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NFC Transfers Explained

When you move products between locations in ReRoute AI, NFC (Near Field Communication) transfers ensure that both the sending and receiving locations physically verify the handoff. This prevents unauthorized transfers, lost shipments, and inventory discrepancies.

Transfer Lifecycle​

Every NFC transfer goes through a series of steps:

  1. Initiated -- You create a transfer in the app, specifying the source location, destination, and the products to move. The system checks that enough inventory is available and reserves it immediately.
  2. Pickup Pending -- The transfer is waiting for someone at the source location to scan the NFC tag. This confirms that the items have been physically picked up. The reserved inventory cannot be claimed by other transfers during this time.
  3. In Transit -- The pickup scan is complete and the items are on their way. The system is now waiting for the NFC scan at the destination.
  4. Completed -- The destination scan confirms the items arrived. Inventory is subtracted from the source and added to the destination. The transfer is done.

If something goes wrong at any stage, the transfer moves to a Cancelled or Failed state and all reserved inventory is released back to the source location.

Why NFC Verification Matters​

NFC scanning creates a chain of physical proof that items actually moved from point A to point B. Without it, a transfer is just a number change in the system -- there is no guarantee that products physically changed hands.

NFC verification helps you:

  • Prevent phantom transfers where inventory moves on paper but not in reality
  • Maintain an audit trail showing exactly when and where each scan happened
  • Hold staff accountable with a record of who handled each transfer

Whether your NFC tags are embedded in wall-mounted readers, handheld devices, or your mobile phone, the scan takes just a moment and gives you confidence that your inventory records match reality.

Reservations During Transfers​

The moment you create a transfer, the system reserves the specified quantity at the source location. This means:

  • The reserved items are subtracted from your available quantity, so no one else can claim them for a different transfer.
  • Your current (physical) quantity does not change until the transfer completes.
  • If the transfer is cancelled or fails, the reservation is released and those items become available again.

This reservation system is what prevents double-booking. Even if a transfer takes several hours to complete, your available inventory numbers stay accurate throughout.

Auto-Cancellation Timeout​

Each step in the transfer has a timeout window (6 hours by default per step, 12 hours total). If no NFC scan occurs within that window, the system automatically cancels the transfer and releases the reserved inventory.

This protects you from inventory getting stuck in limbo. For example, if a driver picks up a shipment but forgets to scan at the destination, the transfer will time out, release the inventory, and notify you so you can investigate.

You can also cancel a transfer manually at any time before it completes. When you cancel, the system immediately releases all reservations and makes the inventory available again.

Transfers vs. Manual Adjustments​

Use transfers when products are physically moving between two of your locations. Transfers give you the full NFC verification workflow, reservation tracking, and audit trail.

Use manual adjustments for other inventory changes:

  • Stock In -- Receiving a shipment from a supplier
  • Stock Out -- Removing damaged or expired items
  • Count Adjustment -- Correcting a discrepancy found during a physical count

Manual adjustments happen instantly (no NFC required) and update your inventory in a single step.

Every movement -- transfer or manual adjustment -- requires you to pick a typed reason instead of free text. See Movement Reason Codes Explained for the full list and why it matters.