A UID (unique identifier) is the digital fingerprint for each physical unit in Beam. Each UID is stored as an EPC (Electronic Product Code) on a tag or label (for example an RFID tag or QR code). Beam uses it to identify exactly which unit a scan belongs to and to track its complete lifecycle, from the moment it enters stock to the moment it leaves stock.
What is a UID?
- UID (Unique Identifier) Beam's term for the unique code that identifies one physical unit. You use UIDs to track exactly which unit is where and to see its full history.
- EPC (Electronic Product Code) The technical format of that code on the tag or label (e.g. RFID or QR), often following GS1 standards (e.g. SGTIN-96).
- With UID/RFID tracking, each physical unit has exactly one UID. Two units of the same item type therefore have two different UIDs.
- The UID sits on the tag or label attached to the physical item. When you scan it, Beam looks up the item, its location, and its full history instantly.
The UID list
On desktop, open UIDs in the navigation menu. On mobile, tap the UID Tracking tile on the home screen. You can sort the list by Last seen, Last updated, or UID code; filter by stocktake visibility (dropdown All); and use the search icon to find a UID. The list shows all registered codes in your organization. Each row displays:
- Code The full unique UID/EPC code.
- Linked item The inventory item (product name) this UID belongs to.
- Stock status The UID's position in the inventory lifecycle (e.g. In stock; see Status section below).
- Last seen The date and time of the most recent scan.
- Three dots Recent stocktake status: each dot represents whether the UID was seen or not seen in one of the last three stocktakes. This lets you quickly see if the unit was recently accounted for.
Searching and filtering
Use the search bar to find a specific UID by its code or by the linked item name. The filter dropdown (All) lets you narrow the list by stocktake visibility:
| Filter | Shows |
|---|---|
| All | Every UID in the organization |
| Never included | UIDs that have never been part of a stocktake |
| Never seen | UIDs that have never been detected in any stocktake |
| Recently missed | UIDs that were expected but not seen in recent stocktakes |
UID status lifecycle
Every UID moves through statuses as it progresses through inventory operations. Understanding the lifecycle helps you trace exactly where a unit is and why.
| Status | Meaning | Transitions to |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | The unit is physically present at a location and available. | Reserved (when order is placed), Missing (after stocktake), Written off |
| Reserved | The unit has been allocated to an order line but not yet picked. | In Order (when picking starts), Stock (if order is cancelled) |
| In Order | The unit is actively being picked or is part of an active order. | Shipped (outbound), Returned (rental return), Stock (if order reset) |
| Shipped | The unit has left the warehouse on a completed outbound order. | Returned (if rental; item comes back) |
| Returned | The unit has been returned from a rental and is back at a location. | Stock (after return is processed) |
| Missing | The unit was expected during a Stock Take but was not scanned. | Stock (if found later and stock is corrected) |
| Written off | The unit has been permanently removed from active inventory. | - |
UID detail page
Tap any UID in the list to open its detail page. This page shows the complete picture for that single physical unit:
- Full UID/EPC code The encoded identifier on the tag, with an option to copy it.
- Linked item Item name, article code, and size or variant, plus a link to the item type.
- Current status and location Status (e.g. In stock or Unknown), last seen date, article stock per location, and View on floorplan to see where the unit is or was.
- Last seen Timestamp and which user or device last scanned the tag.
- Stocktakes Three dots showing whether the UID was seen or missed in each of the last three stocktakes (green = seen, red = missed).
- History timeline A chronological record of every event for this UID: scans, location changes, when it was reserved or picked for an order, when it was shipped or returned, and any status changes.
EPC identification modes
Beam supports multiple encoding schemes for EPCs. The mode is set per item in the item's tracking settings:
| Mode | Format | How Beam identifies it |
|---|---|---|
| SGTIN-96 | 96-bit GS1 standard EPC | Decodes company prefix + item reference + serial. Matches item by article code. |
| Random HEX | 24-character hexadecimal string | Direct lookup in Beam's EPC registry. |
| Hybrid | Article code + serial number encoded together | Splits the EPC to extract article code, then looks up the item. |
| Direct match | Any raw string | Matches against a configured list of known EPC codes. |
Writing and encoding tags
This section explains how to encode RFID tags with an EPC so you can use them in Beam. You do not always need to encode tags yourself: if your tags already have an EPC (pre-coded), you can link them to an item instead see Pre-coded tags: link to item below. The main ways to write tags are:
When adding stock
The most common method. When you add units to a UID-tracked item, Beam generates the required EPCs automatically and writes them to blank tags during the stock addition flow. After saving, the stock group shows the newly created EPCs. You can print RFID labels for them directly from this screen.
From the scan page (RFID)
To encode blank tags one by one:
- Tap the scan button and open RFID (or open Scan in the menu and choose RFID), then tap the options menu.
- Select Write Tag.
- Choose the item to encode.
- Place a blank RFID tag near the reader.
- Tap Write. The EPC is encoded and the unit is registered in your inventory.
Pre-coded tags: link to item
If your tags already have EPCs (from the factory or another system), you do not need to encode them. You only need to link those EPCs to an item in Beam. Use the scan page and bulk link:
- Open the Scanner (scan page).
- Scan the pre-coded tags. Use Multi to scan several in a row. You can scan EPCs with the camera (barcode/QR on the tag) or with an RFID reader the flow is the same; with RFID you skip the camera view and codes are added as you scan.
- When you have one or more codes, a Bulk button appears (e.g. Bulk 3 for three codes). Tap it.
- On Bulk Actions, choose Link (Assign to item).
- Tap Link to item and search for the item by name or code. Select the item.
- Tap Assign to link all scanned UIDs to that item. The units are then in stock for that item.
Size management
For industries like fashion and apparel, Beam supports assigning sizes to RFID tags. This is useful when the same item type (for example, a shirt) comes in multiple sizes and each size needs its own RFID tag identifier.
- Define size labels In EPC Settings (for example, S, M, L, XL).
- Associate each size label With an EPC range or encoding rule.
- When scanning The app displays the size alongside the item name for immediate identification.
- During order picking The size is shown on each order line so pickers can verify they have the right variant.