APS Group implements “world-first” RFID tracking solution

Marketing and communications firm, APS Group, has implemented a fully-integrated, end-to-end RFID job tracking solution for its high-volume operations, claiming that it is the very first organisation in the production print and mail sector to do so.

The project is the result of more than 12 months of collaborative design between APS Group and software developer, Bowe Group.

Deployed at APS’s Preston Brook production facility, the new Bowe IQ real-time location system (RTLS) enables each job to be digitally tracked and automatically monitored from the moment data is received through to both production and mailing.

This capability, which APS calls a “world-first”, is designed to remove reliance on manual intervention, significantly reducing human error while providing more certainty for clients operating in regulated and time-critical environments.

Live job tracking ensures visibility of where each job is at any point in the production journey, improving dispatch accuracy and strengthening overall logistics planning and forecasting.

The real-time data provided by Bowe’s system can also highlight bottlenecks, enable dynamic scheduling, improve capacity planning, and enhance asset utilisation across the production floor.

A set of passive RFID antennas now cover APS’ main production area as part of phase one of integration, with vertical RFID portals being installed at loading bays to protect outbound mail by automatically verifying despatch lanes and carriers.

A second phase will extend the technology into APS’s smart factory environment, with further applications already being explored across logistics and other operational areas.

Steve Goodall, group operations director at APS Group, says: “This is a genuine game-changer, not just for APS and our clients, but for the production print and mail industry as a whole.

“For the first time, we have complete, automated visibility of every job from data receipt through to despatch. It fundamentally changes how risk is managed, how performance is measured, and how confidence is delivered to clients.”

Goodall states that APS’ Preston Brook facility is now “one of the most advanced print production facilities of its kind” anywhere in the world, commenting that the technology will “continue to unlock new innovation across our operations.”

Steve Basnett, senior account manager at Bowe UK, adds: “Working closely with APS Group, we have delivered an industry-first solution that redefines job tracking within production print and mail. This deployment demonstrates how intelligent automation and real-time data can fundamentally transform operational control at scale.”