• Client: Meridian Cold-Chain & Logistics Pvt Ltd
• Sector: Third-party cold-chain & ambient warehousing
• Location: Bhiwandi, Mumbai Metropolitan Region
• Engagement: 4-month rollout, ongoing consumables & support contract
• Scope: UHF RFID labeling, fixed & handheld readers, WMS integration

Overview of the Customer

Meridian Cold-Chain & Logistics operates multi-client cold-chain and ambient warehousing out of a large facility in Bhiwandi, serving FMCG, pharma distribution and quick-commerce customers. The site was running on manual barcode scanning for putaway, cycle counts and dispatch — reliable, but slow at pallet scale and dependent on direct line-of-sight scanning inside chilled storage aisles. As throughput grew, the operations team wanted pallet-level visibility without adding headcount to the counting cycle, and approached SNA Infotech as an existing barcode consumables supplier to scope an RFID upgrade.

Scope of Work

• Hybrid Barcode + UHF Labeling: Print-and-apply UHF inlay labels carrying both a human-readable barcode and an encoded RFID chip, applied at goods-in.
• Fixed RFID Infrastructure: Dock-door and rack-entry RFID portals for automatic, hands-free pallet reads.
• Handheld RFID Readers: Mobile readers for cycle counts, spot audits and exception handling.
• WMS Middleware Integration: RFID read events streamed into the existing warehouse management system.
• Consumables Supply: Ongoing supply of cold-chain-rated UHF labels and printer ribbons sized to throughput.

The Requirements

• No line-of-sight scanning: Pallets needed to be read automatically at dock doors and rack entries without a worker aiming a scanner at every carton.
• Cold-chain durability: Labels had to hold their adhesive and read reliably despite condensation and repeated cycling between chilled storage and ambient loading bays.
• No rip-and-replace: The existing barcode-based WMS workflow needed to keep working during and after rollout — RFID had to layer on top, not replace it.
• Live-site rollout: The warehouse could not pause operations for the changeover, so cutover had to happen dock-by-dock.

The Solution

A. Hybrid Barcode + RFID Label Program

SNA Infotech supplied UHF inlay labels engineered for cold-chain conditions — moisture-tolerant adhesive rated for chilled-to-ambient cycling — printed and encoded at goods-in on wax-resin ribbon combinations that kept the barcode crisp alongside the embedded RFID chip. Labels were applied via semi-automated print-and-apply stations at each induction point.

B. Fixed & Handheld RFID Infrastructure

Fixed UHF readers were installed at dock doors and key rack-entry points to capture pallet movement automatically as goods entered or left storage zones. Handheld RFID readers were issued to the cycle-count team for mobile audits and to resolve exceptions the fixed readers flagged.

C. Middleware & WMS Integration

RFID read events were streamed into the client's existing WMS through a middleware layer, updating pallet location and status in near real time without requiring a WMS replatform.

D. Phased, Dock-by-Dock Rollout

Cutover was sequenced one dock and rack zone at a time to avoid disrupting live shipments, with warehouse staff trained on the new hybrid labels and handheld readers as each zone went live, and a defined consumables reorder process handed over to the client's procurement team.

The Results

• Faster cycle counts: Pallet-level cycle counts that previously required a significant share of a shift's labor now complete in a fraction of the time via bulk RFID reads.
• Near real-time visibility: Dock and rack-entry reads keep pallet location status current without manual scanning at every touchpoint.
• Fewer manual-scan errors: Automatic bulk reads reduced missed or mis-scanned pallets compared with line-of-sight barcode scanning alone.
• Predictable consumables supply: A recurring UHF label and ribbon supply arrangement removed ad-hoc reordering from the warehouse team's workload.

Conclusion

The Meridian engagement shows how SNA Infotech's ribbon, label and RFID manufacturing capability combines with equipment and integration expertise to modernize a live, multi-client warehouse without disrupting operations. Layering hybrid barcode + RFID labeling onto an existing WMS — rather than forcing a full replatform — let the client move to pallet-level visibility on a timeline and budget that fit an active facility.