RFID-enabled automated dispensing is in the news again thanks to the release of several new products, including a dispenser for distributing towels and robes at health clubs to a materials management solution that delivers printed circuit boards and components for electronics manufacturing. While these systems may seem novel, RFID-enabled automated dispensing is a $200 million industry that is expanding by more than 10 percent each year. Self-checkout tool cribs and automated medication dispensers used in hospitals are among the most common automated dispensing systems.
Why is a technology for towels and wrenches also appropriate for distributing life-saving medicine? The answer has little to do with what is being dispensed, and everything to do with the dispensing process. Passing things out, collecting them back and recording the activity takes effort. If these tasks are done manually they are time consuming, expensive and result in inaccurate or incomplete records.
Using RFID smart cabinets to replace manual processes solves those problems. Some of the common benefits of automated dispensinginclude:
- Time and labor savings during check-in/check-out processes
- More accurate records of inventory levels
- Improved asset utilization and reduced losses
- Optimized replenishment
Any industry can benefit by taking time and errors out of its operations. The reason smart cabinets are used for such a wide variety of items is because they can automate so many dispensing processes.
But, RFID-enabled automated dispensing is not a plug-and-play application. RFID tags have to be matched to the items being tracked, and readers and antenna must be carefully selected and tuned based on the cabinet’s dimensions, material and the items it contains. Using quality components and optimizing them to the environment is essential, because in automated dispensing there may not be anyone available to override the system if the cabinet doesn’t work.
AWID is a smart choice to be your smart cabinet partner. We have the expertise and range of products to make sure your system will be reliable and fully dispense all the benefits of automation. Contact us to learn more.