Swiss Post

Swiss Post is a modern logistics company. Every day, it delivers half a million parcels and 15 million letters and other consignments. It provides its business customers with comprehensive solutions, ranging from storage to transports of all types. Swiss Post’s internal procedures and processes are improved continuously and the company invests heavily in new technologies. Swiss Post thus strives to both remain an efficient company and meet shifting customer requirements.

Challenge
How can 45,000 roll boxes be simply and efficiently managed in three main centres and 50 branches with over 750 entrances and exits?

Solution
Working with Swisscom*, the Post has now implemented a future-oriented warehouse management system. All its roll boxes are fitted with radio frequency identification tags (RFID) and are identified by electromagnetic waves emitted from antennas. The data is then transferred to the Post’s warehouse management system via an RFID middleware system.

As a result, the Post is always informed about the number, location, contents and status of the roll boxes and is able to ensure that boxes are available and to minimize empty runs, warehouse costs and standing times. Stocktaking is carried out immediately, excess inventories are localized and the reductions in stock resulting from external use are identified. The information also supports maintenance, withdrawals from service and the procurement of new roll boxes.

Benefits
The RFID solution has optimised the entire logistics process. The Post also benefits from transparent processes and more precise input for planning and control purposes. Higher availability, faster turnaround times and more efficient processing boost both productivity and capacity utilisation as well as cutting costs.

“We see great potential for further applications with RFID”

Dr Thierry Gafner, head of sorting systems and technology at Swiss Post

*Swisscom Auto-ID is now Vilant Systems AG.