Did you know the first version of the barcode was bullseye-shaped?

The rectangular design we’re all familiar with only became official on March 30, 1973. Not only did the barcode have to be small and neat, it also had to be readable from any direction. And it had to work with existing printing tech used for standard labels.

These days, it’s easy to take barcode technology for granted. Even if we don’t see it every day in action, we’ve become so used to it as consumers. It’s a different story for business owners.

Here are 8 different ways barcoding technologies benefit small businesses.

1. IT ELIMINATES HUMAN ERROR

Can you imagine encoding hundreds of items? What about thousands?

Entering data by hand takes time and it’s not 100% accurate. Of course, you can double-check everything. You can even go over each entry thrice.

But why would you or your employees do that when there are other tasks to do?

With barcodes, you cut the possibility of human error. Simply scan the items, and you’re good to go. There’s no need to double- or triple-check the data you’ve entered.

2. It’s Fast

If you’re still using manual data entry, you know that it’s not only a matter of encoding product details. Your employees need to check packages, as well. They also have to read and understand product info before they enter that data.

And after that, they need to go over their work to make sure they didn’t make any mistakes. That’s a lot of time wasted.

Barcode scanning technology reduces those steps to no more than point and scan. In a retail store, for example, an employee can ring up many different items within minutes.

Imagine if that same employee has to enter each product code on a sheet of paper by hand. Your customers would walk out the door and never come back.

3. It’s A Must For Maintaining Inventory Data

Maintaining and controlling inventory data will help reduce your overhead expenses. Think of all the packages that enter and exit your warehouse. You want to keep stock of all these items.

Using barcode scanners is an efficient way to do that and record-keeping becomes a breeze. From your warehouse to retail stores, the staff can use barcode tech to scan the products as they go on shelves. This allows everyone to compare inventory data and track missing items if there are any.

Other than warehousing, transportation companies can also use barcodes technology. As long as they link to a central computer (main database), they can update package status in real-time. This is from accepting packages to delivering them to end users.

4. It’s Cost-effective

Do you need to buy the most sophisticated barcoding system available?

Of course not. If you choose the right provider, you can get the best barcode scanners for your industry.

You can even use smartphone apps if you want. But keep in mind that’s not a practical solution if you’re planning to scale your operations.

The bigger your company grows, the more you’ll need barcode tech solutions that can scale with you.

5. It Reduces Employee Training Time

There are different types of barcode scanners but they all work pretty much the same. After setting it up, make sure the reader light is active.

Hold the item with the barcode to the reader light and wait for the scanner to read the data. If you’re using a handheld scanner, you can move the device up and down to get a reading.

For first-time users, try scanning different items to ensure it’s working right. Employees should be able to pick it up right away whether it’s in a retail or a warehouse environment.

6. It Helps With Decision-making

Barcode technology makes available the data you need for decision-making. Are you using barcode scanners for pricing or inventory purposes?

For whatever purpose you’re using a barcode system, it will give you access to the data you need when you need it. With a manual entry system, you’ll have to do more data analysis.

That costs a lot of time and money, which you could be devoting to other aspects of your business.

7. It’s Practical

Are you tempted to download smartphone apps for your barcoding needs?

Again, if you’re thinking of scaling, this might not be a practical solution. Don’t forget that you have to future-proof your pricing and/or inventory needs.

You also have to think of hidden costs. Will you provide smartphones for all your employees? How sure are you that they won’t use it for other stuff such as checking their emails or updating their Facebook?

In addition, they are usually much slower!

A dedicated barcode scanning system will save you more money in the long run. And you don’t have to worry about it interfering with your staff’s productivity and focus.

8. It’s Versatile

We’ve talked about barcode scanners for retail and warehouse use. But they’ve got a wide variety of applications.

For example, tickets for movie theaters, concerts, and other events use barcodes. Owners use these to keep track of revenue generated from these events. There are cases, too when organizers don’t even print actual tickets.

They pass on that task to attendees, who print their tickets at home and present it when they arrive at the venue.

Those in the travel industry also use barcodes for their ticketing system. Some travelers prefer to print their own boarding pass. They also check in using the code they have on their smartphone.

Looking For A Barcode Technology Solution?

Do you need a barcode technology solution that integrates well with your system? You’ve come to the right place.

We serve a variety of industries including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, government, and more. Our team can create Custom Software Application for your own operating system.

Talk to us about your requirements, site, and environment for each customer. Here at Intermax, we want to design the best possible solutions for our clients.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information. You can also check our Resource Centre for a better understanding of the services we provide.