THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION IN THE DISTRIBUTION PROCESS

Abstract

Information is an important competitive tool, nowadays. Those, who dispose of them on time, gain the advantage of being able to take decisions sooner than competition. The recency and relevance of information is becoming a necessity also in the field of logistics chain management, especially the 100% traceability of the movement of shipments or goods is crucial not only for the distribution service provider but also for the customer who wants to know where his shipment or goods is. As “Industry 4.0” trends suggest, these requirements are increasingly extended to include data not only on the location of shipments, but on the identification of the owner of the goods, where the shipment was moved from and for what purpose and finally what triggered the activity. This “traceability” is based on the implementation of “perfect” information systems that must be filled with quality and correct data. In addition to data volume growing that will be generated by the various devices, same level of importance seems to be the electronic data exchange among stakeholders. The use of Automatic Identification Tools (AIDC) is the key to data collection in the field of logistics and distribution activities. The paper discusses the possibilities of implementing AIDC using RFID technology in the specific field.