OKI Launches SHO-XYZ Location and Inventory Management System to Revolutionize Tracking and Management in Warehouses
OKI a leader in innovative technology solutions, is set to launch its groundbreaking SHO-XYZ™ location and inventory management system in the Japanese market in March 2025. This state-of-the-art system promises to transform the way businesses track products, equipment, and other stored items, whether indoors or outdoors, by allowing employees to manage inventory using a smartphone.
With the use of QR codes® or RF tags attached to items, the SHO-XYZ system makes it possible to centrally manage storage locations and inventory information, reducing time-consuming tasks and addressing common on-site issues such as missing items. Additionally, it offers a significant reduction in management workloads. The system is available as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), which helps lower initial costs and allows businesses—especially small warehouses and factories—to adopt this solution without the need for substantial capital investment.
Addressing the Challenges of Storage Location Management
In industries such as warehousing and manufacturing, tracking the location of stored items is often a manual and error-prone process. Historically, storage location management has relied heavily on individuals’ memory, leading to frequent instances where items go missing. These issues typically arise from human error, such as forgetting to record storage locations or incorrectly registering items. This becomes particularly problematic in smaller warehouses, where management often relies on human recall, making it easier for items to be misplaced temporarily. In many cases, the delay in locating these items can result in shipments being missed or delayed.
As global labor shortages continue to impact the logistics industry, particularly with the increasing use of foreign workers in warehouses due to the 2024 logistics issue, the need for efficient, reliable tracking systems has become even more critical. Language barriers in particular can create significant challenges for both workers and managers. To address these concerns, the SHO-XYZ system has been designed to provide a versatile and user-friendly solution to item tracking and inventory management, with multilingual support to overcome language barriers.
Features and Functionality of SHO-XYZ
The SHO-XYZ system operates as a cloud-based SaaS solution, enabling automatic tracking of items stored both indoors and outdoors. This is achieved by using RF tags attached to the items, which can be easily scanned with a smartphone that is connected to an RFID reader. The system also integrates essential functions typically found in warehouse management systems (WMS), such as receiving and shipping management.
A key feature of the SHO-XYZ system is its versatility in item tracking. It supports multiple types of tracking methods, including QR codes and barcodes. This gives businesses the flexibility to choose the best option for their specific needs, whether they are tracking location or managing inventory. This adaptability makes the system suitable for various environments, ranging from small warehouses to larger facilities.
One of the standout advantages of SHO-XYZ is its ability to support multilingual interfaces. This feature is particularly beneficial in diverse workplaces where employees may speak different languages. By accommodating site-specific terminology and providing translation capabilities, the system ensures that workers, regardless of their native language, can efficiently register item locations and locate missing items. This reduces misunderstandings, minimizes errors, and streamlines operations.
The SHO-XYZ app includes a map feature, which displays the locations of items in real-time, helping workers to quickly locate items with ease. Validation tests at OKI’s warehouse demonstrated that this functionality resulted in a dramatic 75% reduction in search times for misplaced items.
Low-Cost, Scalable Solution for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
Traditionally, the process of tracking stored items required businesses to make significant investments in specialized equipment, which often led to high operational and maintenance costs. This made advanced tracking systems inaccessible for many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), particularly those with limited budgets.
In contrast, the SHO-XYZ system’s SaaS model eliminates the need for businesses to invest in expensive dedicated hardware. Instead, it relies on widely available devices such as smartphones and RF tags, which helps to keep initial and ongoing costs low. This makes the system an attractive solution for small warehouses and factories that may face budget constraints and find it difficult to justify larger upfront investments. By providing an affordable and easy-to-implement digital solution, the system allows SMBs to streamline operations and embrace digital transformation without financial strain.
In addition, the scalability of the system means that as a business grows, its use of SHO-XYZ can evolve as well. Whether a company is looking to scale its inventory management across multiple locations or expand its use of advanced data analysis features, SHO-XYZ provides the flexibility to accommodate these changes.
Future Plans and Expansion Strategy
OKI is not stopping at the initial release of SHO-XYZ in the Japanese market. According to Yuhiko Fujiwara, Executive Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, and Head of the Innovation Business Development Center at OKI, the company’s long-term vision includes further enhancing the system’s functionality. Future plans involve expanding data analysis capabilities to include features such as tracking receiving and shipping statuses, stock quantities, and movement history. These added functionalities will improve the efficiency of warehouse operations and contribute to overall productivity.
OKI also intends to expand SHO-XYZ to regions beyond Japan. The company has set its sights on the Asia-Pacific (APAC) market, with plans to target this area in 2026. As part of its expansion strategy, OKI will exhibit the SHO-XYZ system at the YUASA Grand Fair in Thailand, scheduled to take place at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre from February 5, 2025. This exhibition will serve as a platform for showcasing the system to potential customers in the APAC region and beyond, helping to increase awareness of this innovative solution.
