Every RFID tag carries a unique identity. A reader sends out a radio
signal, nearby tags answer, and software like Merla turns those
answers into a live picture of your stock.
From radio signal to inventory.
Four steps take you from a tagged product to an accurate count.
01
Each product gets a tag
A small RFID tag is attached to the item or its label. The tag stores a unique identity for that single product.
02
A reader sends a signal
A handheld or fixed RFID reader emits radio waves across an area, a shelf, a rail, a pallet, or a doorway.
03
Tags respond
Nearby tags pick up that signal and reply with their unique identity. Many tags can answer at the same time.
04
Merla turns reads into data
Merla matches the reads to your products and turns them into clean counts, locations, and stock status.
Compared with manual scanning.
Barcode counting reads one label at a time and depends on a clear line of sight. RFID reads many tags at once, through packaging, in seconds.
With barcodes, someone has to find each label, aim a scanner, and
record the result, repeated across every item on the floor.
With RFID, a single sweep of a reader captures a whole shelf or
stockroom. The same count that took hours can take minutes, with
fewer missed or double-counted items.
Common questions.
Do RFID tags need line of sight?
No. RFID uses radio waves, so tags can be read through boxes, bags, and stacks without being seen or aimed at.
Can many products be scanned at once?
Yes. A reader can capture hundreds of tags in a single pass, which is what makes RFID counts so much faster.
Does RFID replace barcodes?
Not necessarily. Many businesses run both, barcodes at the till, RFID for fast, accurate stock counts.
What equipment is needed?
RFID tags for your products, one or more readers, and a platform like Merla to turn the reads into inventory data.
Explore the platform
See how Merla turns RFID reads into counts, differences, and live inventory you can act on.