METRO GROUP EXPANDS ASIAN RFID PROGRAM

This third phase of the German retailer Metro Group’s Advanced Logistics Asia (ALA) initiative to improve logistics processes with its Asian suppliers, will involve more than 75 Chinese and Indian consumer goods suppliers, in addition to the 100 manufacturers already in the program from Hong Kong, China and Vietnam.

The RFID labels, which are provided by Checkpoint, store the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC), which is read at several points along the supply chain between Asia and Metro’s facilities in Germany. Metro Group receives an electronic advance shipping notice detailing the contents of each shipment (EDI), and the suppliers receive automatic proof-of-delivery notifications.

By using RFID to provide real-time visibility, the Group aims to increase the efficiency of its supply chain and improve the customer shopping experience. Suppliers benefit by eliminating the manual counting and checking of export packages, enhanced proof-of-delivery information and more accurate shipping data.