Innovedge approached C&B Electronics Pvt. Ltd to explore the possibility of implementing a RFID solution, and in doing so derived an effective system that would enable automatic issue and return process with self inventory in real time. C&B designed a customized, RFID enabled smart shelf.

Each asset is tagged with a thread based passive ultra-high frequency tag and is kept on a shelf fitted with an ultra-high frequency interrogator which reads the asset tags in real time. The interrogator is network enabled, and sends and receives data from the asset tracking software via local area network.

In addition to this, each employee of the department is issued a RFID enabled card. The shelf remains in the locked mode and opens upon employee authentication. For authentication, employee has to insert the RFID-enabled card in a slot on the shelf.

The RFID interrogator fitted with the shelf reads the card and sends the information to the server over a local area network where the user is authenticated, and, if authenticated, the shelf lock is opened for employee to perform an issue or return transaction.

The employee, in an issue process, picks up the assets from the opened shelf and closes the shelf. The employee then goes to the system, which displays the current transaction with list of issued assets. After validating, the employee confirms the transaction which completes the issue transaction. The system automatically gets updated with the information that the employee has just issued. Moreover, the inventory of the shelf is also automatically updated in the system.

Similarly, for a return transaction, the employee inserts the card, gets authenticated, and opens the shelf, keeps the asset’s to be returned, closes the shelf, and finally confirms the transaction in the system. The system gets updated with the information on returned assets and inventory is automatically updated.

Innovedge said that using this system not only provides real time inventory of the assets but also offers accountability to make sure that only authenticated persons can issue and return the assets, and that too without any complex process.

In addition, the system has interfaces for administration and managers where in they can login and generate reports related to inventory, issue and return record of assets and also send alerts in real time to employees who have assets issued in their name for more than stipulated time.