Barcodes are used by companies of all sizes to track and manage inventory. They are printed on packaging and used by scanners to read the data buried inside them. The information can include anything from stock levels to pricing details to expiration dates or item attributes.
Manufacturers and distributors use barcodes to identify products, track sales and create accurate reports that help them make smart business decisions. The key is a system that assigns unique barcodes to each product. The right barcode system will also allow you to track the location of items within your warehouse and even in stores.
A barcode is a combination of vertical black lines of varying thickness and height, white spaces and numbers that together identify a particular product. These codes can be found on just about any product you can think of, from licenses and airline tickets to rental cars and checked luggage. But, we’re pretty sure you already knew that!
The size and shape of a barcode determine how easily it can be scanned. Larger barcodes tend to be easier to scan than smaller ones, so if you want your barcodes to be readable and consistent with other labels, it’s important to choose the correct barcode size.
You should also consider how the barcode is formatted, including what color it’s printed in and whether or not there’s a quiet zone around the edges. This helps the scanner to recognize and read it accurately.
UPC-A Barcodes Have a Check Digit
UPC-A (Universal Product Code) barcodes have a special digit that allows a scanner to compare the number it scans to the number that the UPC-A code was created with. This digit tells the scanner that the number it scanned is the right one, and it also flags any errors.
This feature has been used to help manufacturers verify that products are genuinely the same as those on a pick list or order. It ensures that only the products that have been matched are packed or shipped. It prevents wrong shipments from weakening the supply chain, causing manufacturing interruptions and lost revenue.
It can also help strengthen relationships with trading partners by ensuring that shipments are delivered on time and without error. This makes the entire process of shipping and receiving more efficient, and helps eliminate shipment mistakes that can lead to fraud or loss.
Mobile Devices and Smartphones are an Affordable Solution
A barcode matching software program is easy to implement, and it works with any Android-based phone. It is especially convenient for a company that wants to use its own phones for scanning, but may not have a lot of money for expensive, portable barcode scanners.
The app includes a variety of features that can be tailored to your specific needs, and it is designed to save you time by automatically comparing each scan to the last one. It can be configured to only compare the first scan or the last scan to a ‘Master’ barcode, and it can also be set to compare multiple barcodes at once before flagging up any mismatches.
MarkMagic
Edgefinity IoT