement, its location is automatically updated in the Vernon CMS. Unauthorised item movement results in an automatic alert.
THE RESULTS
With hundreds of tags able to be read per second, collection audits can now be done much more quickly, and also more frequently. Reduced manual handling due to readers working through packing material means less damage to valuable artefacts. And knowing what is on hand at any moment in time and where it is helps Museum staff with research and acquisition activities.
Flinders Ports
Automating truck movements in and out of a container terminal
THE PROBLEM
Flinders Ports Adelaide Container Terminal managed over 500 daily truck movements using an outdated manual system. Truck drivers handed paperwork to terminal clerks who would then manually enter data into their system to confirm the truck arrival/departure. Inaccuracies and long lines of trucks at the terminal gates reduced traffic and cargo flow.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP created a custom, integrated RFID solution using active tags fitted to hundreds of trucks, combined with gate readers and in-ground loop antennas to provide detailed visibility of trucks in different lanes as they entered and exited. This information was communicated to the terminal operating system to provide automatic approvals and assignment of unloading equipment for each load.
THE RESULTS
Adelaide Container Terminal went from 100% manual transactions to less than 1%. This has helped reduced reliance on human resources and increased accuracy. Overall, the loading and unloading of containers to trucks has become much more efficient. In addition productivity and allocation of terminal loading machinery has improved significantly.
BAKU Swimwear
RAMP RFID helps BAKU enjoy an endless summer
THE PROBLEM
BAKU had a very large ongoing problem with inventory management and stock counts. A large range and tens of thousands of SKUs located between manufacture, warehouse and retail stores at any one time made accurate stock counts extremely difficult. BAKU wanted to execute an omni-channel strategy and increase online sales.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP RFID implemented a fully integrated and seamless inventory management system from manufacture to POS. The system uses Gen 2 UHF EPC RFID tags, various types of readers and Loca.fi software. The system was implemented and integrated with a new POS system by Retail Express.
THE RESULTS
The benefits of the new RFID system were immediate. BAKU has real-time, accurate knowledge of all products across the entire supply chain. They can undertake faster, more regular stocktakes and quickly replenish high-selling products with local manufacturing. BAKU is now ready for omni-channel and expects online sales to double in 12-18 months.
Lion Nathan
Keeping track of millions of beer kegs
THE PROBLEM
Lion Nathan has eight breweries producing more than three million kegs of beer per year. They also directly manage the delivery of half a million kegs to customers all over Australia. Lion suffered from shrinkage of several million dollars annually, and downtime during peak periods when breweries experienced keg shortages.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP worked closely with our partner Alizent to create and implement the unique KEGFLOW solution. This custom solution used RFID tags welded to the entire keg fleet, complemented by the installation of keg line readers and bulk portals at key points in breweries and distribution centres. Handheld readers were the last piece in the puzzle, used as kegs arrived and left customer premises.
THE RESULTS
Lion Nathan now has complete visibility of their keg fleet across the entire supply chain from brewery to customer and back again. This provides accurate and real-time data about stock levels, optimizes the utilisation of the keg fleet and increases overall efficiency for both Lion and their customers.
MMG
Valuable containers and commodities all accounted for
THE PROBLEM
Mining company MMG had a manual process for tracking containers of zinc and lead concentrate from pit to port. With vast distances from the Dugald River mine to shipping ports, visibility was difficult which negatively impacted throughput and led to inefficient operations.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP implemented an RFID solution built on its proprietary Loca.Fi asset tracking software platform. This provided pinpoint accuracy of the location of containers and their valuable cargo as they were filled and moved to port, as well as tracking the empty containers on the return journey to the mine to ensure more efficient operations.
THE RESULTS
MMG were able to monitor stock levels in real time at both the mine and port stock yards, as well as keep track of their fleet of containers. This helped to ensure minimum product quality specifications were met with every load. And with streamlined management of containers, including minimal rehandling, MMG were able to maximise throughput with a smaller container yard.
Parliament House
Managing valuable artwork on the move
THE PROBLEM
The Parliament House Art Collection comprises over 6,500 works, many of which are on loan to other institutions or scattered around various buildings in general areas or Member’s and Senator’s suites. With constant building works underway where the artwork is situated, valuable pieces are always on the move. Manual tracking using hard copy records wasn’t satisfactory to manage this priceless collection.
THE SOLUTION
Working with specialist partner Smarttrack, RAMP installed numerous fixed RFID readers at various choke points, along with handheld readers to carry out fast and accurate stock takes and audits. This was seamlessly integrated with the legacy Vernon Collection Management System to provide a complete solution to the Department of Parliamentary Services.
THE RESULTS
The Department of Parliamentary Services now conducts faster and more regular audits with more accurate results. This has led to more timely updates of the location of artwork, less manual handling and improved security of the entire collection.
Peter Warren
RFID solution delivers what barcodes can’t
THE PROBLEM
Peter Warren Automotive Group has a vast 22 acres containing 15 franchises and up to 2,000 motor vehicles at any one time. A legacy barcode system was unable to track vehicle location and required manual entry for stocktaking, which was fraught with human errors. This caused long lead times from sales to customer delivery.
THE SOLUTION
Peter Warren Automotive Group has a vast 22 acres containing 15 franchises and up to 2,000 motor vehicles at any one time. A legacy barcode system was unable to track vehicle location and required manual entry for stocktaking, which was fraught with human errors. This caused long lead times from sales to customer delivery.
THE RESULTS
Peter Warren Automotive Group now has real-time visibility and traceability of its vehicle stock, reducing the cost of labour in keeping track of stock and decreasing turnaround times for sale to delivery. This has led to vastly improving the customer experience.
City Chic
A fashion-forward solution to an old problem
THE PROBLEM
City Chic had the same problem as many fashion retailers in understanding the complete picture of its inventory. This caused labour-intensive inventory management practices, potentially lost sales and inability to properly execute an omni-channel fulfilment strategy. In addition, one of City Chic’s key customers introduced a requirement for RFID labelling of goods it purchased from suppliers.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP undertook a two stage approach to help City Chic improve inventory management. In the short term, RAMP ensured urgent compliance with the customer RFID requirement. Subsequently, a low cost tagging solution was implemented across the entire City Chic range originating from China.
THE RESULTS
City Chic was able to rapidly and fully comply with a key customer requirement for RFID tagging. Additionally, the broader business-wide solution enabled rapid stocktake and increased stock visibility from manufacturing in China to point of sale in store.
QANTAS
A smart solution in the bag
THE PROBLEM
QANTAS needed to provide an enhanced travel experience to customers as part of its Next Generation check-in system. Part of the program was a permanent bag tag called the Q Tag to track passenger luggage. Single use baggage tags and handheld readers were not feasible to deal with multiple flights unloading on a single baggage carousel, and baggage staff had no way of knowing destinations and class of travel based on the Q Tags.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP designed a revolutionary customised luggage handling system that included reusable bag tags with passive RFID technology that carried all the necessary passenger information to ensure bags reached their correct destination. The solution included RFID infrastructure to track bags through check-in and baggage handling, onto aircraft and to the final passenger destination. This was complemented by strategically placed monitors displaying relevant information to help baggage handlers correctly process bags with a non-printed Permanent Baggage Tag.
THE RESULTS
This bespoke solution has been in use and working effectively for over 10 years. It was implemented on time and on budget, and has allowed QANTAS to provide an enhanced customer experience from check-in to destination, ensuring passengers bags arrive safely exactly where they need to be.
Australian Ballet
A perfectly choreographed RFID solution
THE PROBLEM
The Australian Ballet is one of the world’s leading ballet companies. With over 25,000 costumes in its collection, each including multiple garments and accessories, the company had listed these assets by associating them with various shows and productions, not as individual items in a central database.
THE SOLUTION
Working with partner Smarttrack, RAMP created a new RFID solution using tags and readers to efficiently track all of the costumes, props and other moveable items as they move around from storage sites to performance venues in Australia and around the world.
THE RESULTS
Items are tracked as they move around, even while still in crates. Australian Ballet personnel are able to quickly carry out stock takes, search for missing items and automatically track the movement of items as they move past a given location. The result is less manual handling and massively reduced time required to track and manage the collection.
DP World
How to move trucks in and out of ports more quickly
THE PROBLEM
DP World is a major marine port operator in Australia. With an expected significant increase in container movement and having limited land and labour resources, DP World needed to find a way to increase productivity with the implementation of time and cost saving technology.
THE SOLUTION
RAMP implemented a robust gate-processing automation system for trucks using active RFID technology. This replaced manual processing of trucks at port entry and exit gates and used a combination of position marker technology and on-ground road loop antennae. The system was completed with RAMP’s Beacon IQ middleware to link the RFID equipment to DP World’s Terminal Operating System.
THE RESULTS
This system has been operating continuously for 10 years with impressive accuracy. DP World has been able to process trucks autonomously, reducing the costs of manual processing and removing expensive human errors.