RFID automates self-service market

Precious time is lost on every construction site due to unnecessary journeys to the construction trade store or warehouse to procure materials. The problem is clear: If the right tool is not available, an employee drives off to get supplies; this directly affects employee productivity, construction progress and overall project costs. This kind of downtime is even more detrimental in shipyards and large industrial areas outside of cities, where the distance to construction trade stores is particularly far. To avoid these unwanted knock-on effects, materials logistics must be managed efficiently and the construction site must have a constant supply of tools and accessories. The products required vary depending on the location. The tools used when building a ship, for instance, are different than those used when building a road or a hospital. ProMart, a specialist in innovative service concepts for technical wholesalers, took up this challenge and sought out a solution that would provide customers on large construction sites with tools and accessories on site and around the clock; without the need for personnel or complicated billing processes.

ProMart developed the EasyMart Store idea as a logical extension of its multichannel strategy. The aim is that in addition to channels such as stationary trade, e-commerce and telephone and personal sales, EasyMart will increase its reach and therefore its opportunities to open up new sales markets. The EasyMart Store is an automated self-service store that can be put into operation directly on the construction site, for example in a small storage area or a standard container that can be easily transported to the construction site. Users can easily serve themselves in the store. The warehouses offer a limited but adequate selection of products that can be individually adapted to each location, such as shipyards or construction sites. 

RFID-based self-service concept

To implement this idea, ProMart was looking for a system that could identify all of the goods that had been utilized on site as well as several hundred users working as employees of subcontractors, for example on a shipyard site. This would ensure that the goods used could be billed without the need for staff. The RFID technology is particularly well-suited to automated warehouse management. With more than ten years of experience designing self-service stores, Turck Vilant Systems (TVS) was the ideal partner for this project. ProMart decided to make a few adjustments to the standard TVS self-service store package. 

Within the TURCK Group, Turck Vilant Systems is the specialist in turnkey RFID solutions, particularly in production logistics and goods tracking. The company advised ProMart on all issues relating to the installation, operation and optimization of the EasyMart Store and provided both the hardware and the software and IT infrastructure, including server landscape, for the permanent operation of the systems.

The Ready-to-Business approach employed by TVS means that the self-service stores can be optimized to ProMart requirements with just a few adjustments to the standard software, significantly accelerating the commissioning process. The software is designed to cover the most key requirements of automated warehouse management. This includes administration for numerous users as well as various user roles with different rights, such as buyer or borrower, warehouse clerk, etc.

RFID real-time system replaces time-consuming inventory work

The key to ensuring a completely transparent flow of goods within this application is for the RFID readers to log relevant movements of goods and to transmit their data to the ProMart control center in real time for further processing. With this real-time inventory, the store's stock levels are always known, without the need for employees to pick, count and list each item in stock. Based on the scanning processes, the system automatically creates filling lists and bills. Furthermore, there is no need for costly downtime or equally costly overtime outside of working hours in order to conduct a full inventory.

The first step is for the ProMart customers, who in the application presented here are subcontractors on a shipyard site, to be given the opportunity to configure the EasyMart Store and to arrange the optimal product range. The employees of the subcontractors are then created as users in the system. The TURCK Vilant RFID platform offers the option of managing user access rights and roles for each individual EasyMart Store. For example, user roles can be created that allow users to purchase items and also to borrow them. Prebooking can also be displayed via the system.

Detecting users and flow of goods

During commissioning, each user is added to the system and given a personal RFID card for access. When users enter the store, they check in with their card, which identifies them. The Turck Vilant Client allows only one user to enter the read area at any one time, so that the movement of goods can be clearly assigned. Once a user has entered the store, they pick the required products from the shelves just like in a grocery store. The user then goes to the checkout area, where the goods are automatically scanned without visual contact and the details can be viewed by the user on a display. After checking the list, the user confirms the removal of the goods. 

All products have RFID tags so that they can be detected automatically. One major benefit of RFID identification is that several products can be detected simultaneously from a greater distance. This means that the user does not have to scan product codes individually. 

The necessary technical infrastructure can be housed unobtrusively in a storage area or container without taking up a lot of space. "To start with we had a concept in mind for the EasyMart," says Hannu Pajula, Development Director at ProMart. "Turck Vilant Systems not only had the experience and a wide range of products, but also a solution that we were able to refine and develop together to ensure that it fully met the needs of ProMart."

Optimized range for every location 

Key to ensuring the success of the EasyMart Store is planning the ideal product range for each site, tailored to the needs of each user. The data on handling the individual products and goods groups provided by TVS servers can be used to custom-optimize the product ranges and, for example, to create automated filling lists. The refilling process is initiated on the basis of this data. This gives ProMart constant control over its inventory levels and ensures that all products in each store are always stocked in sufficient quantities.

Simple, language-independent operation

The advantage that the 24-hour self-service store has over optical identification technologies is its simple, RFID-based operating concept: The system is fully automated and it is quick to learn how to use it. Users don't have to scan anything so there is no need to familiarize themselves with a user interface. This means that anyone can easily use the store in places such as large construction sites or shipyards, where often people often do not speak a common language. RFID technology ensures fast, cost-effective availability of all tools and accessories. "EasyMart Stores are located in places where a lot of people work," says Hannu Pajula. "It is easy for everyone to learn how to operate our EasyMart Stores and the product selection is individually tailored to each site, making the solution ideal for professional users."

Customer | www.promart.fi