RFID and Drone Inventory Counting Service

Last updated: November 11, 2026

If you want to count stock in a warehouse, store or production site without buying devices, installing a permanent system or training your own staff, you can buy the count as a service. In our RFID and drone inventory counting service, 360 Soft provides the counting team, handheld terminals, RFID readers, drones where needed and a variance report after the count. You define the counting window, the location and the output you expect. If you are considering a permanent installation, see our RFID inventory systems page; for the wider catalogue, see all outsourcing services.

This page explains the scope of the service, which technology suits which type of stock, how the service relates to year-end stocktakes and auditor observation counts, service levels, pricing logic and the questions to ask when choosing a provider.

RFID and Drone Inventory Counting Service

What is an inventory counting service and who is it for?

An inventory counting service is the planning and execution of a physical stock count by an external team, using barcode scanning, RFID reading or drone-based scanning, and the reconciliation of the results against your system stock. The output is a clean, documented count file and a variance report that your finance and operations teams can use to adjust stock and investigate differences. It suits retailers and fashion brands with many SKUs and stores, 3PL and distribution warehouses, manufacturers with raw material and finished goods stock, pharmaceutical and medical distributors, automotive and spare-parts warehouses, and companies that need a fast count for a year-end close, an audit, a warehouse move, an acquisition or a system migration.

Sector-specific problems: why counting is still hard

Full counts stop operations for a day or a weekend, which means lost sales and overtime
Manual counts with paper lists or barcode scanners are slow and error-prone on large SKU ranges
High-bay racks need lifts and safety precautions, so upper levels are often counted superficially
Temporary staff are hard to train and supervise for a one-off count
Differences between system and physical stock are found but not explained
Auditors require documented procedures and observation of the count

Scope of the service

Pre-count planning: location survey, zone map, count method, staffing and timetable
Equipment supply: handheld RFID readers, barcode terminals, portable portals and drones
Tagging support: RFID tag selection and tagging of items or pallets where needed
Counting execution with trained team leads and counters
Blind counts, recounts and spot checks for quality control
Data reconciliation against your WMS/ERP stock and variance reporting
Support during auditor observation counts and documentation of procedures
Recommendations for cycle counting and a permanent RFID system if useful

Technology	Best suited for	Notes
Barcode scanning	Mixed stock, items already barcoded, small locations	Line of sight needed, item by item
Handheld RFID	Apparel, retail stores, tagged items and cartons	Reads many tags at once without line of sight
Fixed or portable RFID portals	Inbound/outbound flows, pallets, roll cages	Useful for continuous verification
Drone-based scanning	High-bay pallet racking in large warehouses	Reads pallet labels or RFID tags at height, subject to site safety and permissions

Regulation and standards: year-end stocktakes and audits

In Turkey, year-end inventory counts are part of financial reporting under the Turkish Commercial Code and tax procedure rules, and independent auditors often attend counts as observers. Internationally, IFRS (IAS 2) and auditing standards (ISA 501) require reliable inventory records and allow auditors to observe counts. We document count instructions, cut-off procedures, recount rules and sign-offs so that your auditors can rely on the process. RFID work follows EPC/GS1 standards and local radio rules for UHF readers; drone flights follow the aviation rules of the country and the safety rules of the site. Local regulations in your country apply in addition.

Delivery models: remote, on-site, hybrid

Counting itself is on-site work. Planning, data preparation, reconciliation and reporting can be done remotely, which keeps the time on your premises short. Locations outside Turkey are scoped individually.

Model	How it works	Best for
One-off full count	Complete count of a location within a fixed window	Year-end close, audits, moves, acquisitions
Periodic counts	Scheduled counts, e.g. quarterly or per season	Retail chains, 3PL contracts
Cycle counting support	Zone-by-zone counts without stopping operations	Continuous accuracy
Count plus system pilot	Service count used to test RFID before investing	Companies evaluating a permanent RFID system

Process steps and typical timelines

Survey and planning (about 1 week): site visit, SKU and location data, method selection, safety review.
Preparation: master data import, zone labels, tagging if needed, team briefing.
Count day(s): counting by zone, live progress tracking, blind recounts on variances.
Reconciliation (typically 1–3 days): matching to system stock, variance analysis, recount of critical differences.
Reporting: final count file, variance report, signed count documentation and recommendations.

Illustrative scenario

Illustrative scenario: a fashion retailer needs a full count of a regional distribution centre before year-end, with RFID-tagged cartons and high racks. The 360 Soft team counts ground-level areas with handheld RFID readers, scans upper rack levels with a drone where the site allows, recounts the largest differences the same night and delivers a variance report to finance and the auditors. This is an example plan, not a reported client result.

SLA and KPI table

KPI	What it measures	How targets are set
Count window adherence	Count finished within the agreed time	Defined in the count plan
Location coverage	Share of locations counted	Full coverage unless excluded
Recount accuracy	Agreement between count and recount samples	Sampling plan agreed in advance
Variance report delivery	Time from count end to report	Agreed per project
Data completeness	Records with location, SKU and quantity	Validation checks
Safety incidents	Accidents or near misses	Zero target, site rules followed

How is pricing determined?

Factor	Impact on cost
Location size and number of SKUs	Larger sites need more people and equipment
Technology	Barcode, RFID and drone have different set-up and equipment needs
Tagging requirement	Tagging untagged stock adds material and labour
Counting window	Night or weekend counts and short windows need more staff
Reconciliation depth	Detailed variance investigation adds analysis time
Location and travel	Multiple sites or remote locations add logistics

We do not publish fixed prices; after a short survey we propose a quote for your specific location and method.

RFID and Drone Inventory Counting Service — overview

In-house team, freelancers or outsourcing?

Criteria	In-house	Temporary staff	Counting service (360 Soft)
Equipment	Must be purchased	Not included	Provided
Experience	Occasional	Low	Trained team leads and counters
Speed	Slow on large sites	Variable	Planned, RFID and drone where suitable
Audit documentation	Must be prepared	Rarely	Documented procedures and sign-offs

Risks and mitigations

Stock movements during the count: clear cut-off rules and frozen zones.
Missed or double-read RFID tags: zone-based reading, filters and sample checks.
Drone safety: site risk assessment, trained pilots, flights only where permitted.
Poor master data: data check and cleansing before count day.
Unexplained variances: recounts and root-cause analysis in the report.

Security, data protection, NDA and IP

Stock and location data are shared under NDA and used only for the count. Drone footage, where captured, is limited to the count purpose and handled under KVKK and, for international clients, GDPR. Count files and reports belong to you.

Contract model and staffing note

We work under a B2B service agreement with a defined scope, count plan and acceptance criteria; a mutual NDA is signed before data is exchanged. Where personal data is involved, a GDPR DPA with Standard Contractual Clauses (or the UK IDTA) and KVKK compliance apply. Counters and team leads are employed by 360 Soft under Turkish labour law and work under our supervision; this is a service, not the supply of temporary workers. Report data and documents created for you belong to you. This is general information, not legal advice; please have your counsel review the final contract.

Vendor selection checklist

Does the provider survey the site and write a count plan?
Is equipment included, and is it suitable for your stock?
How are recounts and quality checks organised?
Can the provider support auditor observation counts?
What are the safety procedures for high racks and drones?
How quickly is the variance report delivered?
Are NDA and data protection terms in place?

Frequently asked questions

Do we need to buy RFID equipment?

No. Readers, terminals and drones are provided as part of the service.

Our stock is not RFID-tagged. Can you still count it?

Yes. We count with barcode scanners, or tag items or pallets for the count if that is worthwhile.

When is drone counting useful?

In large warehouses with high pallet racking, where upper levels are slow and risky to count from lifts. Flights take place only where the site and local rules allow.

Can the count be done without stopping operations?

Often yes, by counting zone by zone or at night. Full year-end counts usually need a short freeze.

Can our auditors observe the count?

Yes. We document procedures and support auditor observation counts.

How fast do we get the results?

Count files are available right after the count; the variance report typically follows within 1–3 days.

Can you count several stores or warehouses?

Yes. Multi-site counts are planned with parallel teams or a rolling schedule.

Do you count outside Turkey?

Locations outside Turkey are scoped individually, depending on logistics and local rules.

Can the service lead to a permanent RFID system?

Yes. A service count can be used as a pilot before you invest in a permanent RFID system.

How early should we book?

Ideally several weeks ahead for year-end counts; urgent counts can be discussed.

Let us plan your count together

Tell us about your inventory counting needs and we will come back with a scoped proposal, a team plan and a realistic start date (typically 1–2 weeks). Call +90 850 335 10 87, message us on WhatsApp, email info@360-soft.com or use the contact page. 360 Soft Marketing Yazılım ve Danışmanlık Ltd. Şti., Nidakule Ataşehir Batı, Barbaros Mah. Begonya Sk. No:1 D:2, 34746 Ataşehir/İstanbul.

Related services

All services: Outsourcing Services