Asia Pacific 
English 
Background
For biotechnology companies, reliable access to laboratory consumables is critical to keeping operations running smoothly. However, ongoing supply chain disruptions, longer lead times and rising purchase costs have made inventory planning increasingly challenging. Holding too much stock can lead to expired or obsolete items, while holding too little can result in shortages and operational delays. In this environment, having accurate, real-time visibility of inventory has become essential for making better replenishment decisions and controlling costs.
Business Challenge
A global biotechnology leader was looking to improve the way it managed its inventory of consumables. The team was carrying out weekly manual stock takes, a process that required significant time and effort. For fast-moving items, staff also had to conduct regular visual checks to determine when replenishment was needed. This manual approach made it difficult to maintain accurate inventory records and respond quickly to changing stock levels. It also placed additional pressure on staff, who had to spend valuable time on routine checks instead of focusing on higher-value tasks.
Solutions
To address these challenges, the customer implemented SATO’s PJM RFID Smart Dropbox System. The solution includes SATO’s RFID desktop reader, PJM RFID cards and RFID inventory software. Together, these components allow the customer to monitor stock availability and quantities in real time through a central software dashboard. When stock levels approach a predefined threshold, the system automatically sends email alerts to laboratory staff. This helps the team take timely action before items run low, reducing the risk of shortages and disruption to daily operations. The software also provides reports on consumption trends, giving staff a clearer view of how inventory is used over time. With this information, the team can make more informed decisions on what to replenish, when to replenish and how much to order.
Results
With SATO’s PJM RFID Smart Dropbox System in place, the customer was able to move away from time-consuming manual stock taking and gain better control over its inventory. Staff no longer needed to rely on tedious manual checks, freeing up time for more productive tasks. At the same time, improved inventory visibility helped the team maintain the right stock items in the right quantities, while reducing the risk of overstocking, resulting in a smoother, more efficient and streamlined operations.
