Logistics customer case - DHL-METRO

In 2008, DHL Supply Chain and METRO Group partnered with Neopost ID to launch the biggest logistics RFID deployment in France so far.

DHL Supply Chain France uses RFID transponders on 6 logistics platforms to identify deliveries of dry and brewery products and track them through the supply chain to METRO Cash & Carry’s 90 self-service wholesale-outlets in France.

1.5 million pallets of brewery and dry goods per year are equipped with RFID tags, enabling automatic supply chain tracking. While trucks are being loaded, the RFID tags are read at the dock door without contact thanks to highly resistant dock doors RFID portals. The data read is sent electronically to the recipient stores. When the goods arrive at their destination, one of the 90 METRO Cash & Carry warehouses, the RFID tags are read again with an RFID portal at the goods entrance door and automatically compared with the order. The contactless RFID procedure shortens loading and unloading times compared with traditional barcode and handheld scanner systems.
The benefits of such a system are priceless:
- Greater productivity from logistics staff, as it is no longer necessary to scan parcels and pallets manually to retrieve tracking data
- All deliveries are tracked, thanks to contactless reading and monitoring
- No deliveries are misrouted, as the system ensures that all pallets are loaded into the right truck
- No surprises for the outlets, as they are notified of what will actually be delivered
- The logistics processes at the outlets are improved, thanks to the automatic tracking of inbound goods pallets
This whole project was the first set-up of an Oracle EPC-IS database in France. This database is managed and hosted on Neopost ID’s servers.