1. Background
China Post’s mail processing generally through the branch office receipt, the city trip class transport, the original send central office sorting, trunk transport, sent to the central office sorting, the city trip class transport, delivery links. Among them, the central office sorting includes several links of package receiving, package opening, bulk sorting, package sealing, package sorting and package trucking. In order to provide customers with high quality service, China Post has formulated the famous “three basic systems” for internal production operations, i.e. checking and checking by hook, handing over and acceptance, and balancing and closing. Therefore, China Post’s mail processing is characterized by complex process flow, tight operation timeframe, strict communication quality requirements and high tracking and inquiry service level.
In recent years, China Post has implemented the strategy of “Science and Technology for Postal Development,” fully adopting barcode technology in mail processing and establishing a nationwide computer network capable of transmitting data, voice, and images. With the deployment of electronic branch office systems, central production operation systems, and postal command and dispatching systems, the level of mechanization, automation, and informatization in mail processing has significantly improved.
However, due to inherent limitations in barcode recognition technology—such as restricted reading distance, sensitivity to light interference, and difficulties with folded or damaged labels—manual scanning remains necessary, hindering full automation in mail sorting and handover processes. These challenges constrain delivery speeds and further advancements in operational management.
In contrast, RFID Parcel Tracking technology offers long-distance, non-line-of-sight recognition, high-speed batch processing, minimal human intervention, rewritable data, and resilience in harsh environments—making it ideal for postal operations. Recognizing this potential, China Post prioritized RFID adoption in its 10th Five-Year Plan for technological development.
In 2005, the national “863 Program” launched the “Radio Frequency Key Technology Research and Development” project. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Post piloted RFID Parcel Tracking in Shanghai’s courier package processing as a breakthrough initiative. The “Application of RFID Technology in Shanghai Postal Express Package Processing” experiment began that year, passing preliminary tests in December 2005 and entering trial operation.
This marked a critical step toward modernizing postal logistics with RFID Parcel Tracking, enhancing efficiency and paving the way for broader automation.
2. Test situation
2.1 Composition and Deployment of RFID Recognition System
The production process of Shanghai Postal Express’s total package processing mainly includes the collection and sealing of mail at the electronic branch offices, the transfer of mail to and from the city, the total package reception at the Shanghai Qingping Express Processing Center, the opening of pouches, the sorting of loose pieces, the sealing of the total package, the stacking of the total package for shipment, the barging of mail within the city, and the collection and sorting of mail and the trunk line shipment at the transfer stations of Hongqiao Airport and the new passenger station. The RFID identification system consists of handheld or fixed RFID readers and its upper computer system deployed in the city’s courier mail collection points, Shanghai Qingping Processing Center, Hongqiao Terminal, the new passenger station and other production sites, as well as the flow of RF bag tags and its transfer management system between the city’s postal branch offices and various production sites.
2.2 Technical Program
2.2.1 Frequency selection
courier bag production operations require reading distance of 3 to 4 meters, and the requirement of multi-label batch identification under certain conditions. Therefore, the choice of UHF frequency band RFID system.
2.2.2 Label selection
- The use of passive tags to reduce equipment acquisition costs and maintenance costs.
- Adopt read-only and read-write tags with two different functions.
From the electronic branch sealed to the processing center before opening, the use of read-only RFID tag bag tag, additional binding 6-character bar code information, through the electronic branch operation of the RF tag information and bar code information, the total package of business information binding, to achieve the city’s about 600 electronic branch of the original bar code-based information system and the effective combination of the RFID system. In this way, in the electronic branch office, do not need to be equipped with radio frequency readers, and can use the original bar code reading equipment, maximum protection and savings in investment.
In the processing center sealed to each transfer station in the total package processing using a read-write RF bag tag, the actual record of postal operations required by the 30-bit total package information, and the existing bar code bag tag information is exactly the same, to adapt to the postal trunk network information transmission requirements.
Alien ALN-9662 Short RFID White WET Inlay – High-Performance UHF RFID for Asset Tracking
2.2.3 Selection of Operation Scenarios
For various reasons, the current batch recognition rate of UHF RFID tags is not yet 100%. Therefore, the implementation of the RFID system should be combined with the process organization of postal production, to build on its strengths and avoid its weaknesses, looking for operational scenarios that can give play to the characteristics of RFID long-distance, penetrable general materials, multi-tag reading. In the total package handover, we choose to unload the car bag by bag in the process of information collection; in the total package sorting, the choice of information collection in the supply package workstation to maximize the RFID read rate, but also maximize the liberation of the workers’ hands and minds, to simplify the complexity of the operation, so as to ensure the quality of the operation at the same time to improve efficiency.
2.2.4 Construction of application information system
Fully utilize the original information network resources of the enterprise to construct a distributed application information system. In the electronic branch office, realize the distributed barcode data information collection, RFID label ID and business information binding, in the courier processing center, RFID system through the data interface to obtain the existing business computer system sent to receive or ship mail information, in the system to complete the collection of data and data conversion, and will read the business data passed to the relevant business systems. Thus realizing the organic integration with the existing business computer system system. the network structure of RFID application system is shown in Figure 1.
2.2.5 Recycling of RF tags
Establish RF tag recycling management transfer mechanism. Through the RF bag tag recycling management system, it can eliminate the invalid bag tags, but also through the pooling of RFID data from various links, to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of the actual operation of RFID.
ALN-9954 G Higgs 9 RFID Tags
2.3 Production flow
2.3.1 Branch Office Operation
The branch office scans the bulk barcode, collects the mail receipt and mailing information, and automatically generates the total package characteristic information and list information; scans the barcode attached to the RF bag tag with a barcode scanner to get the RF bag tag ID information and binds it to the generated total package characteristic information and list information; pegs and hangs the read-only RF bag tags, and seals and sends them out in accordance with the frequency; after the completion of the seals and sends out, the total package ID information and the corresponding total package information, mail receipt and mailing information, and list information are transmitted to the upper-level convergence point and the Express Mail processing center through the comprehensive postal computer network. After sealing and dispatching, the parcel ID information and the corresponding parcel information, mail collection and mailing information, and list information are transmitted to the upper-level collection point and the Express Mail Processing Center through the integrated postal computer network.
The parcel mail sealed and sent by branch offices is sent to the collection points, where handheld portable RF readers are equipped to read the RF information and complete the checking, and then transported to the Huqingping Processing Center by the city bus.
2.3.2 Operation of Huqingping Processing Center
- Receiving by General Contractor
Fixed readers are set up above the platform of the unloading (loading) station or on the unloading (loading) tape machine in the processing center. After the arrival of the inner-city trips, during the unloading process, the RF bag ID information is automatically read and checked against the total package roadmap information received from the network to complete the quick handover. Figure 3 for the Shanghai Qingping processing center loading and unloading station photos, station installed above the RFID reader antenna.
- Total bag opening and dismantling
Retain the existing opening and dismantling operation mode. RFID bag tags are recycled and reused uniformly after unpacking.
- Total package sealing and dispatching
The loose parts from unpacking are sorted by cross-belt sorter. The sorter automatically reads the 13-bit bulk ID information, obtains the information from the information system to realize automatic sorting, and automatically seals the mail according to its weight and volume, generating the list information and the 30-bit information of the total package. Sealer manually checks the bagging confirmation, prints the list and puts it into the pouch. At the same time, RFID read-write through the LAN to obtain the total package of 30 bits of information, will be written into the radio frequency tag bag tag, sealing and dispatching staff to seal the bag after the peg hung radio frequency tag bag tag.
Central Bureau of each frequency operation end, the relevant business data will be sent in a timely manner in accordance with the provisions of the Internet, transmitted to the information center.
- Handover of export package shipment
Package shipment is the reverse process of package reception. Fixed readers are set up on the tape machine or at the gate of the shipping platform, and the total package shipping is carried out through RFID scanning channel, which automatically recognizes and reads the information of the RF bag tag, and automatically checks and verifies with the information of the road list of the transshipment workshop.
RFID Handheld Reader
2.3.3 Hongqiao Terminal and other transfer stations
After the total package is transported to Hongqiao Terminal, the total package information is collected through the RFID scanning channel on the cross-belt total package sorter to realize the automatic checking and checking, and at the same time to realize the fast road sorting.
In other mail transfer stations, automatic checking is carried out through fixed RFID readers when handing over at the platform.
Above, through the application of RFID in the whole process of courier package processing, the realization of the package information of multi-link automatic checking and automatic sorting, to achieve the unity of the whole process of logistics and information flow.
2.4 Effectiveness
- Loading and unloading car reading rate of 99.4%; sorting reading rate of 100% (initial test value)
- Processing center within the courier operation and the total package sorting processing can improve efficiency by about 20%
- Realized the handover of the information of the automatic checking and sorting of the information of the automatic collection. The handover link between the courier department and the postal department has realized immediate delivery and clearance.
- The automatic collection of mail processing time information in each link has supported the optimization of the logistics network.
- The link of tracking and inquiry of the courier package has been improved, which has avoided the delay and loss of mails, and facilitated the quality assessment, and improved the management level.
In addition, the benefits of the application of RFID in the Shanghai courier are not only embodied in the improvement of the operational efficiency and service quality, but also due to the fact that more than 600 branch offices can be opened every day. In addition, the benefits of RFID application in Shanghai Express are not only reflected in the improvement of operation efficiency and service quality, but also due to the fact that more than 600 branch offices can recycle RFID labels every day and no longer use disposable barcode labels, which can reduce the expenditure of 320,000 RMB annually by saving the material, equipment loss and labor cost of disposable barcode labels.
3.Experience
Through the Shanghai pilot, we have a better understanding of the characteristics of postal application of RFID technology.
3.1 About information identification
Information identification is one of the core issues in the application of RFID technology. The development of information marking program is affected by both the business characteristics of enterprises, information systems, applications, network infrastructure, construction funds and other conditions, but also will have a profound impact on the enterprise’s information systems architecture and network structure, and even the enterprise’s long-term technological development system. Here, standardization plays a very important role.
3.2 On the read rate
In the primary stage of RFID technology applications, enterprise users are first concerned about the correct read rate of the reading device. We believe that, on the one hand, we need to rely on reading equipment to improve the development of its own technology – we are counting on the early introduction of ISO18000-6C standard; on the other hand, you can analyze the business process from the enterprise to explore help improve the reading rate of information collection links – that is, the business process transformation, the business process transformation, and the information collection process. On the other hand, we can analyze the business process to discover the information collection link that can help to improve the read rate – that is, to carry out business process transformation and create application scenarios; or to gradually gather the read information in each link of the whole business process, and to reduce the impact of the read error through data verification.
3.3 About Middleware
In the Shanghai experiment, the RFID system is built on the existing information system architecture, and maintains effective information exchange with the existing barcode-based electronic branch office system, the central office production and operation system, and the postal command and scheduling system through the reading, writing, de-duplication, filtering, translation and other processing of radio frequency information. The use of a number of interface software with specialized functions, is not a complete meaning of middleware products. We believe that with the expansion and deepening of RFID technology applications, commercialized and mature middleware is indispensable.
3.4 About tag cost
From the test results, it is more appropriate to use passive tags of UHF band in the postal field. In the postal RFID system, tag usage is huge. In a sense, the cost of tags determines the scale of application of RFID technology. Tag recycling and reuse, certainly not a compensatory measure, but the resulting increase in management costs. A few years ago, people had expected the price of tags used for postal purposes to drop to less than 5 cents, and we have reason to believe that this day will soon come.
4.The outlook
Undoubtedly, RFID technology in the postal field has a wide range of application prospects. China’s Ministry of Science and Technology recently organized the development of “China’s radio frequency identification technology policy white paper”, and RFID technology research and development and application of China’s science and technology as the eleventh “Five-Year Plan” in the major scientific research projects, in which the postal sector has been listed as a key demonstration of the application areas.
China Post will also be in the eleventh “Five-Year Plan” period, phased, step by step, to increase the promotion and application of RFID technology. We initially envisage that, on the basis of summarizing the pilot experience of Shanghai courier package processing, 2006 Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou courier package processing networking test; courier, logistics bulk processing, vehicle scheduling application of RFID technology test; research proposed postal network-wide application of RFID technology of the overall program, including the postal network-wide application of RFID system of the specific technical routes, the system’s technical parameters, Performance and functional indicators; data collection of each link of the collection method and information and physical balance of the merging method, the development of the corresponding production workflow; put forward the relevant business regulations and system reform, mail processing process reform and related standardization proposals; put forward the equipment configuration requirements, investment estimates, implementation plans and steps of the proposal. 2008 in the national “all-night flights “In 2008, China Post promoted the application of RFID technology in the processing of general packages, and carried out research and experimental work in other fields such as general postal packages, logistics packages, letter boxes, containers and asset management.
China Post has just taken the first step on the road of RFID application, and there is a lot of follow-up work. Recently, the UPU Information Technology Cooperation Organization (Telematics Cooperative) e-post business user group (Advanced Electronic Service User Group) under the RFID technology application working group (WG) has been set up, will be dedicated to the study of global postal application of RFID technology, business and standards issues. The WG will specialize in studying the technical, operational and standard issues related to the application of RFID in the global postal service, and has launched the global international mail quality tracking and inspection system based on RFID technology.