Everything You Need To Know About Wireless Barcode Scanners

There’s nothing more frustrating than losing hours of hard work spent doing inventory because of a barcode scanner that’s on the fritz.

No matter how big or small your business, and whether you work in retail, hospitality, healthcare, shipping, or any number of other industries, you know the importance of accurate and dependable technology.

One option for streamlining your productivity levels and keeping your workplace organised is the use of wireless barcode scanners.

Wireless barcode scanners come with a wide variety of functions and capabilities, so it’s important to choose the model that’s right for your business.

Let’s explore some of the benefits that these scanners have to offer.

Wireless Barcode Scanners Will Save You Money

On average, humans make one mistake for every 300 characters while inputting data by hand, while barcode scanners make an average of one mistake for every 36 trillion characters.

That’s a huge difference.

Switching to a wireless system will allow your employees to operate at an even higher level of efficiency.

More freedom of movement means a faster rate of production.

Many handheld wireless barcode scanners will even allow you to scan data directly to the cloud, which means if your computer crashes or your internet goes down, nothing gets lost.

Just reboot and start where you left off.

Entering data in real-time to your server or using the cloud allows you to always keep your inventory up to date, which makes it easier to collaborate in-house and with other companies.

GPS capabilities are also an option in some models of scanner, which can be crucial in tracking materials that are being stored in multiple locations, or for keeping goods organised in a larger warehouse.

Professionalism Matters

Unruly wires get in the way of business.

Time spent untangling, plugging and unplugging means less time spent with the customer or on the task at hand.

Not only do handheld wireless barcode scanners offer a cleaner and more organised workspace, but the sleek and efficient designs of many top brands will give your business that extra dose of professionalism.

They are also extremely portable, which means smoother transitions when troubleshooting or dealing with difficult situations.

You want both your employees and your customers to feel confident in the technology that’s keeping your business organised.

Versatility And Ease Of Use

Wireless barcode scanners come with a wide array of options, making it easy to find the right fit for your company’s needs.

Whether you’re scanning GTIN/UPC’s, 1D or 2D barcodes; whether you’re looking a display screen or touch screen capabilities; product options range from simpler models to more complex ones with a wider range of functions.

Some display screens allow for the scanner itself to operate as a cell phone, which can provide improved communication between employees.

And getting things started is a piece of cake.

There are a variety of ways to connect wireless barcode scanners to your current computer system, so installation can be a smooth and seamless process.

On average, wireless barcode scanners can operate at a distance of 30 feet from the main computer, but this can vary a great deal depending on the manufacturer. The layout of your building is also essential because the more walls and shelves there are between the computer and the scanners, the shorter the distance of transmission.

The memory capacity will vary from one model to the next, so make sure to be aware of each product’s capabilities.

Many wireless scanners even come equipped with embedded memory banks, meaning that if a connection to the main computer is lost, they are able to store scanned information until reconnecting.

Think about how many sighs of relief will come as a result.

To get a little deeper into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a look at the two main types of wireless barcode scanners.

Bluetooth Wireless Barcode Scanner

Bluetooth technology is opening new doors in many industries, and barcode scanning is one of them.

The great thing about Bluetooth scanners is that many modern systems will already come equipped with Bluetooth capability.

This makes installing the wireless scanners a non-issue. All you need to do is pair your new device with the computer, and you are good to go.

Any quality brand of wireless barcode scanners will come with step-by-step instructions on how to do this, and will provide customer support for any questions you might have.

2.4 Ghz Wireless Barcode Scanner

If you’re not a fan of Bluetooth, or your current system isn’t already equipped with Bluetooth capability, another great option is a 2.4 GHz wireless barcode scanner.

Their scanners operate through a transmitter that connects to your computer through a USB port.

This makes installation a breeze.

You do want to consider the space that the USB transmitter will take up on your computer, and make sure that it’s going to be in a safe place where it won’t get banged up or unplugged.

You’ll have to weigh the benefits of each technology to decide what is the right fit for your business.

433 Mhz Narrow Band Wireless Barcode Scanner

In addition to the above wireless units, the 433MHz cordless scanners offer additional advantages; with a range of 30 meters, multiple units can be joined to a single station allowing multiple scanners to operate back to one point. The burst transmission style radio also saves battery life allowing much longer running times as well as leaving the air waves clean of standard WiFi frequencies.

Durability

Do your employees work out in the field, or in areas where they might get wet or overheated? Don’t worry, there’s a wireless barcode scanner for that.

There are models that feature water-resistant designs, are made to be operated in extreme temperatures, or to stand up to rough treatment.

If you’re going to invest in a technology that will improve your business, you want it to stand up to whatever you throw at it.

The Bottom Line: There Is A Wireless Barcode Scanner That’s The Right Fit For Any Company

They range in price from $100 for a simpler model to $1000 for ones with more capabilities, so finding an option that is affordable for your company shouldn’t be too difficult.

If there are certain functions you are looking for in a wireless barcode scanner that we didn’t touch on, please go ahead and contact our expert team who can answer any of your questions, and even get you started on investing in your first wireless barcode scanner order.

We want to help your business run as smoothly as possible.

Previous Post
How Do Barcode Scanners Work?: The Ultimate Guide
Next Post
8 Reasons You Need To Be Using Barcode Technology