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Improve Visibility and Accuracy with Clarity Supply Chain

Improve Visibility and Accuracy with Clarity Supply Chain

SML Intelligent Inventory Solutions, Clustag, and Impinj deliver an end-to-end RAIN RFID solution to manage inbound and outbound product distribution.

Solving supply chain accuracy challenges with RAIN RFID

Accuracy in a retail supply chain is paramount, especially at the distribution center. Even small auditing errors made when shipments arrive and depart can have big consequences, creating headaches for retailers, suppliers, warehouse workers, and customers. A misdelivered crate of jeans placed into a store's inventory, or a pallet of toothbrushes shipped to the wrong destination — like a pizza parlor instead of a dental office — can disrupt operations and sales.

The RAIN RFID-based Impinj and Clarity® Supply Chain solution from Impinj Partners SML and Clustag is designed to eliminate these problems by streamlining receiving, shipping, and returns processes, delivering complete traceability of items throughout a supply chain.

How Clarity Supply Chain works

The Impinj, SML, and Clustag solution uses a combination of RAIN RFID tags, Impinj R700 series RAIN RFID readers, Clustag hardware, and SML software to count and identify tagged item across the supply chain, even when packed densely in boxes or crates. The RAIN-powered Clarity Supply Chain solution can read multiple items at once, from a distance, and without requiring a direct line of sight, speeding up the verification process and reducing human error.

Here’s how Clarity Supply Chain works in a store or distribution center:

When a shipment of RAIN-tagged items arrives at a distribution center, the boxes are scanned by Clustag RFID reading solutions equipped with an Impinj R700 series RAIN RFID reader.
The Impinj R700 series reader identifies the items inside the boxes — hundreds at a time — automatically and within seconds, and matches them against the shipment’s packing list, verifying accuracy.
Compliant and properly packed boxes are quickly passed along the supply chain without the need to verify further — offering large gains in efficiency.
Non-compliant boxes are flagged and diverted to an auditing station for closer inspection where defects can be quickly identified and repacked to continue their journey downstream.
Cloud-based item-level data — including type, style, and manufacturing information — is accessed via the Clarity RFID software suite, SML’s business insight platform built on the Clarity platform. The software gives employees real-time visibility into every product from any location.
Finally, outbound shipments can be scanned by a Clustag system, where an Impinj R700 reader reads the tagged items in the boxes, verifying orders as correct before they leave the facility.

Improved visibility means streamlined operations

Full visibility into inventory and shipments allows retailers and brands to streamline decision-making and minimize operational deficiencies. The Clarity Supply Chain solution delivers measurable benefits, including:

Faster receiving and shipping processes

Counting items manually as they arrive at or depart a distribution center can be time consuming and has potential for human error. The Clarity Supply Chain solution’s RAIN RFID-enabled system can identify and count boxed items in seconds — much faster than a barcode-based system that requires scanning each item individually.

More accurate inventory

Inventory counts often take so long that many businesses perform them only once a year, limiting real-time visibility and leaving them unable to tell their customers with accuracy what’s available for purchase. With Clarity Supply Chain, inventory can be checked quickly at any time. Stores can report exactly what’s available with confidence, resulting in fewer errors and happier customers.

Simplified, streamlined returns

The faster an item can be returned to a store’s shelf, the better the chance it will re-sell at full price. The Clarity Supply Chain solution reduces by 50% the number of touches required to manage a return, speeding the returns process so items can get back on store shelves and into the hands of customers faster.

While Clarity Supply Chain excels at helping retailers and brands manage inbound and outbound product distribution, it can also help other industries such as apparel, electronics, food, pharmaceuticals, and aviation streamline decision-making and slash operational inefficiencies.

SML RFID, Clustag, and the Impinj Partner Network

SML is a global end-to-end RFID and brand identification solutions provider, and Clustag is known for its all-in-one solutions for fashion, luxury, sportswear, and other industries. Read more about the Impinj Partner Network and how the Impinj platform enables next-generation RAIN RFID solutions in retail, supply chain and logistics, manufacturing, and other industries.

Article tagged as:: Airlines & Airports Food & Beverage Healthcare Inventory Management Inventory Replenishment Manufacturing Omnichannel Fulfillment Partner Handheld Readers Impinj Readers Partner Solution Supply Chain & Logistics Pallet Build Verification Shipment Verification Supply Chain Automation

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

ABOUT THE PARTNER

SML RFID

SML RFID provides a complete end-to-end item-level UHF RFID inventory management solution for worldwide retailers. From best-in-class inlays, printed and encoded labels, to an extensive software solution called Clarity®, SML is used in over 7500 stores.

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