Streamlining Product Tracking: The Power of RFID in Manufacturing

Streamlining Product Tracking: The Power of RFID in Manufacturing

 

By Avery Dennison Segment Development Team

11 November 2025

In the fast-moving world of retail and packaging, consumers have changed. They're not just buying products anymore—they're looking for transparency, sustainability, and authenticity from the brands they choose. At the same time, businesses are under more pressure than ever to run efficiently in a competitive global market. This means that tracking products, managing inventory, and ensuring safety aren't just nice-to-haves—they're crucial for reducing waste, building trust, and staying ahead. When brands get this right, they don't just boost their reputation and revenue but also drastically cut their operational costs.

To thrive, you need to get the most out of your workforce and supply chain. Having a real-time view of everything—from raw materials to the final product—is the key to preventing bottlenecks, avoiding expensive mistakes, and reacting quickly to market shifts. But how can manufacturers achieve this level of control? The answer is smart labeling, and one technology, in particular, is leading the charge: RFID or Radio Frequency Identification.

The RFID Technology Advantage

For years, the simple barcode has been the go-to tool for managing inventory. While a standard barcode label offers basic tracking, RFID technology takes this capability to a whole new level. Traditional barcodes need a clear, direct line of sight to be scanned, which can be slow with a strong possibility of human error. In contrast, radio frequency identification labels can be read from a distance, through materials like cardboard or plastic, and, most impressively, in large batches at once. Picture scanning an entire pallet of goods in a single sweep without having to unpack it. It’s this fundamental difference that is revolutionizing supply chain management.

At Avery Dennison, we provide advanced solutions that harness the power of RFID labels to help manufacturers meet and exceed their goals. By integrating these smart tags into your products, you unlock a new level of insight, accuracy, and efficiency that was once out of reach.

The RFID Technology Advantage
Key Benefits of Using RFID Tags

Key Benefits of Using RFID Tags

Optimizing your workforce and supply chain

Think about the time it takes to manually count everything in your warehouse. It can take days, or even weeks, tying up your staff and causing operational shutdowns. With RFID tags, this entire process can be done in minutes. It automates data collection with incredible speed and accuracy, significantly cutting down the manual labor needed for stocktakes, shipping, receiving, and fulfilling orders. This not only reduces the risk of human error but also frees up your team to work on more strategic, high-value tasks. The real-time data from radio frequency identification tags gives you a perfectly clear view of your inventory, allowing for better forecasting, preventing stockouts, and optimizing your production schedule.

Reducing waste and boosting sustainability

Inaccurate inventory data is a major cause of waste in the supply chain, often leading to overproduction, expired products, and wasted resources. RFID tags offer precise, real-time information on every product's location, status, and expiry date. This makes it easy to implement a flawless "first-in, first-out" (FIFO) system, which helps reduce spoilage, especially for perishable items. By giving you a clear view of the entire product lifecycle, this technology supports your sustainability goals and contributes to a more circular economy by improving resource management and cutting the carbon footprint tied to waste.

Building transparency and connecting with customers

In today's market, loyalty is built on trust, and trust comes from transparency. RFID labels do more than just streamline your logistics—they can build a direct connection between your brand and your customers. By embedding an RFID tag into your product packaging, you give consumers a new way to engage with your brand. With a quick smartphone scan, they can see a product's entire journey—from its origin to the store shelf—verifying its authenticity and providing details about its ingredients or materials. This level of transparency not only helps fight counterfeiting but also builds a stronger emotional connection, turning a simple purchase into an engaging, trust-building experience that enhances brand loyalty.

By embracing solutions that use RFID labels, manufacturers can completely transform their operations. This powerful technology helps you build a more efficient, sustainable, and transparent brand that isn't just ready for the future, but is actively shaping it.