Increasing efficiency in the supply chain for short shelf life goods using RFID tagging

TLDR

Short‑shelf‑life grocery goods pose major supply‑chain challenges due to many variants, strict traceability, temperature control, and high volume, and an RFID‑based data capture system can help address these logistics issues. The article examines how RFID can increase supply‑chain efficiency for short‑shelf‑life products, focusing on a trial at Sainsbury’s and its potential benefits for other supply‑chain participants. The study evaluates an RFID trial at Sainsbury’s, assessing its operational benefits for short‑shelf‑life product retailers. When combined with recyclable transport containers, RFID investments quickly amortise capital while delivering operational benefits.

Abstract

Short shelf‐life grocery goods present some of the biggest challenges for supply chain management due to a high number of product variants, strict traceability requirements, short shelf‐life of the products, the need for temperature control in the supply chain, and the large volume of goods handled. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based data capture system can help solve the problems associated with the logistics of short shelf life products. This article discusses the potential of utilising RFID technology for increasing efficiency in the supply chain of short shelf life products. The focus of this article is a RFID trial conducted at Sainsbury’s, which is discussed to study the potential benefits of RFID for short shelf‐life products retailers. Further this article analyses the potential impact of RFID for other supply chain participants. We conclude that when applied with recyclable transport containers, RFID investments can provide quick amortisation of capital whilst offering a range of operational benefits.