Budweiser Budvar Replaces RFID-Powered Forklift Tracking with SEWIO RTLS to Achieve 99% of System Uptime and Cut Down Maintenance Costs

The Budweiser Budvar Brewery was using a passive RFID solution to minimize human error while operating thousands of pallets with hundreds of varieties of beers using forklifts equipped with an RFID antenna at their chassis and RFID tags located at each of the tracked pallet positions. Due to the easily desynchronization or even damage of antennas the maintenance cost grew rapidly and the system uptime was only 80%.

In order to retain the process of minimizing human errors in logistics but crucially lower the maintenance costs and increase the system uptime, Budweiser Budvar decided to replace the RFID-built system with Sewio RTLS powered by ultra-wideband technology using Decawave chip. The implementation was provided by ICZ Group, a Gold partner of Sewio.

With the newly implemented system, antennas are placed high above the actual traffic and the reliability of the system itself has resulted in 99% of system uptime. The newly acquired insights into the distance traveled and the utilization of each forklift, together with heatmaps and spaghetti diagrams, have allowed Budweiser to better utilize the current warehouse, virtually growing it by 19%.

“While the initial cost for RFID versus UWB is almost identical, UWB undoubtedly outperforms RFID thanks to lower maintenance costs, lower risk of damage and higher accessibility and scalability of the system”, said Pavel Pánek, Head of Logistics at Budweiser Budvar.

“In many uses cases, we see RFID and UWB RTLS complement each other well when integrated into a single solution. If our customer needs precise true location data provided by a scalable system with a low maintenance cost, UWB is then the right first and only technology to choose”, commented Milan Šimek, CEO of Sewio Networks.

“At Decawave our goal is to make micro-location technology available to the masses by providing chips with state of the art performance at an affordable price. We are delighted to see partners like Sewio embrace the same philosophy and deliver RTLS systems that  are cost competitive while delivering superior performance and capabilities to end customers” said Mickael Viot VP Marketing at Decawave.

Please read the full case study here https://www.sewio.net/customer-projects/budweiser-budvar/

About Sewio Networks

Sewio Networks is a manufacturer of a real-time location system (RTLS) for indoor tracking that drives business results for companies in the intralogistics, retail, sport, entertainment and livestock industries. The Sewio system is built on ultra-wideband technology (UWB) and delivered with RTLS Studio, remote management and visualization software.

It gives partners and customers a precise, easy-to-integrate, reliable and fully scalable IoT solution for indoor tracking that allows process visibility, boosts production efficiency, simplifies the inventory process and increases safety. Founded in 2014, Sewio is headquartered in the Czech Republic with offices in Germany and France. Sewio has 70+ system integration partners and powers customers in 37 countries. Customers include: Volkswagen, Budvar, Pirelli, Matador, TPCA, Škoda.

About Decawave

Decawave develops semiconductor solutions, software, modules and reference designs that enable real-time, ultra-accurate, ultra-reliable local area micro-location services. Decawave is headquartered in Ireland, with regional headquarters in California and China and a presence in South Korea, France and Japan. For more information, visit www.decawave.com

About ICZ Group

ICZ Group is an important IT provider and system integrator. They offer a wide range of services ranging from consultancy, through the supply of information systems, to the complete acceptance of networks under its administration. The supply of ICZ Group covers the areas of application software, safety, and infrastructures, mainly for the sectors of public administration, healthcare, defense, transportation, finances, production, logistics and telecommunications. Besides the Czech and the Slovak Republics, ICZ group also operates in other countries.