Applications are constantly being developed and refined as the technology advances and the supply chain industry continues to work for the cradle-to-grave data flow that will streamline the product pipeline. Because of the visibility it can provide, and its newfound cost effectiveness, RFID is emerging as an intriguing option to complement data collection and product identification in the supply chain.
Many hardware and software suppliers are just beginning to explore how RFID technology can tie into warehouse management systems (WMS) to produce a warehouse/DC of incredible efficiency. Several WMS providers now support RFID data entry in their software. Here are some potential RFID applications in warehousing and distribution environments:

• Pallet and case tracking, particularly when the pallets are reused within a closed system.
• Forklift identification. RFID can identify forklift location to allow systems to monitor activity and assign the closest forklift to those pallets needing moved, and serve as a permanent asset ID.
• Access control: Chips embedded in ID cards can control locks and prevent unauthorized entry; chips on products, cases, pallets and equipment can control item movement and sound alarms in case of unauthorized removal.
• Smart shelves: Retailers are experimenting with readers embedded in stocked store shelves to keep track of tagged inventory and notify either the back room or the supplier when stock is low. The application could be modified for use in warehouses and distribution centers for materials management and inventory control.

An RFID Enabled Warehouse or Distribution Center
There are several possibilities for how RFID technology can be utilized in warehouse and distribution center, in concert with existing systems and other ADC technologies. Step by step, here's one example of what could happen: In receiving, items, cases and/or pallets are read by a portal reading unit placed at the dock door as they are unloaded from the truck. Data are transferred into the warehouse management system (WMS), updating its database. The system reconciles its orders and sends back information that will allow some items to be cross docked for immediate transport, while others can be staged and stored. If bar codes were being used here, all received items would have to be scanned, their labels clearly visible, by workers, making the process much more labor-intensive. When stored on shelves with readers, the readers automatically record what items have been placed there; when they are removed, the action is also automatically recorded. All of this happens without human hands ever touching a scanner, keyboard or clipboard. If cases are broken up and items repacked, each item is reassigned to a tagged case by scanning the item's bar code or RFID tag and the case/pallet tag. That information transfer initiates an assignment of the pallet or case to a truck or dock. Cases/pallets are moved along conveyor belts, triggering readers along the way that track the movement and also adjust conveyors as needed to redirect the cases/pallets.

Should there be a specific item out there that is needed to fill an order, a worker can go through the aisles, with a handheld reader loaded with the needed unique ID, until the unit beeps, locating the needle in the haystack with keen efficiency. When cases/pallets are loaded back onto trucks, door-mounted units again record the activity, updating the central database and also initiating a sequence that produces documentation such as advance shipping notices (ASNs), packing slips, invoices, etc.

Item-level tracking
Item-level tracking in supply chain applications has always been a coveted thing. Having each and every item uniquely identified, instead of generally identified with, for example, a U.P.C. symbol- opens up a whole new level of tracking management. The Electronic Product Code, is the latest RFID technology proposed for item-level tracking of consumer goods, and other RFID technologies have also been considered for this application.