With the rapid development of global supply chains, logistics and warehouse management are no longer the exclusive domain of large e-commerce companies and multinational logistics corporations. According to statistics, more than 80% of global manufacturing consists of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Although these businesses operate on a smaller scale, their needs for inventory and consumables management are highly pressing.

In emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, India, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, many factories, hospitals, and food processing plants still rely on manual counting or basic barcode systems. These methods are not only inefficient but also prone to errors such as mismatched inventory, loose personnel control, and even risks to operations and food/pharmaceutical safety.

In these scenarios, both LF/HF RFID (125KHz / 13.56MHz) and UHF RFID can deliver value, but their entry points differ:

• LF/HF: Suitable for short-range, low-cost management, especially where integration with access control is required.
• UHF: Suitable for large-scale, long-range operations that demand fast inventory counting and logistics management.

(Access Controller / PP-33) ←Read more

Industry Pain Points

1. Small and Medium-sized Manufacturers (SMEs)

• Manual inventory checks take several days and are highly inefficient.
• Records of semi-finished goods or consumables are often lost.
• Lack of personnel access control leads to asset leakage.

2. Medical and Food Processing Warehouses

• Small hospitals face risks of expired or missing pharmaceuticals.
• Food raw material batch management lacks real-time visibility.
• Freezers/processing areas often lack access control, posing safety concerns.

3. Internal Consumables Storerooms

• Tools and consumables in construction and energy industries are often lost or mismatched.
• IT assets and consumables in schools and government agencies lack transparency.
• Absence of integrated “personnel + asset” management systems.

Solution

LF/HF and UHF RFID modules, enabling flexible deployment according to business scale and requirements:

Consumables and Inventory Management

• Attach RFID tags to materials and record their movement via RFID gates or handheld readers.
• LF/HF systems are suitable for small-scale warehouses needing precise control.
• UHF systems are recommended for larger inventories requiring fast, bulk scanning.

Personnel Access Control

• Employees use LF/HF cards for entry, linked to attendance systems for improved security and prevention of “buddy punching.”
• UHF can be applied to vehicle access and long-range gate control in logistics environments.

Batch Management and Transparency

• Pharmaceuticals and food raw materials can be tracked via RFID batch tags, with expiration alerts supported.
• Factories can trace every batch of raw materials in real time, minimizing errors and improving traceability.

(Bluetooth Guard Patrol System / PPT-350B) ←Read more

Added Value

1. Cost Flexibility: SMEs can begin with HF RFID and later expand into UHF systems.
2. Efficiency Gains: UHF enables large-scale, rapid inventory counts, while LF/HF ensures precision and staff integration.
3. Data-Driven Management: Both LF/HF and UHF can integrate with ERP/WMS systems to optimize procurement and resource allocation.
4. Enhanced Security: LF/HF strengthens access control, while UHF secures logistics and inventory, creating a dual “personnel + asset” safeguard.

Global Trends

• Allied Market Research: RFID in logistics and warehousing is growing at a CAGR of over 14%.
• Application Differences: LF/HF adoption is rapidly increasing among SMEs; UHF dominates large-scale logistics centers.
• Gartner Forecast: By 2025, Hybrid RFID solutions (LF/HF + UHF) will become common in SMEs, reflecting the industry’s need for flexible, phased adoption strategies.

(FAQ)

Q1: Can LF/HF RFID replace UHF?

A: No. They are complementary. LF/HF is best for short-range and personnel-focused control, while UHF is ideal for large-scale, long-range warehouse inventory.
 

Q2: Does implementation require a complete system upgrade?

A: No. Companies can start small, such as with LF/HF personnel management or key consumables, and then expand to UHF when needed.
 

Q3: Can it integrate with existing ERP or WMS systems?

A: Yes. Pongee RFID modules support multiple communication protocols for seamless integration.