Barcode technology has been around for several decades. By now you’ve probably read up on all of its benefits online and seen statistics on how it can streamline inventory tracking. However, you want to implement it in your business, and you want to get it right the first time. You know it’s not going to be a simple matter of buying a barcode printer and calling it a day. What do you need to do? Here are some practical tips to get you started:
Barcodes are versatile and there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. If you run a small retail business and want to upgrade from entering sales manually to scanning them through, for example, you probably don’t need the most durable labels, and a stationary scanner should suffice. For tracking inventory in a larger store, warehouse, shipping facility, or even tracking resources in a hospital, you will want a wireless barcode scanner and durable labels, which leads to our next tip…
Not every barcode printer is created equal. Some printers make labels that are legible at first but begin to fade, while others will create labels that last. Check the specifications of the printer such as the materials of the labels Then perform a test run before committing to an entire system. If you know that your barcode labels will face harsh conditions, always pick the most durable option. That way, you will avoid wasting time and money on relabeling your inventory.
If your business already has an information system then you need to be aware of how your new barcode system will be integrated into your existing system. Certain hardware and software applications will more easily transmit data directly into your information system. Others will require extra steps or costly modifications to your information system. Before you invest in an entire fleet of futuristic wireless barcode scanners, make sure that you can easily integrate them, and you’ll save time and money.
There is absolutely no system made by humans that is 100% error-free 100% of the time. Your new barcode system will encounter problems, so you need to make sure you choose a vendor that offers support. Quality system support when you’re dealing with a faulty barcode printer or a glitch in your wireless barcode scanner is the difference between a minor inconvenience, and a major loss of productivity.
To successfully implement an effective barcode solution for your business, contact an experienced and knowledgeable enterprise mobility firm.