Orlando, FL-based pallet and container pooling company Chep plans to roll out a worldwide system to provide radio frequency identification (RFID)-equipped freight pallets and containers next year.
Called the Chep Global Track and Trace System, it will offer real-time product tracking throughout distribution center and store environments and trading partners across the supply chain. This will allow companies to reduce “out-of-stocks” and improve customer service, said Brian Beattie, Chep’s senior vp—marketing.
“This will allow shippers to vastly improve the way they track their products through the supply chain in a secure setting,” he said. “It also allows them to share this data with trading partners to further improve the flow of both information and goods.”
The system attaches Chep “3-in-1” tags to pallets and containers – tags that can be read through RFID, bar code, or visually using a readable identification number. Beattie added that Chep is using Microsoft’s RFID platform, the SQL 2005 reporting tool, as well as Sap’s Auto ID Infrastructure / Event Manager as the foundation of the system.
For more information, go to www.chep.com/chepapp/chep?command=fwd&to=pressroom/pressreleases/pr_show_pressrelease.jsp&lcd=en&pressreleaseid=509
