Resource Logistics with RFID in Food Retail

The Early 2000s

In 2004, Verlag & Freie Medien, now the Think WIOT Group, launched the German print magazine RFID im Blick.

At that time, the main focus was on the traceability of goods, access control, and labeling and identification with RFID technology. Metal and water were hostile environments, UHF was not yet state-of-the-art, RFID and sensor technology were mere visions and experts predicted that it would be a long time before RFID would become widespread.

RFID is now an established technology in numerous automation and digitalization projects. The trend is rising.

Internationalization and Wireless IoT (WIOT)

Since 2016, the publishing house has no longer focused primarily on RFID, but on wireless IoT technologies. These include: LPWAN, BLE, NFC, RTLS, UWB, 5G, wireless sensor technology and ORM. RFID is now one of many wireless technologies.

The first English-language magazine Wireless IoT Global was also published in 2016. The Think WIOT Group is now experiencing its strongest growth in Asia and North America.

Think WIOT Group

The publishing house has diversified since 2017.

Today, the portfolio includes two topic-oriented e-magazines, two information platforms, a partner network for more than 70 companies, regular livestreams, video interviews, an end user conference, and joint booths at the Wireless IoT tomorrow.

All activities take place under the umbrella of the Think WIOT Group.

20 Years Later

Supply chains are transparent, processes in the warehouse can be mapped in real time as a digital twin, Manufacturing X achieves a high level of connectivity, big data and transparency, wireless sensor technology, data glasses, robotics and AI expand the applications.

The technologies are developing more rapidly than the implementations.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., founded in 1993, is a US-American food company that operates over 3,000 restaurants and employs almost 100,000 members of staff worldwide. Headquarters are located in Denver, Colorado.

The company specializes in Mexican cuisine, focusing on the use of locally and sustainably sourced produce.

The aim is to digitize the supply chain and track produce. A digital inventory management system has been introduced in the restaurants in order to monitor the quality of produce and fulfill health and safety standards.

(Image Source: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.)

Process Requirements

Chipotle processes locally and sustainably sourced produce in its restaurants. A digital verification of the product origin is required.

As the company processes perishable goods, a strict control of health and safety standards is required. The digitization of logistics and products enables a reliable controlling of the supply chain.

Objectives of Chipotle

Controlling the origins of goods
Digital inventory management
Controlling of health and safety standards

The Chipotle Solution

Chipotle has implemented an RFID system in a distribution center and in 200 restaurants in the Chicago area to optimize inventory and supply chain management. The solution consists of RFID-tagged containers, RFID handhelds and a software platform.

Produce is packed into containers at the point of origin. An RFID label is applied to each container. The chip inside the label contains produce information, including its origin. The containers are then transported to the Chipotle distribution center.

Every delivery to the distribution center is identified using RFID readers. The information on the RFID labels is recorded and transferred to a software platform, which displays inventory information of all received goods.

Goods are transported to restaurants from the distribution center. The RFID tags are read using RFID handhelds on-site, accessing the stored information on the RFID chip. A detailed overview of the inventory in the distribution center as well as in the restaurants is enabled. Based on the digital inventory management solution, an optimized planning of produce deliveries to restaurants is carried out.

Hardware & Software

Avery Dennison smartrac – RFID Tags
Zebra Technologies – RFID Handhelds
Mojix – RFID Software

Advantages

Controlling the origins of goods
Digital inventory management
Controlling of health and safety standards

Learn More

Questions? Get in touch with the editorial team!

Resource Logistics with RFID in Food Retail

Brand Think WIoT