What to look for in your new RFID printer

Accurate inventory management is crucial in today’s chaotic supply chains. Unlike traditional barcoding, RFID tracking empowers warehouses and distribution centers with real-time visibility. Robust solutions can go as far as providing in-motion tracking and storage status to prevent product misplacements and shrinkage. In other words, the power of RFID tracking is of great value to today’s distribution centers.

However, despite its benefits, RFID implementation has often been associated with several obstacles such as extensive piloting, space constraints, and signal interference. Even after successful integration, businesses cannot completely abandon previous technologies. To bridge the gap between current systems and innovative RFID, Zebra’s ZT400 Series Printer delivers industrial-grade label printing alongside RFID encoding. 

While developing an RFID plan, consider integrating printing solutions with:

• User-friendly configurability – the ZT400 is equipped with multiple connectivity options such as Ethernet, USB, and Bluetooth to secure blazing-fast processing speeds and seamless tap-and-pair. Dual USB host ports also allow you to simplify data entry by connecting scanners and keyboards without unplugging peripheral devices. 
• Flexible adaptability to new printing needs – Easy media loading decreases time spent setting up your device, enabling more productivity. The ZT400’s double media slots accommodate more communication options while its open architecture supports application upgrades and Zebra PrintDNA apps for extended functionality. 
• Backwards compatibility with existing systems – Successful modernization plans can take time to implement. That’s why next-generation printers should retain compatibility with your preferred label formats. The ZT400 supports both EPL and ZPL while also accommodating other printer languages from competitive brands.  
• Easy printing and encoding – Lastly, selecting a printer with more ease of use decreases training costs. The ZT400’s adaptive encoding technologies facilitate RFID calibration for seamless deployment. Current technology advancements have also enabled on-metal RFID printing, extending simplistic tagging to previously challenging products.  
• Rugged exterior design – Fast-paced warehouses pose serious breakdown risks for fragile technologies. That’s why the ZT400 is reinforced with an all-metal exterior and long life printhead coating to thrive in the heat of thermal printing. 

Your label printer plays a key role in accurate inventory identification; however, a modernized system requires more than just hardware. Carefully evaluate your warehouse technology with an experienced automation team to see how you can improve operational visibility with the latest generation of enterprise technologies.