Jewelry items and accessories are categorized as valuables and it only makes sense to have a robust security system in place to monitor the ins and outs. A single misplaced jewelry item can cost a huge sum and similar shrinkage and theft can put the jewelry business on the back foot. Across the world, jewelry business owners are leveraging modern technology-based solutions, jewelry tracking, and management systems that can effectively monitor the inventory, sale, jewelry items coming in and out, replenishment as well order fulfillment.
Jewelry stores, in order to boost security, manage inventory, and prevent theft, can employ an RFID Jewelry Tracking System that leverages the wireless features of RFID technology and an integrated software system to manage the inventory, sales, replenishment, etc.
Let’s explore what an RFID Jewellery Management System is and how one can implement such a solution along with the advantages of RFID RFID-based jewelry tracking system.
RFID-based Jewelry Tracking
Radio Frequency Identification is a class of AIDC technology that provides advanced asset identification and tracking capabilities. It does that by communicating data wirelessly, through the propagation of radio signals. The RFID Jewelry Tags are programmed with identification data like product code, group code, price, etc. and these tags are attached to each and every piece of jewelry be it a watch, ring, nose ring, necklace, anklet, bracelet, or any other piece of jewelry. The RFID readers in your facility can read any tagged jewelry item within its interrogation zone and then automatically update the database with the location of the item and time of reading.
By setting up an efficient & effective jewelry tracking system, users can get a deeper insight into their day-to-day operations. These systems provide information regarding the movement of every tagged item within the premises of an organization. Users can have real-time insight into the location of all the items, their removal, and repositioning into different sections of the facility. They also provide a security barrier that alerts whenever an item is about to leave the premises without proper authorization.
A Brief Guide to a Typical RFID Jewelry Tracking System
A normal RFID system consists of a Reader, Database/Computer software, Antennas, and RFID Jewellery Tags. These are the basic components of any RF system. When it comes to a jewelry tracking system, users need to create a custom setup using this equipment.
For example, if your business setup is a jewelry retail store, you would need multiple types of antennas. A good setup would consist of linear polarized shelf antennas to go in the display cabinets, Door Frame Antennas like the Zebra AN480, at the exit doors of the store, and shelving antennas on the inventory racks. In addition to that, users can integrate this system with IoT, connecting the readers wirelessly to the database, giving you a larger range of coverage.
With a system like this, users can have live tracking of the location and movement of jewelry inside the facility.
Types of RFID Jewelry Tags Applicable in a Jewelry Tracking System
Due to the vast applications of RFID in most industries, there are several types of systems and tags/labels available in the market. Businesses can select from a variety of RFID labels for jewelry tracking applications. There are two big issues when it comes to jewelry, these are – signal to determine if the RFID inlay is in contact with the metal surface. The second problem is that we need to avoid using adhesive on the surface of the jewelry, as it can damage it.
So, let’s check out the most popular RFID tag types that you can choose from.
(A). UHF Passive RFID Tie Tags for Jewelry Items
RFID Jewelry tie tags are usually made from paper or polyester. They consist of a substrate that houses an RF inlay inside it. These have a limited range of communication, but can easily work inside a retail store. These RFID paper labels have a narrow long tail that can be bent and used as a tie to safely hold onto a jewelry item. These tags are perfect for small items like rings and earrings. These RFID tags for small jewelry items cost only INR 4-5 per tag when purchased in bulk.
(B). Zip-Tie Labels for Jewelry Items
These are standard RFID labels that have a zip-tie attached to them. Users can use this to safely mount the tags on jewelry items without damaging their surface. Like the previous tag, these too are passive but can work well enough to operate effectively in a retail environment.
(C). Active Tags
Lastly, the active tags, are slightly more expensive to deploy and thus, we advise you to prefer them for use with highly valuable items. Their benefit is that they provide extremely better communication ranges, up to 100 meters, making them suitable for any type of industry throughout the supply chain. They also provide excellent real-time location tracking capabilities to your system.
RFID Jewelry Tracking System: Key Advantages in Jewelry Stores and Jewelry Inventory
RFID Jewelry tracking system offers many benefits in a jewelry store. In a jewelry store, automatic data collection provides automation and optimization of a variety of operations, such as:
(A). Inventory Audit for a jewelry business
An essential task necessary to manage a business is inventory management & keeping. With the help of RFID, you can heavily optimize the process of stock audit. A UHF RFID Handheld Reader can identify & log more than a thousand RFID jewelry tags with the push of a button. This allows you to reduce the time you waste auditing your inventory, improves the accuracy of the whole operation & performs audits daily.
(B). Item Tracking
By placing multiple readers throughout the facility, your RFID system can find out the location of an item based on the reader that identified it. In addition, the system is connected to the database allowing it to provide real-time location-tracking capabilities. Users can easily find the location of any item within their facility & also track its movement.
(C). Price Configuration
RFID tags can also be reprogrammed with the help of a near-field reader. Depending on where you store your items' pricing data (in the database or the tags), you can simply use an NFC reader to change the price of items depending on the condition of the market.
(D). Database Integration
As mentioned above, RFID systems can communicate with the database in real time. This allows it to update the information in the database in case of an item movement, sale, billing, incoming items, etc. Database integrations allow the users to get access to real-time operations of the business.
(E) Ease of Billing at POS
Tags can hold all the identifying information regarding an item, like the product code, batch number, group, price, etc. By integrating an RFID reader at the POS, you can automate the entire process of filling in the item details and creating a bill. This severely cuts down on the time spent on billing per customer and updates the inventory database in real-time.
(F). Search & Retrieval System
By tracking the exact location and movement of items, and updating the database in real-time regarding its location, it becomes convenient for users to locate any item throughout the facility. Instead of manually browsing through the shelves, you can just search for the item using the database and retrieve it easily. This streamlines operations & builds a business’s goodwill toward customers.
(G). Item Security
Lastly, with the integration of security gates at the exit points, these systems can alert you anytime an item is about to exit the premises without authorization. In addition to that, these systems also deter and reduce the instances of stock shrinkage and help in pointing out any gaps in the security of your facility. According to the data, RFID systems can reduce theft by 55% and the instances of stock shrinkage by 75% in the retail sector.
Benefits of RFID over Barcodes for Jewelry Tracking Applications
There are other technologies that provide AIDC solutions, like barcodes. Implementing RFID for tracing jewelry items has loads of benefits, over barcodes. So, let’s discuss them.
(a).Automation
The biggest benefit of a radio frequency identification system is that it does not need an operator to function. This ability provides a level of automation to RFID systems and reads all the tags within its interrogation zone automatically. This helps the business in two major ways. Firstly, there are no chances of errors or missing an item. Secondly, it frees up human resources that can be reallocated to other productive tasks.
(b). Real-Time Oversight
These systems send out signals continuously and look for tags, and with a direct connection to the database, the system provides real-time information on the location and identity of assets. With the help of IoT integration, users can set up multiple antennas throughout the facility and divide the area into different sections. Then, based on the antennas in different sectors identifying the tags that enter their zone, users can get a real-time location & movement of the items.
(c). Avoid Stock Shrinkage
One of the biggest benefits of having real-time monitoring capabilities is that it prevents users from losing track of their items. These systems provide an improved level of asset security, by sending alerts anytime an item is about to leave the facility without permission. Studies show that radio frequency identification
(d).Time Efficient
Unlike other AIDC technologies like barcodes, which take 1-3 seconds to scan and register a single item, RFID readers can register up to 1000 tags in a second. This allows for significant improvement in the speed of asset identification. A single antenna can read and register the items present in an inventory of a retail store in a couple of seconds. This makes daily time-consuming operations like inventory management, supply requisition, etc extremely efficient.
(e).Increased Revenue
There is an initial cost that goes into establishing an RF system due to all the components and installation. However, in the long run, these systems will significantly reduce the cost of operation for your business. In addition, by improving productivity, they will also provide you with increased revenue.
Conclusion
In short, using an RFID jewelry tracking system can provide much-needed optimization to businesses like retail jewelry stores, inventories, etc. They allow for improved operations by providing an element of automation and accuracy. RFID also helps with accurate data collection which can help improve marketing campaigns and customer expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions on Jewelry Tracking with RFID Technology
Q1. What is RFID and how does it help track a product?
Ans - It refers to Radio Frequency Identification, a type of AIDC technology that uses radio signals to operate. You can use RFID tags on items and track their movement & location within your facility using RFID readers. Readers can identify & collect information on any tag that is within their interrogation field. So, whenever a tag moves from the interrogation zone of one reader to another, the systems send the information to the database, allowing for some tracking capabilities.
Q2. Can RFID detect the location of the Jewelry Items?
Ans - Yes, by using RFID readers strategically to create different zones within your facility, you can use this technology to find out the last known location of a jewelry item.
Q3. What is the range of RFID tracking?
Ans - The range of an RFID system depends on various factors like – Operational Frequency, Obstacles, Surface Material of the Item, Type of Tag (Active or Passive), Signal Energy, etc. In short, the range of this technology can vary from 10 centimeters, all the way to a little over 100 meters.
Q4. Is RFID better than GPS?
No, in terms of real-time location capabilities, RFID is far behind GPS. In order to track an item, the RF tag must be within the range of an antenna connected to the reader. Also, these systems can only track the movement of an item between different interrogation/antenna signal zones. On the other hand, GPS uses satellites and cell towers to track the position of a device anywhere on the globe and it is far more accurate & precise.
Disclaimer: The information presented here is for general information purposes only and true to best of our understanding. Users are requested to use any information as per their own understanding and knowledge. Before using any of the information, please refer to our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
