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Top 5 Ways Asset Identification Transforms Pharma Pick and Pack Operations

Pharmaceutical companies today face real problems with manual tracking systems that just don’t cut it anymore. Workers spend hours manually entering batch numbers, checking labels, and verifying products  all while dealing with tight deadlines and zero tolerance for mistakes. One wrong batch number can trigger a costly recall. Scanflow’s asset identification SDK changes this completely by using AI mobile scanning to read and verify product information straight from the packaging, making pharma distribution operations faster and more reliable.

How Scanflow Transforms Pharma Operations

1. Batch Number Capture

Manual batch tracking is where most pharma operations lose time and money. Workers squint at tiny printed numbers, type them into systems, and hope they got it right. With thousands of products moving through facilities daily, human error is inevitable.

Scanflow’s system reads batch numbers directly from packages using AI technology. It achieves 98% accuracy rates, which beats manual entry by a wide margin. The system works even when batch numbers are printed on difficult surfaces like curved bottles or glossy labels. No more transcription errors, no more having to double-check every entry, and no more recalls caused by tracking mistakes.

2. Real-Time Inventory Control

Most pharma distribution centers still rely on outdated tracking methods that update inventory hours or even days after products move. This creates blind spots where nobody knows exactly what’s in stock or where specific batches are located.

Scanflow optimizes asset tracking and inventory management, automating barcode processing and improving in pharma distribution and warehouses. The asset identification solution provides real-time visibility into pharmaceutical inventory levels, locations, and movement throughout the pharma distribution supply chain. When products move, the system updates immediately. Integration with existing WMS and ERP systems means inventory records stay current without extra work from warehouse staff.

3. Complete Label Verification in One Scan

Current label checking processes require workers to manually verify multiple data points – expiration dates, lot numbers, NDC codes, dosage information. This takes time and creates opportunities for oversight, especially during busy periods.

Scanflow’s system reads and validates different data fields from pharmaceutical labels in a single scan. This eliminates the tedious manual checking process while ensuring every package meets specifications.

4. Faster Operations With Better Accuracy

Traditional pick and pack operations in pharmaceutical facilities and pharma distribution centers often involve time consuming manual verification processes. Scanflow’s asset identification solution improves operational efficiency by automating multiple verification steps simultaneously. Workers can scan, verify, and process products 70% faster than manual methods.

The system handles product codes, batch numbers, expiration dates, and quality checks all at once. This speed increase means facilities can process more orders per day without adding staff. Workers focus on handling products and solving problems instead of data entry and verification tasks.

5. Complete Product Traceability from Start to Finish

Tracking products through the entire supply chain is mandatory in pharma, but most companies struggle with gaps in their traceability records. When regulators ask for complete product history or when recalls happen, teams scramble to piece together information from multiple systems and paper records.

Scanflow creates an unbroken chain of custody for every product that passes through your facility. Every scan captures location, timestamp, operator ID, and product details automatically. The system tracks products from receiving through storage, picking, packing, and shipping without requiring extra data entry from workers.

When you need traceability information whether for a routine audit, customer inquiry, or recall situation – everything is already documented and searchable. The system shows exactly where each batch has been, who handled it, and when each step occurred. This complete visibility helps companies respond faster to regulatory requests and reduces the time spent investigating product history issues.

Scanflow’s Mobile SDK Technology

Scanflow’s asset identification solution is built on a mobile SDK that works with existing pharmaceutical operations. The platform uses computer vision algorithms trained specifically for pharmaceutical packaging, handling different box sizes, label formats, and printing styles commonly found in pharma distribution.

The scanning technology adapts to various lighting conditions and package orientations that occur in real warehouse environments. The AI learns from each facility’s specific products and improves recognition over time. The mobile SDK works on handheld devices, tablets, and fixed scanning stations, giving companies flexibility in how they deploy the technology.

Business Impact and Measurable Results

Companies using Scanflow’s asset identification solution see results within months of implementation. Labor costs drop significantly when workers stop spending time on manual data entry. Error rates decrease, which means fewer returns, recalls, and compliance issues. Processing speed increases allow facilities to handle more volume without expanding staff.

The system scales across multiple facilities and product lines as companies grow. The technology integrates with existing warehouse management systems without disrupting current workflows. For pharmaceutical operations dealing with increasing volume and tighter regulations, automated asset identification isn’t just helpful it’s becoming necessary for staying competitive.

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Text Scanning Tire Sidewall

How Tire Sidewall Scanning using AI is transforming tire warehousing in Automotive Manufacturing

In automotive manufacturing, precision in tire identification is non-negotiable. But inside warehouses, the way tires are received, stored, and retrieved still relies heavily on manual intervention, leading to mismatches, delays, and an inability to manage inventory effectively. Sidewall data capture introduces a system of record built directly from the tire, enabling smarter, faster, and more accurate warehouse operations.

 

In most tire warehouses, the process begins with unloading. Tires are manually counted and logged using either handheld scanners or visual checks. From this point forward, tracking relies on printed barcodes, handwritten logs, or product labels that are easy to misread or lose. The warehouse is left operating on estimates, assumptions, and static records.


  • Inaccurate SKU matching: Selecting the wrong tire model or size during retrieval is common when multiple similar variants are stored in close proximity.
  • Manual data entry errors: Serial numbers and model information are often typed in by hand, increasing the risk of mismatch or duplication.
  • Lack of visibility into tire aging: There is no reliable mechanism to track how long each unit has been stored, leading to slow-moving stock building up unnoticed.
  • No real-time inventory insight: Most systems only offer a point-in-time view, which becomes outdated as soon as stock is moved or reallocated.
  • Increased turnaround time: The time it takes to find, verify, and dispatch the correct tire grows, especially as SKU complexity increases.
  • High man-hour cost: Staff must spend time on low-value tasks like physical checks, double entry, and re-scanning due to initial inaccuracies.

In fast-moving production environments, these issues quickly become bottlenecks – not just for the warehouse, but for the entire supply chain that depends on it.

  • Every tire has essential data embedded in its sidewall. This includes:
  • The Tire Identification Number (TIN)
  • Size and load index
  • Manufacturer and model
  • Batch or production code

Instead of relying on external labels, barcodes, or manual logs, sidewall data capture uses computer vision and optical character recognition to extract this information directly from the tire. The system identifies each unit as it is received, moved, or retrieved without requiring any manual input.

This data is immediately matched to the expected SKU and stored in the warehouse management system in real time. As a result, the warehouse has a live, continuously updated inventory view based on what is actually in storage, not just what was scanned in at the door.

1. Asset-Level Identification at Entry

Tires are identified individually as they are unloaded, with precise data linked to each unit. This eliminates reliance on aggregated batch-level logging or barcode stickers that may detach or degrade.

2. Reduced SKU Mismatch During Retrieval

Operators retrieve tires based on validated data from the sidewall, not assumptions or packaging labels. The system flags any discrepancies between what is picked and what is expected.

3. Live Tracking of Tire Aging

Because each tire is scanned and time-stamped at arrival, its storage duration is tracked automatically. This enables FIFO or FEFO practices and prevents the creation of slow-moving or expired stock.

4. Real-Time Warehouse Snapshot

Management gets a complete picture of what is stored where, down to the model and age of each unit. This allows for better layout planning, stock rotation, and dispatch prioritization.

5. Space Utilization Optimization

With clear data on high-movement SKUs, warehouse teams can adjust placement zones and stacking logic to reduce time and effort spent on retrieval.

6. Reduction in Man-Hour Cost

Automated capture eliminates the need for repeated checks, re-scanning, and dual entry. Fewer errors mean fewer corrections, and fewer hands are needed to manage day-to-day tracking tasks.

Moving from Manual to Measurable

The shift from manual identification to structured AI sidewall capture is not just about saving time. It is about enabling tire warehousing operations to work with a level of data integrity and speed that matches the rest of the automotive manufacturing process.

Inaccurate or missing tire data delays dispatches, inflates inventory cost, and slows down assembly. When identification happens at the source; at the moment the tire is unloaded, these problems no longer accumulate. Warehouses become faster. Decisions become more informed. Stock becomes more visible and manageable.

Conclusion

Sidewall data capture transforms warehouse operations from manual and reactive to intelligent and data driven. By building traceability from the physical asset itself, it eliminates errors at the point of entry, improves selection accuracy during retrieval, and gives real-time visibility into every tire in the system.

For tire manufacturers, OEMs, and their warehousing partners, the message is simple: better data starts at the sidewall and the time to capture it is now.

If your teams are still spending time on manual tire checks, SKU revalidations, or inventory clean-ups, you’re losing more than just time – you’re losing traceability, efficiency, and cost control.

Scanflow lets you capture tire sidewall data directly from the tire; fast, accurate, and fully integrated into your existing workflows.

No guesswork. No double entry. Just clean data, from source to dispatch.

Book a walkthrough with our team to see how Scanflow fits into your warehousing environment.

Schedule a demo or Download SDK to start.

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