TNT has completed the first phase of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) testing. This stage included six projects – their results prove that the use of RFID during actual supply chain operations allows for significant benefits, including increased efficiency, improved control of logistics processes, error reduction, and significant cost savings.
TNT initiated tests in various areas of the supply chain at the end of last year. Their goal was to determine the best RFID system configurations, test them during actual operations, and evaluate the technology’s potential. TNT customers representing the high-tech, automotive, telecommunications, and pharmaceutical sectors worked closely on this project with three TNT divisions: courier (TNT Express), logistics, and mail. The customers participating in the program represented: the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and China.
The test program covered various supply chain processes: from internal logistics and warehousing to international distribution. TNT worked closely with, among others, an entity representing the automotive industry from the USA – the project was carried out in one of the company’s main production centers. The use of RFID resulted in faster and more accurate scanning of goods, which influenced shorter delivery times, simplified processes, and a significant reduction in identification errors. Particularly significant effects were obtained in the case of the production line, which is extremely sensitive to timely deliveries: RFID contributed to reducing the probability of costly errors. TNT is currently conducting consultations regarding the use of RFID in further cost reduction and the implementation of this technology in subsequent production plants of this company.