Solution Overview
SkyeTek’s Mobile-RFID solution automates consigned and vendor-managed inventory management offering significant benefits over bar-code based solutions by reducing labor costs, improving billing accuracy / timeliness, reducing shrinkage, and accelerating cash collection.
The Mobile-RFID solution is comprised of the following:
- SkyeModule-powered RFID handheld reader
- RFID labels placed on items
- RFID tag provisioning provided through SkyeTek Provisioning Services or SkyeAPI (ie, for product manufacturers that source their own tags and own RFID printer-encoders)
- SkyeAPI for integration with back-end applications
- Optional:
- SkyeTek Professional Services for proof-of-concept, pilot, or production implementation
How the Solution Works
Once field personnel are outfitted with handheld readers and SkyeAPI has been configured for communication with back-end billing and inventory management applications, the following automated inventory management processes can occur in real-time:
- Item-Level Tracking: When the sales or service representative visits the customer site where the consigned or vendor-manage inventory resides, the handheld is used to read RFID tagged inventory on shelves or in a stock room. The current inventory level is compared to the last inventory level to determine which items have been removed. This information is sent to back-end applications via a pre-determine network backhaul (eg, cellular, 802.11).
- Automated Billing & Replenishment: Back-end billing and inventory management applications receive the RFID-generated inventory data from SkyeAPI and invoice for removed items and prepare orders to replenish stock before it runs out.
Solution Elements
The Mobile-RFID solution is comprised of SkyeTek-enabled handhelds, SkyeTek software and services, and best of breed third-party RFID tags and printers. SkyeTek brings them all together into one seamless solution that maximizes return on investment (ROI) and minimizes integration time, cost, and complexity.
Software
SkyeAPI – SkyeTek’s application programming interface (API) offering seamless integration between host-side applications and SkyeModules. Supported languages / frameworks are ANSI C and .NET.
SkyeSecurity – Standards-based symmetric and asymmetric encryption / signing where anti-counterfeiting, anti-tampering and privacy are required.
SkyeOS – SkyeTek’s embedded RFID reader operating system providing every SkyeModule with superior functionality, reliability, and upgradeability. Made available on a software license basis for customers that use ReaderDNA reference designs.
Hardware
RFID Handhelds – Several manufacturers use SkyeModules as the RFID reader engine inside their handhelds - SkyeTek will assist in the selection of the model best-suited for the customer’s specific use case. SkyeTek will also work with 3rd-party RFID handhelds that do not incorporate SkyeModules in cases where the customer has already standardized on a specific manufacturer.
SkyeModules – Embeddable RFID reader modules that lead the industry in cost, space, and power efficiency. Available in three form factors and operation in HF (13.56 MHz) and UHF (860 – 960 MHz). ReaderDNA – Reference designs of SkyeModules allowing OEMs to integrate the entire module design, or just the analog sub-section, directly onto the main circuit board.
RFID Tags – SkyeTek works with the industry’s leading RFID tag manufacturers such as UPM Raflatac and Avery-Dennison in order to best meet the tagging needs of customer applications.
RFID Printer-Encoders – SkyeTek works with the industry’s leading RFID printer-encoder manufacturers, such as Zebra, Avery-Dennison, and Intermec to meet the printing needs of its applications.
Network Interfaces – SkyeTek works with off-the-shelf network connectivity hardware to provide seamless, cost-effective wired and wireless connectivity to the enterprise and internet.
Services
SkyeTek Professional Services – SkyeTek can turn-key the entire integration effort or provide assistance in specific areas. Either way, customers benefit from SkyeTek’s industry-leading experience resulting in reduced project cost, risk, and time-to-market. Services include project management, requirements gathering, specification development, hardware selection / integration / customization, regulatory testing / certification, and training.
SkyeTek Provisioning Services – SkyeTek can provision tags / badges on behalf of its customers so that the only task remaining is to affix labels or assign badges. Mapping of SKU numbers to RFID tags or identities / roles to RFID badges and the subsequent printing / encoding process is managed by SkyeTek.
SkyeTek Support – SkyeTek’s support technicians have years of experience helping customers troubleshoot problems when the need arises.