5 Tips for How to Choose the Right Barcode Scanner

02 Dec.,2024

 

5 Tips for How to Choose the Right Barcode Scanner

How to choose the best barcode scanner:

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  1. Consider Your Flooring
  2. Think About Air Quality
  3. What Are Your Lighting Conditions
  4. Which Keyboard Do You Need
  5. What Type of Barcodes Will You Be Scanning
Options Abound

Do you need some guidance on how to choose the best barcode scanner? Choosing the right barcode scanner for your warehouse can be a challenge. This is especially true with the wide range of handheld devices on the market today.

First thing&#;s first. Let&#;s review the many types of barcode scanners available. Once you understand the options of types and capabilities, you can narrow your search based on your specific needs.

 

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Types of Barcode Scanners
Fixed Scanners

Commonly used in retail environments at point of sale, fixed barcode scanners are attached to a terminal and transmit data as a single barcode is scanned. These are also referred to as &#;tethered&#; scanners.

Portable Batch Scanners

Portable batch scanners store data which is later transferred to a host computer. They are battery-operated which allows for greater flexibility than a fixed scanner. Also, portable batch scanners contain an LCD monitor and keypad. This allows users to perform tasks from the device. Batch scanners come in hand-held, wearable and truck mounted styles.

Wireless Scanners

Wireless barcode scanners also store data in memory like batch scanners. But, they transmit their data to a back-end system in real-time. Wireless scanners provide the highest level of worker productivity. At the same time, it&#;s a great benefit to have instant access to your data. For instance, accurate information is always available when it comes to managing inventory. This is also helpful when performing asset tracking.

 

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Five tips for how to choose the best barcode scanner
Consider Your Flooring

Did you know that drops are the leading cause of damage to mobile computers? So, the flooring in your warehouse is a top concern. Barcode scanners can be rugged or general purpose. Rugged devices can perform under harsh conditions. If you drop your mobile device, will it land on a soft surface like carpet or on a surface like concrete? Look for a handheld computer with a rugged classification if you have hard flooring.

 

Think About Air Quality

Is there a high level of dust in your warehouse? What about sawdust or other small particles?

 

If the answer is yes, make sure you look at the Ingress Protection (IP) rating of any model you consider. This is also the case if it&#;s possible that a handheld scanner could be dropped in water. To maximize the chances of your device surviving these elements, look for an IP rating of at least 68.

 

What Are Your Lighting Conditions

Do you work in a warehouse with low light levels or is your environment full of light? Lower brightness on your barcode scanner is suitable for a low light environment. But, you&#;ll need a higher brightness level if you plan to use the device in bright sunlight or a bright warehouse.

 

Whatever the lighting conditions in your warehouse, ask your vendor for a demo in those conditions. You&#;ll want to ensure that the scanner can read barcodes correctly in your environment.

 

What Are the Keyboard Needs of the User

If the employees are typing in numbers, find a barcode reader with a number key location that is ergonomic for them. If the user will often be wearing gloves when typing on the unit, you need one with larger keys. Consider anything else that may impact the size or location of keys for the device users.

 

What Type of Barcodes Will You Be Scanning

If you will be scanning barcodes, consider the code type and scanning distance. 2D imaging is appropriate for any type of barcode scanning. Linear barcode scan engines are appropriate only for 1D barcodes.

 

If you&#;ll need to scan from long range, look for a unit with Advanced Long Range or Extended Range capability. These scanners can read with either laser scanning or 2D barcode imaging from 45 to 50 feet away.

 

The question of  how to choose the best barcode scanner for your warehouse can be a daunting one. Consider the five items above, and you&#;ll be on your way to the right decision.

Contact a Radley product specialist today for advice on how to choose the best barcode scanner for your company. 

Mobile Barcode Scanner for Inventory Management

Are manual inventory management processes slowing you down, causing errors, and costing you sales? 

Want more information on Handheld Inventory Scanner? Feel free to contact us.

This doesn't have to be your reality. 

Imagine a world where you can accurately track every item in your store with a simple scan, update stock levels in real time, and streamline order fulfillment &#; all from the palm of your hand. That's the power of a mobile barcode scanner. 

With this tool, you can say goodbye to the headaches of inaccurate data, time-consuming manual tasks, and lost sales due to stockouts. 

But how can you find the best mobile barcode scanner for your store?

This post walks through the four top choices for mobile barcode scanners for inventory management. For each, we&#;ll discuss features, integrations, and pricing. 

Advantages of a Mobile Barcode Scanner for Inventory Management

 

A mobile barcode scanner is a game-changer for inventory management in your grocery store. This handheld device allows you to instantly scan and capture product information, automating manual data entry and creating fewer errors. Integrating a mobile barcode scanner into your inventory management processes changes how you track, order, and manage your stock.

Some key benefits of using a mobile barcode scanner include:

  • Increased accuracy

    : A mobile barcode scanner helps avoid manual data entry mistakes. This means you capture and validate information accurately and instantly to prevent discrepancies in your inventory, reduce loss, and keep precise stock records.
  • Enhanced efficiency: Using a mobile barcode scanner is faster than manual methods. It makes it easier to count, order, and receive inventory. You can do these tasks on the go using a mobile device, which saves time and improves inventory management efficiency.
  • Real-time inventory visibility: When you use a mobile barcode scanner to check a product, the inventory records are immediately updated. This way, you can get accurate and up-to-date information about your stock. You can use this real-time data to make informed decisions based on the latest status of your inventory.
  • Seamless integration

    : Mobile barcode scanners work with existing inventory management systems, allowing automatic data synchronization between the scanner and the software. This integration removes data silos and inconsistencies, making sure that you can access all inventory information easily from one place.
  • Cost and time savings: Mobile barcode scanners can save money on inventory management and reduce the time spent on data entry and reconciliation. By simplifying procedures and decreasing errors, you can fill orders faster and avoid running out of stock, leading to long-term cost savings and increased efficiency.

Now that you know some of their advantages, let's explore some top options for mobile barcode scanners that can help manage inventory in your grocery store. These scanners each come with different features, integrations, and pricing options. Looking at the differences will help you choose the best option for your store.

The Zebra Mobile Inventory Device from IT Retail is a rugged, user-friendly solution featuring an Android-based system. It offers real-time barcode capture, stock updates, and a long Wi-Fi range for seamless connectivity throughout your store.

The device integrates seamlessly with IT Retail's other inventory management tools, including quick product edits, purchase order generation, flexible receiving options, inventory counting solutions, and back-office inventory management and reporting analytics. IT Retail also provides low-stock reports to help you make informed reordering decisions for your store.

Check out the build and price tool to create a custom quote for your perfect IT Retail solution, including the Zebra Mobile Inventory Device.

The Scanner by Lightspeed is an inventory management tool that turns any iOS or Android device into a barcode scanner. It offers stock lookup, order fulfillment, inventory counts, purchase order creation, and stock transfers between locations.

It also integrates with the Lightspeed Retail X-Series POS system. It has user-level permissions so you can set specific access for your team and improve inventory accuracy across your stores and warehouses.

You can download Scanner for free from the Apple and Google Play Stores. 

However, while all Scanner features are available for Lightspeed Retail (X-Series) customers, there&#;s an additional fee for all other users.

The KORONA POS Ticket Scanner is a reliable and efficient tool that streamlines the ticketing admissions process. Its speedy and accurate scanning capabilities enable both handheld and mounted scanning, making it versatile for various setups. 

The scanner also offers real-time inventory counts and updates, making sure you always have an accurate view of your stock levels.

For pricing information, contact KORONA directly for a tailored quote based on your mobile barcode scanner needs.

The Samsung SCANDIT is a scanning solution that can scan multiple barcodes and types of barcodes at once. The scanner also offers smart features like batch scanning and AR overlays to optimize scanning processes.

Samsung has flexible integration options for the SCANDIT scanner, including pre-built components, no-code apps, and fully flexible APIs. This scanner cannot integrate with a full POS solution from Samsung, limiting your options if your needs evolve down the road.

Contact Samsung directly for pricing information on the Samsung SCANDIT scanner.

Getting the Most From Your Mobile Barcode Scanner

 

These four options are all strong tools for mobile barcode scanners that might be able to meet your inventory management needs. 

However, to optimize your processes, you need a barcode scanner that automatically integrates with your point of sale system and meets your unique needs as an independent grocery retailer. 

IT Retail offers all the tools and features in a single point of sale and inventory management suite. Our solutions let you seamlessly integrate your mobile barcode scanner with your POS system, enabling real-time inventory updates, streamlined order fulfillment, and accurate stock tracking to manage your inventory effectively, reduce shrinkage, and improve overall efficiency.

Don't settle for a standalone barcode scanner or a generic POS system. Schedule a demo of IT Retail today to optimize your inventory management processes and grow your business. 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Barcode Access Control System.