Barcoding
Barcoding is supported in Inventory Pro Desktop and Mobile right out of the box. Simply connect a generic bar code scanner to your device and or use your camera. Scanning functions in line with the keyboard and is optimized to progress through forms as data is scanned. We also have a number of scan-optimized screens that are designed to speed up processing and accuracy.
Barcoding Systems
Barcoding starts with a system, A process flow from how your labels are generated for inventory, how they’ll be used for stock operations, and how they’ll be packaged and shipped.
In some cases you may receive items already labeled from your suppliers, in other cases, you may need to break down pallets and label for individual sales.
The key is to identify a process flow and establish methods for barcoding the key inventory attributes to enable fast stock transactions like receiving, moving, issuing, picking, and more.
Use Cases
- Shelf / Rack labels
- Inbound Receiving
- Pick / Pack Lists, Shipping Documents
- Asset tags
- Serial / Lot numbers
- A variety of other documents
- Inventory Catalog
Barcode Formats vary widely in terms of capacity and linearity, making some more suitable for specific applications and industries. Usually clients tend to go for the tried and true 1D Barcoding methods, however, we do support 2D, RFID Tagging, and other specialty formats.
We can provide customized receiving and shipping screens that optimize the scanner’s use, requiring minimal keyboard interaction and speeding up processes and accuracy significantly.
Inventory Pro has a built-in Barcode Configuration screen allowing you to choose from a variety of standard sizes and formats.
Print On-Demand vs Automatic Printing
On-Demand printing allows for users to pick and choose what labels to print and what situations to print them. Be it a stock receive, pick list, or otherwise.
Automatic printing allows for barcodes to be printed automatically for performing tasks throughout the system. Be it cycle counts, receiving, picking, packing.
Choosing a Format
In simple terms, most barcodes are just a special font. In that font instead of the normal letters and numbers that we can read specially sized bars or blocks are placed. Scanners can then compare the sizing of those bars or blocks and decode the data contained in them. Each barcoding method may offer a different set of letters and numbers that it supports, or levels of data density, with suiting different use cases.
Supported Scanners
Inventory Pro by default is designed to be device agnostic, In that, we try to offer a generic system that works with a wide variety of industry-standard hardware.
USB Wired
Desktop Scanners, A classic tried and true scanner. Very cheap and fast however limited by the cord length.
Camera Scanning
On the go capability, Built-in to Inventory Pro. Not supported on iOS at this time. Somewhat slow but useful for low volume.
Dedicated Scanners
Such as the Zebra TC72, Android devices with built-in scanning hardware in a rugged chassis. Used in high-volume industrial settings.
USB Wireless
Desktop / Tablet Scanners. Commonly seen at checkout counters for large items. Very fast and reliable.
Hardware Sleds
Specialized cases for phones or tablets with scanners. Commonly used on forklifts, medium-volume operations.
Bluetooth
Tethered to Phones and Tablets. Commonly used for medium-volume operations looking to operate with readily available hardware.
Each scanner will support a different set of barcode formats, Almost all will support 1D codes. 2D or specialty support will need to be validated though if required.
Barcode Formats
The format selected is generally driven by the needs for the given scan operation. Things like data density, printer capabilities, customer or vendor requirements, and more may come into effect. To help with this Inventory Pro offers a configuration with over 25 default barcode labels for use cases such as Inventory, Assets, Locations, Pallet Tagging.
Code 128
The standard format for Inventory Pro and many industrial applications. Generic and simple for alphanumeric data.
Universal Product Codes (UPC)
Can be found on nearly every retail product. Used for standardized inventory tracking at point of sale.
PDF417
Many forms of identification use this format. It supports error correction however it is generally much larger than other 2d formats.
Quick Response (QR) Codes
QR Codes, the most recent trend in barcoding, are common in marketing. But the density is also useful to us as multiple data points can be gathered with a single scan.
Other Formats
RFID, Datamatrix, EAN, and other formats can work with Inventory Pro as well. Our generic design allows for old and new formats to function side by side.
Code 39
A block legacy format, Limited character set. It is still used for things such as engraving serial numbers.
