RFID Tracking Glossary

Goods issue refers to the process in which goods, materials or consignments leave the company and are prepared for transport or delivery. During this process, the quantity, identity and destination of the shipment are checked, recorded and transferred to downstream systems via an interface. With RFID, goods movements can be captured automatically and changes in stock level can be made visible directly in the system. This increases process reliability, because shipping operations can be continued in a traceable and consistent way without manual intermediate steps. Automatic posting at goods issue reduces misallocations and stabilises workflows at gates and loading areas.

Goods receipt refers to the process in which incoming goods, materials or load carriers are received, checked and recorded in the system. During this process, the quantity, identity and condition of the delivery are captured so that stock can be updated correctly and downstream operations can be triggered reliably. An RFID-supported goods receipt  enables automatic data capture without line of sight and with less manual effort. This improves transparency in intralogistics and reduces the risk of posting errors, search effort and delays. The automatic capture of incoming goods speeds up postings and stabilises the subsequent material flow.

GPS stands for Global Positioning System and is a satellite-based method for determining the geographic position of vehicles, load carriers or mobile operating equipment. Unlike RFID, it is not used for selective identification at a read point, but for location-based tracking over longer distances. In the context of object tracking and asset tracking, the technology is mainly used outdoors, as the signal is only available to a limited extent inside buildings or in shielded areas. GPS tracking  complements RFID and other Auto-ID solutions when the locations and movements of mobile units need to be traced over long distances. The method improves transparency regarding the locations and movements of mobile units in outdoor operations.

GRAIDWARE® is SIGMA Group’s proprietary software solution for processing and integrating automatically generated identification and movement data into industrial operations. As an AutoID and RFID middleware, it consolidates events from connected capture points, assigns them to processes, and transfers them to leading systems such as ERP, MES, WMS, and other systems. This supports continuous data integration, greater transparency, and stable control within material flow. GRAIDWARE® creates a reliable digital foundation for process control in production and logistics.

The GRAIDWARE® dashboard is the visualisation and operating interface of the GRAIDWARE® middleware. It presents automatically captured process, status and movement data in a clear way and supports their monitoring and evaluation in production and logistics. The dashboard allows information to be displayed in a consolidated form, deviations to be identified more quickly and workflows to be managed in a more targeted way. In addition, it can link data with connected systems via an interface, creating a consistent view of ongoing processes. The GRAIDWARE® dashboard improves transparency across material flows, inventory and process statuses in day-to-day operations.

The GS1 standard is a globally used framework for the unique identification of products, load carriers and logistic units as well as for the standardised exchange of information between companies. In the RFID environment, it forms the basis for identifiers such as GTIN and Electronic Product Code and ensures that data is interpreted consistently across different systems. The GS1 standard  supports the continuous identification and traceability of goods along the supply chain.

GTIN is a globally standardised number used for the unique identification of trade items. It belongs to the GS1 standard and is used primarily in barcode systems for automatic identification. In the RFID environment, it often forms the basis for the Electronic Product Code when products need to be captured not only at item level but also automatically within digital processes. It helps to assign items clearly across systems and to process data consistently in merchandise management, warehousing and the supply chain. GTIN creates a uniform item identification across suppliers, customers and other partners in the supply chain so that all parties use the same basis for data exchange.