RFID starts to boost front-office systems
Radio frequency identification (RFID) is an emerging technology in Thailand and a number of private and government sector groups, as well as Nu Skin Enterprises, are taking it on board to track their products at the front office.
Pakapun Leevutinun, general manager of Nu Skin Enterprises (Thailand), a US-based multi-level marketing company selling healthcare and cosmetic products, said the firm had initiated RFID technology for its front-office systems last year. By doing so, it aims to reduce product losses from the shelves by more than 50 per cent. "The RFID tag will be attached to the product items when distributors pick them up and pay at the cash counters. Staff will take items to the RFID reader to scan the tag before distributors take them out of the showroom," said Pakapun. She said the company's introduction of RFID at the front office was in the first phase, a stage in which it has invested about Bt5 million. The firm next plans to enter the second phase, which will utilise the technology in the back office, for such tasks as inventory and management systems - which is aimed at increasing productivity and reducing investment costs. "We plan to enable the internal development team to develop the back office to utilise RFID to integrate between the front and back offices, so that it runs smoothly and improves our business as a whole," said the general manager. She added that for the second phase, which will start next year, Nu Skin would integrate RFID technology to reduce the cost of investment and enable staff to check stock and inventory in real time over a network. The firm currently sells more than 150 healthcare items and has over 230,000 distributors nationwide. Nu Skin is established in 42 countries. In Southeast Asia, it operates in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. The company also plans to set up shop in India next year.
Jirapan Boonnoon The Nation
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