How to Choose a Barcode Scanner

Barcode scanners are essential pieces of technology for businesses across a variety of industries. These devices quickly capture information from barcodes and are invaluable for inventory management and tracking, identifying products, streamlining checkout processes, and more.

But with so many barcode scanners on the market, choosing the right one for your organization can be overwhelming. In this buying guide, we will discuss several key considerations that should factor into your decision-making process when selecting a barcode scanner.

We’ll cover topics such as types of scanners, scanning range and accuracy, wireless capabilities, ergonomics and more. By the end of this guide, you’ll have all the information necessary to make an informed purchase and choose the best barcode scanner for your needs.

So without further ado, let’s get started.

For many small and medium-sized retail businesses around East Africa, the use of barcodes is essential. Not only are they a fantastic cost-effective and reliable solution, but barcode labels can also help businesses improve efficiency and reduce overheads.

What is a Barcode Scanner? it is a device used to capture and read the information contained in a barcode. The scanner consists of a light source, a lens, and a light sensor that translates optical impulses into electrical ones. They also contain decoder circuitry analyzing the barcode’s image data provided by the sensor and sending that content to a computer.

Let’s Look at Five Benefits of Using Barcode Scanner for Retail business :

1.Inventory Control

Because nearly every package features some sort of barcode, businesses can use the technology to maintain tight and accurate control over inventory. Warehouses, for instance, can scan barcodes on packages as they enter and exit the facility to maintain a record of every package housed at the warehouse. When these packages arrive at retailers, store staff can scan the products as they go on shelves and compare those records with records of barcodes scanned at the register to maintain inventory data. Similarly, transportation companies can scan package barcodes when accepting cargo, then scan the packages again when delivering them. Companies that link their inventory control to online portals can instantly update package status and notify customers when packages arrive, depart, or get delivered.

2.Accurate and Eliminate Human Error

Back in the days before barcode technology, many businesses relied on clerks to manually enter information about packages that came across their desks. In the transportation industry, where packages change hands several times, the likelihood of human error increased considerably. Because barcodes offer a reliable way to accurately read encoded information, the technology all but eliminate the possibility of human error. Workers can instantly identify packages and products with a high rate of accuracy.

3.Barcodes are extremely versatile

The best part is that the identification scanner is not specialized for any one industry. Retailers can use it with any kind of data collection process. Even the computer document scanner is available. The barcodes can be attached to any surface and can be used to track the products in the shop, those being shipped, and the equipment already being used.

4.Less employee training is required

Warehouse processes using barcoding are often easier to teach new employees because it streamlines and clearly defines processes and best practices and more importantly your company’s warehouse standard operating procedures.  The implementation of barcoding requires standardization and disciple of processes which is a huge benefit.

5.Time-Saving

If you can think back to the days before barcode scanners, inventory involved a lot more. There were mistakes, more number-crunching, and quite often it took a lot of manpower to get it done. Barcodes and barcode scanners have changed this. Now all retailers have to do is scan a barcode and the inventory is updated. There is no more having to log everything by hand because the barcode contains all the information you need. A barcode scanner inputs this information onto your computer.

In conclusion, as we have discussed, the use of barcode scanners is so effective in improving retailers’ business operations. The Barcode scanner tool can help you perform a lot of tasks in less time. The information that can be scanned is accurate and helps in better decision-making about running a retailer’s business. As a retailer now, you have an option to make your business productive. It is time to invest in a barcode scanner and let your business thrive.

By Carolyne Rabut
Content Marketing – CompuLynx