How FIFO Lot and Expiry Tracking Saves Thai F&B Wholesalers from Six-Figure Write-Offs

It is a systematic inventory methodology that links specific production batches and expiration dates to physical barcodes. The system dynamically enforces First-In, First-Out (FIFO) or First-Expired, First-Out (FEFO) rules during receiving, put-away, and picking activities.

Spreadsheets lack real-time validation, automatic bin-location directions, and scanning integration. Busy warehouse workers naturally make data-entry errors, and without physical system blocks, they will pick the most convenient pallets rather than the oldest ones.

Based on standard professional development rates in Thailand of ฿7,000 per man-day, a complete ERP warehouse implementation typically runs 25 to 50 man-days, which translates directly to an investment of ฿175,000 to ฿350,000.

FIFO rotates inventory based on when the goods arrived at the warehouse, which is ideal for shelf-stable goods. FEFO rotates inventory strictly based on the expiration date of the product batch, which is mandatory for perishable dairy, fresh meats, and cold-chain items.

With an automated ERP lot-tracking system, a complete upstream and downstream traceability search takes under 15 minutes. This allows operations to instantly identify the source supplier and pinpoint every client who received a portion of that specific compromised batch.