Whenever you go shopping, you will hear that familiar “blip” sound as you approach the cashier. That is the sound of barcodes being scanned as a sign that you just purchased an item. Barcodes as we know it, made our life much easier in terms of sales, catalogues, and inventory. The barcode is presented by black-and-white zebra stripes with a pattern of wide and narrow bars. These stripes are being read through a photosensor and convert it into an electrical signal as it scans the barcode. Then scanner measures the relative widths of spaces and bars as it translates the different patterns and sends the information on the computer or portable terminal.
There are different types of barcode being used for different functions. The most popular of them all is Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode that is commonly used for retail products. This type makes retailers easy to program their POS systems with product information necessary to identify them easily. Almost all stores and shops use barcode systems to monitor their sales, stocks, and inventory. They can easily change prices without changing price tags, check stock levels and even track your missing items (appeared to be lost or stolen) through RFID technology.
In order to setup a barcode system, you will need mobile computers, handheld scanners, infrastructure, barcode printers and a supporting software solution to manipulate the functions. Some businesses provide RFID systems in a much larger scale of resource management. Barcode scanners vary from basic wands down to a much sophisticated laser beam scanners. Some models require small video cameras to capture digital barcode image instantly and let the computer interpret the code based on the captured image. Mobile computers works like a regular one that has an operating system but can’t be installed by any additional or non-compatible software. Most of the programs installed on mobile computers have something to do with asset tracking, warehouse management, POS systems, and other monitoring functions related to stocks and sales.
Barcode printers on the other hand produce barcode labels that can be attached to other things or items. Barcode printing uses either direct or thermal transfer technique in applying ink to labels. The difference of the two is that direct transfer uses ink ribbons while thermal transfer uses heat to blacken the barcode into the label. Connecting the printer to the computer can be done either wired or wireless. You can use USB, Ethernet, and serial connectors for wired options while WIFI and Bluetooth are available as wireless options.
The most critical of them all however is the barcode software system. There are software in the market today specifically addressing each need but as a business owner, you need to determine which software works best for you. Most of them promise database and inventory control, data collection, and simply monitoring your production. We at Accede Holdings offer an extensive barcode solution which includes:
- Patient labeling
- Food packaging
- Asset management
- Dispatch documentation
- Manufacturing parts and point of sale items
We also link our software with various software and database products for much easy monitoring and record-keeping. As a company that develops software systems for over 30 years, we are sensitive to what our client needs and address it with precision. Give us a call today for free consultation and advice at 08 8363 5699 or visit us at http://wordpress2.accede.com.au/.