RFiD Discovery, a leading provider of real-time location tracking solutions, has successfully deployed a passive RFID system for pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, improving inventory accuracy at two international research and development (R&D) sites from 75 to 95% while reducing inventory checks from hours to just minutes.
The solution has transformed how Sanofi manages critical research materials, reducing search times and giving greater confidence in stock levels to help avoid overstocking and stock-outs as well as materials going out of date.
Implemented at Sanofi’s R&D facilities in Marcy-L’Etoile (France) and Waltham, Massachusetts (USA), the RFID platform provides laboratory and supply chain teams with accurate stock visibility of materials used in the development of new medicines.
Improving efficiency in complex research environments
Within pharmaceutical R&D, teams manage a wide range of consumables – including bottles, tubes, pouches and liquid components. The teams at Sanofi now benefit from real-time visibility of item availability, quantities and locations, significantly reducing time spent searching for materials and unnecessary movement between storage areas.
For temperature-sensitive products, RFID scanning minimises fridge and freezer opening times, helping protect product integrity and reducing the risk of materials expiring unnoticed. Overall, the solution supports smoother R&D operations and improved productivity.
Passive RFID delivering real-time inventory visibility
Around 4,000 items are now tracked using RFID labels, allowing materials to be monitored throughout their lifecycle – from receipt and storage to usage and expiration tracking.
The system includes passive RFID labels, handheld RFID readers, RFID printers, a mobile application for search and filtering, and a centralised software platform.
Faster inventories, greater confidence in stock data
Since its introduction, the RFID solution has been rapidly adopted by laboratory and supply chain teams, with 21 active users and plans to expand further.Teams have already completed around 200 inventories, with processes that previously required around two hours now completed in approximately five minutes.
Frederic Preaux, Head of Sanofi mRNA Vaccines Supply Chain, said:
“The RFID solution tailored by RFiD Discovery has significantly strengthened our traceability and stock accuracy, giving us a level of confidence we’ve never had before. The team’s agility and ability to adapt quickly to Sanofi’s evolving business challenges were key to delivering a solution that truly meets our operational needs.”
Preparing for expansion
Following the success of the deployment, Sanofi plans to extend the solution to two additional teams, tracking a further 3,000 materials across sites in France and the US.
Sanofi also plans to extend the solution to GMP products, i.e. products that are subject to Good Manufacturing Practice, more than doubling the scale of the deployment to further improve traceability and inventory efficiency for regulated materials.
Arron Duddin, General Manager at RFiD Discovery, added:
“This project demonstrates how passive RFID can deliver immediate, measurable value in complex R&D environments. By giving teams real-time visibility of their inventory without disrupting sensitive storage conditions, we’re helping organisations like Sanofi improve efficiency, reduce waste, and make faster, more informed decisions. We’re proud to support their innovation with a solution that is both scalable and adaptable for future growth.”
https://www.rfiddiscovery.com/
