Introduction
Virtually any industry that relies on a stable supply chain uses returnable transport items when delivering or receiving goods, ingredients, and other materials. Depending on the size of the company, managing these items can be tricky. In many cases, they are neglected and thought to be disposable, so they are sometimes damaged or never returned to the owner. When this happens, the company incurs losses.
To prevent this from happening, businesses that rely on the use of these items are advised to establish their own returnable container management system. Doing so can be a bit challenging, so it is a good idea to request professional assistance from us at Internet of Things Philippines Inc. Our company can provide you with reliable software or computer programs that you can use to track your returnable transport items. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services.
What Are Returnable Transport Items (RTI)?
As the name suggests, returnable transport items or RTIs are company assets primarily used to move goods and products from one place to another. Here are a few examples of their applications:
- Manufacturing firms use RTIs when delivering their finished products to other companies that require their goods.
- Suppliers require RTIs when transporting their raw materials and ingredients to the businesses that need them.
- Companies need RTIs when bringing their products to designated stores and other locations.
RTIs are specially designed to prevent the goods stored in them from getting damaged. They are often made of durable but lightweight plastics, metal, or wood to keep what’s inside of them safe. Because they are made of high-quality materials, each RTI can be costly, so it’s only imperative that they should be taken great care of.
Losing one of them may feel insignificant, particularly to bigger companies. However, if too many of them are never recovered, the business can suffer major losses. For this reason, it’s important for supply chain companies to have their own RTI management solutions in place. Here at IOT Philippines, we can help you track your RTIs using modern technology. Get in touch with us to learn more about our services.
What Are Some Examples of RTI in Logistics?
There are many types of returnable transport containers that are used by various industries. Here are a few examples:
Pallets
Known for being flat and broad, pallets are used when transporting cargo via shipping vessels. Goods and products packed in large boxes are placed on top of pallets to prevent them from moving in any direction during marine travel. A typical pallet can support and stabilize any cargo that weighs as much as 2,000 kg.
These items are usually made of wood because it’s a lightweight and durable material. Pallets made of timber are the most affordable and versatile option. Each unit doesn’t cost that much, and when they get damaged, they can easily be repaired by replacing the planks. They are also biodegradable and reusable. When they become too old to support cargo, they are often repurposed and used to make furniture.
Today, there are pallets made of plastic. They are also durable and lightweight, but their main advantage is their resistance to moisture and decay. The only problem, though, is that they’re not biodegradable. Disposing of them when they get damaged or too old is always a problem.
Crates
Simply put, crates are like large boxes where certain types of goods and products are placed. Their sizes and designs vary depending on the industry, but most of these items share one specific characteristic: they are stackable. They save a lot of space since they can be safely loaded on top of one another.
There are many types of crates, and they differ based on the material used in making them. Here are a few of the most common options:
Wood
Wooden crates are typically used in the agriculture industry. They are made of high-quality timber and are chemically treated to prevent them from decaying when exposed to high levels of moisture. Because of this, they do not get contaminated with bacteria and fungi that often come with the fruits and vegetables loaded in them.
Many people prefer using wooden crates because they are lightweight and affordable. Additionally, these items are biodegradable and recyclable, so they can be repurposed when they get damaged after a few years of use.
Plastic
Crates made of plastic are considered to be the most versatile. The material used in manufacturing them can be molded into different shapes, making them applicable to almost all fields. The food and beverage industry, for example, uses special crates that have partitions that prevent bottles from bumping into each other and getting broken.
Plastic crates are quite durable, so they don’t break even if they are loaded with heavy items. They are also long-lasting, which means they won’t get damaged even after being used for a while. What many people love about plastic crates is the fact that they are usually foldable. When there are no items inside them, they can easily be disassembled and folded to save space.
Like any other plastic material, the main problem with these crates is they are difficult to repair and dispose of. When they get damaged or broken, there’s almost no way for them to be fixed, so they are mostly just thrown away. However, since they are not biodegradable, they sometimes go to landfills and contribute to pollution.
Metal
If you want the most durable option, metal crates are the best choice for you. They are made of steel and aluminum, so they remain lightweight and sturdy. Because of their durability, these items are often used to transport delicate cargo, such as glassware, artwork, and furniture. In most cases, their walls are lined with soft materials to prevent the goods inside from being damaged.
Metal crates, like plastic ones, can be customized and molded into different shapes and sizes. Some of them are foldable, too, to save space when they are not in use. However, since they are made of expensive and high-quality materials, they are not as popular as their plastic counterparts.
Aside from not being budget-friendly, there is another major problem with using metal crates. Aluminum and steel used to manufacture them are susceptible to corrosion, especially when exposed to saltwater. Because of this, extra care is necessary when using metal crates on marine travels.
Kegs
Sometimes called barrels, kegs are mostly used as containers for beverages and other liquids. They are well-known for their cylindrical shape, which contributes to the overall durability of the item. Traditionally, they are made of wood because the material adds extra flavors to the alcoholic beverages inside them. One downside, however, is that wooden kegs deteriorate pretty quickly and are quite expensive because of the complexity of their production. That’s why metal containers have become more popular.
Metal kegs are made of stainless steel. They are a bit costly, but they are extremely durable. Even if they bump into each other during transport, they will not break or get damaged, so the beverages inside them are kept safe. Additionally, they last for many years because their interiors do not decay easily even when exposed to strong acids, like alcoholic drinks.
No matter what kind of keg you use for your company, it’s highly necessary for you to track them while they’re in transport. To ensure that all your containers are accounted for, it’s advisable to set up an RTI management system in your company. IOT Philippines is here to help you with that. Get in touch with us today to learn how we can assist you.
How Does RTI Management Work?
Returnable transport items are a huge investment for companies that rely on the supply chain. Because RTIs are reusable and durable, they don’t contribute to any waste, so businesses that use them are deemed more environment-friendly. Additionally, since these items are typically returned, they help the company save a lot on the total cost of the containers they use to transport their goods.
The downside of using them, however, is they are hard to track unless a complex RTI management solution is in place. In most cases, radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is used, and here’s how the system typically works:
- An RFID tag will be attached to each item. The tag contains information about the RTI, including the container’s size, color, and material.
- The RFID system’s main computer will show the total number of RTIs with tags. Users can also get information about each item through the system.
- A machine reader will scan the tags each time an item leaves the facility; the total number of RTIs on the system will be updated in real-time.
- When the RTIs are back in the warehouse, the tags will be scanned again, and the system will be updated.
- If the tallies don’t match, it might mean that a few assets are unaccounted for. The system will show if the “missing” ones are still in transport or in another facility.
By using RFID technology for your RTI management solutions, it will be easier for you to track all of your assets. The system will take away the stress brought by stressing about containers that might have been lost or damaged during transit. If your company is looking to set up your own returnable container management system, contact us at IOT Philippines. We offer top-notch RTI solutions to our clients.
What Is the Importance of Returnable Container Management?
It’s crucial for any company in the supply chain industry to track their own RTIs to prevent losses and help with the auditing process. Using modern technology, like RFID systems, definitely helps because they can automate the whole procedure and make everything more seamless. Reach out to us at IOT Philippines today to learn more about the RTI management solutions we offer.
Problems You Can Avoid With Strategic RTI Solutions
Putting up an RTI asset management system in your company saves you from encountering huge issues in the future. Here are a few problems you can avoid:
Loss of Items
Returnable containers are pretty expensive, so replacing them if they’re lost can make a dent in your company’s budget. That’s why it’s highly necessary for you to have a tally of all of them to ensure that none of them will go missing during transport from one facility to another. For many companies, it’s nigh impossible to manually count all of their RTIs, so using a management system is the best option.
Bottlenecks and Delays
Depending on the industry, companies use hundreds if not thousands of RTIs to deliver their goods and products. Tracking them one by one will be a huge hassle if you don’t have an automated system to do it. Counting them manually takes a lot of time, which causes delays in your business processes. This also results in the loss of revenue in the long run.
With a returnable transport item asset management in the Philippines, you can save a lot of time in tracking your containers. If you use an RFID system, counting all your assets can be done almost instantly. The technology allows you to scan multiple tags at once, so you can tally dozens to hundreds of items in one go.
Insufficient Manpower
It’s true that RTI management using modern technology can be a little complicated at the start, but it gets easier from there. Once the system has been fully launched and is already functional, your staff can quickly count your RTIs with just a few clicks on the machine.
Having one or two employees oversee this process would be enough; this means you no longer have to hire other workers to help tally your assets. Meanwhile, some of your staff can focus on other jobs, which increases their productivity and leads to a higher profit in the long run.
Business Disputes
For companies to grow, they need to take care of their business partners, so disputes should be avoided at all costs. The hard part, however, is that partnerships sometimes fail over minor issues, like mismanaged items. In the supply chain industry, it might not be uncommon for companies to have misunderstandings about returnable assets. This is especially the case if it’s unclear who the real owner of the containers is. Thankfully, this can be prevented by having a strategic RTI solution in place.
The tags you attach to your assets contain valuable but not necessarily classified pieces of information, including the name of the company they belong to. This means that by simply reading the tag with an RFID scanner, you can learn who the owner of the item is and prevent disputes.
Overstocking
Some companies without an RTI solution in place don’t notice it when their returnable assets go missing. If they think their containers are insufficient, they’ll just procure a few more, especially if they have a lot of funds to spare for the purchase. It might seem like a minor problem, but it becomes a bigger issue when the supposedly missing items are returned to the facility.
When this happens, there’ll be too many containers in the warehouse, which consumes a lot of space. Not to mention, the large number of items becomes even harder to manage. To prevent yourself from ever experiencing this problem, be sure to set up a returnable transport item assets management system in the Philippines. Contact us at IOT Philippines today for more information about the RTI solutions we offer.
Who To Trust When It Comes to RTI Management System Installation in the Philippines
Setting up an RTI management system is a pretty complex job that should be left at the hands of experts. That’s why we are here at IOT Philippines. We have professional staff members equipped with the right knowledge and skills for the task. By requesting services from our company, you can rest assured that you’ll only get the highest quality of service you deserve. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
Conclusion
RTIs are company assets that are often overlooked. They are a significant investment, so losing a few of them during the supply chain process can result in some problems. It’s important to take care of them and track them properly to prevent them from going missing. Be sure to install a returnable transport item assets management system in the Philippines to avoid encountering issues with your RTIs.
If you’re looking for a company to help you put up an RTI management system for your business, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at IOT Philippines. We can help you with the installation and also offer you the products and services you need for the system. Our staff members are knowledgeable and skilled, so they can finish the task properly.
Contact IOT Philippines today if you want us to set up a returnable container management system for your company.
