AIDC

AIDC offers multiple advantages, including the following:

• It provides real-time insights to the supply chain.
• It tracks a product along the entire supply chain.
• It documents production and shipping processes, material flows or transport and storage routes.
• It records delays, damage or tampering.
• It reduces administrative burdens.
• It reduces errors that can arise from manual transmission.

An AIDC system uses automatic identification technologies such as barcodes, data matrix codes, GTIN, RFID labels or QR codes. The system collects the data using sensors and transmits it to a database. They are then analyzed and used for various applications such as inventory management, supply chain tracking or access control. The specific functioning of an AIDC system depends on the type of technology used.

1. Biometric systems

Biometric systems are a special type of AIDC system. They are divided into acoustic or optical processes. This includes the recognition of voice, fingerprints or faces. Biometric recognition systems use physical features such as fingerprints or facial recognition for identification and are used in security and access control applications.

2. Electronic systems

Electronic systems are also a special type of AIDC system. Examples of electronic systems include magnetic cards and RFID systems. Magnetic cards are used in different areas, often with a contactless or contact chip. Typical areas of application are ID cards, time recording, access control, customer cards or vouchers.

RFID is commonly used for asset tracking, supply chain management, and access control systems because it can identify objects without requiring direct line of sight. Data from different transponders can also be recorded (e.g. objects that are on a pallet). An RFID system consists of a transponder and an RFID reader. The transponders or RFID chips are often affixed to the products or containers in the form of RFID labels.

3. Optical character recognition systems

Optical character recognition systems are a type of AIDC system that allows the reading or scanning of codes. Areas of application of this system include primarily merchandise management, retail and logistics.

The codes that can be read or scanned with optical character recognition systems include:

a) Barcodes

A barcode consists of parallel bars and spaces of different widths. It can be found on books, food or accessories. It is usually applied using barcode labels.

b) QR codes

A QR code consists of black and white squares. They represent the code in binary form. QR codes can be applied directly (e.g. by laser or ink) or indirectly (e.g. with a label). The QR code is not only widely used in the B2B sector, but also among end consumers because it is easy to scan.

c) Data matrix codes

Like the QR code, the data matrix code is a two-dimensional code (2D code). However, it has an even greater data density and can therefore encrypt up to 2335 alphanumeric characters on an even smaller area.

d) GTIN

The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is a globally unique identification number assigned by GS1. It consists of eight, twelve, thirteen or fourteen digit strings.

Are you interested in intelligent product identification? In order to find the right technology, processes should be analyzed in detail and goals clearly defined in advance. When applying the codes, care must be taken to ensure that the materials are suitable for the surface and handling of the object (e.g. extreme temperatures during production or storage, dusty environment). Our experts will be happy to advise you in a personal conversation!