Many everyday labeling applications such as on printed circuit boards require printed bar codes, safety and warning labels with legibility and adhesive bonds that must survive high temperatures – upwards of 500 degrees F. Labels that fail are visible by your customers and can mean costly interruptions in production or shipping.

(Shown here are the effects of time and temperature (315oC / 600oF for 50 minutes) on a "standard" polyimide label from a competitor, compared to a new generation, lead free polyimide label TT407. These new polyimide labels are designed for the higher temperatures required for lead free soldering processes.)

What do you need to know to avoid this?

Labels exposed to higher temperatures are subject to shrinkage, discoloration, peeling, lifting, and cracking.  Shrinkage can distort bar codes and produce an adhesive halo on the substrate. Bar codes may not scan correctly, information is lost. The adhesive bleed may interfere with how labels come off the liner, apply to the product or attract dust/dirt.

Resistance to discoloration is another important feature of high temperature label materials to protect the clarity of printed information, product identification, and bar code scanning. High temperature labels are matched with adhesives that perform without lifting, peeling or drop-off.

Having the right balance between “shear”, “tack” and “peel” assures proper adhesion when applied, during expected use, and at removal for best performance of the adhesive at high temperatures.

Assessing The Variables

One of the key factors to consider is the maximum temperature and duration of that temperature in which the label will be expected to perform. These two factors are key to determining the correct label material for your application and will assure excellent performance.

Will the label face the high temperature when the labeled product is in the manufacturing process? If your label faces a combination of heat, abrasion and chemical exposure you may need an overlaminate to protect the label performance.

What about labels subject to both high and low temperatures? Certain durable label materials are designed to go from one extreme to another. It’s always best to know this up front.

Will variable information be added to the label?  This may impact the selection of label material, overlaminate areas or ribbon choice. In some instances, a topcoat is added to the label surface for best printability and durability.

Making the Right Choice

Working with your label converter up front will address key questions to determine the right pressure-sensitive labeling product for your application.

Often, a simple polyester will provide the performance required. Polyester has very good thermal resistance, along with excellent clarity, chemical resistance, and durability.

White polyester is a popular choice for material tracking labels, safety/hazard/instructional labels, and product identification labels, and clear polyester is often used as an overlaminate.

When temperature-resistance demands are more robust – such as in an aerospace or automotive application – it may be necessary to look at a higher performing product such as Kapton®.

Although a higher priced solution, Kapton does offer superior heat resistance, along with excellent dimensional stability, and physical, electrical and mechanical properties. It is very popular for printed circuit boards.

Selecting the right label for high temperature or durable labels doesn’t have to be complicated. Let Winco ID walk you through the process of selecting the label for the harshest environments, handling, time, chemical exposure and more.  Contact David Holliday at 603.598.1553 for more information about services and products from Winco ID. 

Above: 2D barcodes can store more data in smaller spaces than linear barcodes

About the Author:

David Holliday, Sales Manager for Winco ID, is author and creator of LabelingNews, The Labeling, Barcode, and RFID Magazine. David has extensive technical experience with barcode equipment and labeling for many industries. LabelingNews was created to deliver the latest bar code and labeling industry news, product reviews, and ideas you won't find anywhere else.

About Winco ID:

Founded in 1980, Winco ID delivers innovative labeling, bar coding, and RFID identification systems. Their bar code and label solutions are used in real-world applications that serve the electronics, manufacturing, healthcare, defense, pharmaceutical, food distributions, and consumer goods industries, among others. As a leading label manufacturer, Winco ID understands the process and details to produce labels that won’t fail even in the most challenging applications.

Related articles:

Harsh environments: Identifying the Need and Performance of Barcodes

How to get a Bar Code

Bar Code Label Directory

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    This weekend's Tag of the Week incorporates three different technologies, two of them bar codes and also RFID/NFC.

   Designed by Bret DaCosta,  it supports Microsoft Tag, the QR code, and if your smartphone supports NFC (near field communications), the label can talk to your phone.  (Disclaimer - touching your smartphone to the computer screen is not going to work.  The phone actually has to be physically near the label.)

   Notes from DaCosta:

     "I would like to present my newest creation which I have named the QNT CODE. The QNT CODE is a combination of different 2D Technologies incorporating a QR Code a custom Microsoft Tag and NFC.

     They are printed on stickers or other media that are embedded with a NFC chip.
One code is able to link to one, two or even three messages and can be used in low light areas. Scanned with any QR Code Reader or the Microsoft Tag Reader advertisers can display product info and with the NFC signal a consumer can make a purchase via their electronic wallet.

     It took me over three years to perfect the technique of combining a QR Code with the Microsoft Tag and since the Microsoft Tag Platform also allows for the creation of NFC url’s it only made sense to add this new technology as well and the QNT CODE was born."

For more information on this unique product visit www.qntcode.com or email Bret daCosta at barcodeartist@outlook.com

Written by Craig Aberle

      Did you find this interesting, intriguing, amusing, entertaining, threatening,engaging, or novel?  If so, please Like it or share it with others by using the buttons below. Thanks!

     Need help from a bar code consultant with code type selection, placement, verification or compliance? Click for a bar code specialist.

     Try these links for:  RFID Tags/ Labels    Bar code labels   Sheets or Rolls of labels  Create a QR code 

Remember those amazing space-age appliances in George and Judy Jetson’s home on the classic future-focused cartoon show The Jetsons?  Every day, more and more once impossible-sounding smart appliances only imagined on that old TV show are becoming familiar necessities in the modern household.  The latest in RFID and NFC technology is being used to create smart appliances that take the “work” out of “housework.”  Recently, NXP Semiconductors, a Dutch firm, debuted an RFID- and NFC-enabled washing machine that allows users to effortlessly tailor each wash cycle to the clothes inside.

 Imagine never turning another load of whites pink by accidentally selecting the wrong temperature setting or not sorting properly.  What if you never shrunk another expensive knit piece by choosing the wrong wash cycle?  How convenient would it be to have an NFC-enabled smartphone communicate with your washing machine, as well as the manufacturer, diagnosing and troubleshooting mechanical issues before they interrupt your daily chores?  These possibilities are becoming a reality thanks to the latest RFID and NFC technologies.  NXP Semiconductors’ latest entry to the “smart appliance” market is an RFID- and NFC-enabled washing machine that does all the tedious work for you and takes the guesswork out of every load.

The value of energy efficiency cannot be overestimated.  In fact, in these challenging economic times, appliances that offer innovative energy-saving solutions are always competitive in a flooded market full of diverse offerings.  Integrating RFID and NFC technology allows home appliance producers to offer products that can monitor energy efficiency and transmit energy consumption figures to remote locations via wireless technology.

Encoding RFID information into buttons allows this particular smart washer to identify the fabrics and colors that make up the load and adjust water temperature and wash cycles to avoid damaging fabrics or bleeding colors.  RFID can also be encoded into laundry detergents and treatments in the future, allowing the washer to communicate not only with the clothes but also with the detergent, softener, and other additives consumers use to clean their clothing.  Authorized technicians can use NFC-enabled smartphones to read and analyze information from the machine during maintenance calls and then update and adjust the smart washer’s settings and firmware.

RFID and NFC technologies are revolutionizing hundreds of industries and making the way consumers interact with their home appliances different than they ever imagined.  The RFID- and NFC-enabled smart washer from NXP Semiconductors, recently debuted at the Embedded World exhibition in Nuremburg, Germany, is one of the developments that will give consumers more direct and interactive control of their domestic lives. 

RFID Tags and RFID Readers For Improved Hotel Inventory Control

Wash This: Washable RFID Technology for Hotel Linen and Uniform Tracking

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There are some great bar code resources on the Internet and here on barcode.com. Our mission at The Bar Code News is to be the "Go-To Site for everything Bar Code™" so we want to make it easy for you to access the best resources out there. Resources will include some of our most popular articles about bar codes, getting started with bar codes, how-to articles, videos and more. Many of these articles will provide links to other sources.

If you cannot find what you need, please email us and we will try to help you. Please let us know if you have ideas or suggestions about the page.

Written by Erin Thayer 

Also see:

Assorted RFID Resources

QR Code Resources

Resource Page: Scanner Apps for Smartphones & Tablets

Point of Sale (POS) Resources

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Most, if not all, companies that exhibit at trade shows and conferences will tell you that engaging visitors to their booth is their #1 goal. The longer a prospective customer stays with the professional selling the product or service, the more memorable the encounter and the more likely that visitor is to buy.

One innovative technique being used more frequently in trade shows is a QR (Quick Response) code as part of the booth design. The code can also be used on exhibitor t-shirts, print collateral, hotel door hang-tags and other marketing elements to tie a cohesive theme and drive traffic to the booth.

QR codes have become much more mainstream in the past couple of years, particularly with the proliferation of smart phones. The square graphic design, either black and white or in color, can, when scanned by the phones, be designed to perform multiple tasks. Use the coding to direct a visitor to a video about your company’s product or service, to a webcast or website specific to the product being promoted during the show, or to a platform of general information about the company. The options are limited only by the imagination of the marketing team and the success of integrating the QR code into the overall marketing strategy.

Vision Exhibits, a Lincoln, NE-based expo booth design and rental company, recently completed a trade show display for Xcelience Pharmaceuticals, based in Tampa, FL. Xcelience is a small privately-owned business that needed an exhibit design that could outshine multi-national companies with sizable budgets. The challenge was to make Xcelience stand out in an enormous trade show environment while staying within budget. Vision crafted a plan that maximized their location and incorporated graphics from an existing, smaller exhibit with rental components for a beautiful 20×20 island exhibit. The result? The company beat their goal for new leads by 35 percent.

The design team avoided a common error when using the codes, by mounting the enlarged QR symbol on a stand-alone display sign rather than wasting valuable display space within the booth design itself. Visitors to the Xcelience booth with smart phones could easily scan the code and download the content for review at a later time, thus extending the encounter and providing information that reinforced the one-on-one dialog within the booth, as well as providing a resource for later purchasing decisions.

It’s important to remember that not all attendees at the trade show will know what a QR code is. Be sure your booth staff is well-versed on the content of the code and can explain it to those who are curious but uninitiated in smart phone scanning. Tell people what to expect when they scan your code. As with any promotional outreach, talk in language your customers understand and will respond to. Different codes can be used on different elements of the marketing package: the booth itself, print collateral, flooring, hats or other give-aways, staff name tags and more.

A caveat: Do not let the QR code replace human contact. While the visitor is scanning, be sure your booth staff is creating a relationship that can ultimately become a lead.

Consider off-site advertising, too, where a QR code could provide a quick way for your audience to learn more about your company and/or product when the expo floor is closed. For example, it might be worth the time and expense to have the hotel place in-room flyers with your QR code for scanning during off-hours.

You also might want to tie in a scan-for-prize-entry contest; for example, Scan this QR code to enter to win a free Widgit. This is a good call to action to get potential customers to scan your QR code and register for a drawing. Again, this means more time at your booth for personal interaction.

Your QR codes should support your overall event marketing strategy while enhancing the trade show attendee experience. Don’t create a QR code for yourself. Create it for your customers.

Related articles:

Best Practices for Using 2D Barcodes in Advertising

QR Code Resources

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How to get the most from your bar code wristband deployment

There's plenty of case information proving that bar coded wristbands can help improve patient safety, boost quality of care, and achieve industry mandates. But, not all wristband deployments take advantage of the full value bar coding can deliver. Realizing the most benefit requires that the information provided on the wristband must afford easy readability, and deliver the correct information.

If you are looking at various patient ID solutions, you'll want to take into account formatting considerations to ensure you make the optimal choice. This is especially crucial during the first 30 days of looking at a patient ID solution.

Bar code wristbands drive accuracy and patient safety

Bar code-based systems present a wide range of benefits to the healthcare industry. Caregivers can quickly identify patients and document associated treatments while enhancing the use of electronic health records (EHRs) to improve accuracy and completeness. Digitizing the entire point of care workflow helps ensure that clinicians have access to the information they need to deliver the safest, most effective care.

Bar code wristbands can improve the effectiveness of "Five Rights"—Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Time, and Right Method of Administration" checks. Doing so is essential for error-free medication administration and provides a platform to extend safeguards to other patient care activities.

Best practices drive superior results

Be sure to implement best practices as soon as you choose the bar code wristbands, software applications, scanners, and other supporting infrastructure. By making best practices a core part of your workflow, you can certify that the correct processes become part of daily use.

Ensuring patient safety requires that the patient continuously wears the wristband and that it remains readable for the duration of their hospital stay. The wristband must also uniquely identify the patient in a HIPAA-compliant manner.

Keep in mind that the process for designing, formatting, and producing bar code wristbands is not much different from traditional wristbands. To gain the most value, medical centers must ensure that wristbands contain the right information, meet industry mandates, and provide staff with an efficient solution. Following the best practices below will help you realize the full benefits that properly designed bar code wristbands can deliver:

Best Practice 1 – Repeat 2-D Bar Codes Across the Wristband

Best Practice 2 – Use Two Linear Bar Codes

Best Practice 3 – Include Human-readable Text

Best Practice 4 – Include the medical record number (MRN) and financial institution number (FIN)

Best Practice 5 – Include Check-digits for Security

Best Practice 6 – Include Print Time and Other Traceability Text

Best Practice 7 – Use Thermal Print-on-Demand Printers

Not only do best practices improve accuracy and patient safety. Following best practices also helps eliminate workarounds that often burden medical staff and create more steps to providing care, like having to move a patient's arm to scan an improperly formatted wristband.

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About Zebra Technologies

Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA) provides the broadest range of innovative technology solutions to identify, track, and manage the deployment of critical assets for improved business efficiency. Zebra's core technologies include reliable on-demand printer and state-of-the-art software and hardware solutions. By enabling improvements in sourcing, visibility, security and accuracy, Zebra helps its customers to put the right asset in the right place at the right time. For more information about Zebra’s solutions, visit www.zebra.com.

Other articles about wristbands:

1. How RFID Wristbands Improve Patient Safety... use of technology in medical applications is that of patient safety at point-of-care. RFID (Radio Frequency ID) wristbands offer multiple benefits to hospital personnel and patients alike...
2. How Effective are Bar Codes in Medication Administration? The plastic wristband that identifies patients in hospitals often carries a scannable bar code with specific medication information matching bar code information on the medication itself. Traditional ...
3. Zebra Technologies Acquires LaserBand... bar codes in patient wristbands. That's where an exciting announcement from Zebra Technologies comes in. The global company recently acquired St. Louis-based LaserBand, the largest company in the world ...
4. New Desktop Barcode Printer for Healthcare Labels and Wristbands from Intermec PC23d wristband and label printer boosts Intermec’s healthcare offerings to help customers improve productivity and patient care EVERETT, Wash., February 22, 2012 – Intermec, Inc. (NYSE: IN) today ...
5. Bar Code Scanning Mobile Development Kits for Medical Records... that offers imaging software that will allow a doctor to scan a bar code on a patient's wristband, then immediately access that patient's EHR. Once the bar code is scanned, the patient's electronic health ...
6. Barcode Wristbands and Blood Banking... care and barcode label manufacturers provide the necessary RFID labels on patient wristbands that have barcodes on them to immediately identify patient information when someone donates blood. One manufacturer ...

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2D Imagers are meeting today’s requirements – with an eye on the future.

As businesses look to increase scanning operations, many look for products that not only meet today’s standards, but also offer capabilities for the future. This saves not only time, but offers an increased ROI and long-term potential.

Today, 2D imaging represents only about 25 percent of the scanning market, but is one of the fastest growing technologies.

Back when 2D first entered the market it was still slower than traditional 1D lasers and imagers, causing many users to avoid it all together. However, because 2D easily reads barcodes in any orientation, can decode 1D and 2D, and can capture  images, signatures and videos, companies are beginning to understand the benefits.

One 2D imager has changed the way the industry captures data? The Intermec EA30.

The EA30 is the first and only 2D imager to provide 50 times more motion tolerance than standard 2D imagers, and doesn't require bar code alignment to achieve high read rates, adding a clear performance advantage to your product.

With the EA30 High Performance Scan Engine, Intermec handheld scanners are equipped with the market’s fastest 2D Imager, allowing customers not only to read 1D and 2D barcodes at 500 inches per second, but also going beyond barcodes.

Users can now not only easily read barcodes in any orientation, but the EA30 enables users to capture images, signatures and videos.

After having introduced the EA30 last year, Intermec is committed to offer this technology across its handheld scanner product range, from general purpose (such as the SG20) to industrial handheld readers (like the SR61).

In short, the EA30 can offer businesses the flexibility to be successful by providing high performance scanning for today’s bar code scanning needs and adding a functionality that provides protection against changing requirements.

Here’s more on how the EA30 fits into Intermec’s product portfolio:

Intermec SG20 General Duty 2D Imager

The new SG20 scanner, announced in February 2012, speeds the customer checkout experience with the industry's fastest 2D bar code imaging technology for quick, flawless scans – every time.

Equipped with the new EA30 2D Imager, the SG20THP and SG20BHP not only read 1D and 2D barcodes, but also increase productivity and value add for counter top operations by enabling image capture (e.g. ID control) and feature the ability to even read barcodes on mobile phones (e.g. couponing, access control, loyalty cards).

Other benefits include:

• The fastest 2D Imager in the market to boost your countertop operational efficiency

• The ability to capture images and read barcodes on mobile phones to add value to your application

• A large LED indicator provides effective visual operational feedback

• Unique, ergonomic styling maximizes comfort and saves countertop space

• Bluetooth® wireless or tethered (cabled) connectivity

• A wide range of multi-purpose accessories increase scanner flexibility

• Seamless integration with point-of-sale systems, personal computers, and common software solutions

Intermec SR61THP and SR61BHP Industrial Imager

The Intermec SR61THP (high performance) and SR61BHP (Bluetooth capable) are the new generation in industrial 2D imaging, offering best in class motion tolerance and time to read, providing a distinct performance advantage to its users. The SR61THP and SR61BHP also offer:

• A performance advantage as the only 2D imager to provide 50 times more motion tolerance than standard imagers

• A future-proofed imager to capture images, signatures and reads 1D, 2D, composite and stacked codes

• A highly visible aimer makes intensive bar code scanning and image capture easy and comfortable

• A rugged design that withstands extreme temperatures, vibrations and shock for extended use in tough environments

The EA30 also offers:

Time to Read: It’s truly best in class, besting traditional lasers by 20 percent. Plus, by using a continuous laser line in the center of its frame, users are adopting much faster than previous 2D integrations. This makes the EA30 idea for applications on the move, such as picking, cross docking, tracking and manufacturing.

Productivity: As the first 2D imager in its class to deliver 500 IPS motion tolerance, the EA30 is truly “insensitive” – making scanning more efficient no matter the conditions. This is perfect for environments where barcodes need to be read on the move – such as the case with picking, sorting and tracking.

Visibility: The EA30 was designed specifically to work in the most hostile environments, operating in complete darkness to full sunshine while being exposed to a wide temperature range. It also complies with the most stringent standards for shock and vibration.

And these are just a few of the highlights. As businesses plan for the future of their scanning needs, the EA30 offers the ability to support ID, stacked, composite and 2D matrix codes to assure users their investment is protected for both current and future industry scanning standards.

The EA30 is also available within Intermec 70 Series mobile computers (CN70, CN70e, CK70, CK71).

To learn more about 2D Imaging benefits, receive the Intermec’s 2D Imaging White Paper by clicking onto this link: http://solutions.intermec.com/US?elqPURLPage=7&CampaignID=701A0000000OeA1IAK&VER=EN&CTRYLANG=US&TYPE=&utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_term=&utm_content=

To read more about Intermec 2D Imagers, use the following link: http://www.intermec.com/products/bar_code_scanners/index.aspx

About the Author

Cedric Mollon is Marketing Manager, Data Capture at Intermec and is based in the company's Toulouse, France office. Mollon has more than 15 years of product management and business development experience within the high tech industry.

About Intermec

Intermec Inc. (NYSE:IN) is in the business of helping you achieve the most return from your automated information and data capture (AIDC) and mobile computing systems. That means we do more than design and build the industry's most complete lineup of rugged, reliable and versatile equipment. We also work with you to get inside your challenges, to know your unique situation and then leverage our strong relationships with resellers and industry-leading alliance partners to help you create a total solution that harmonizes with your networks, platforms and processes. Our collaborative, connected approach can ensure a more complete and seamless implementation whether your needs call for our Gen2 RFID, bar code systems, rugged computers or a Cisco WLAN infrastructure.

Related articles:

New Desktop Barcode Printer for Healthcare Labels and Wristbands from Intermec

1D Barcode Scanners: A User-based Review

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Living Business Cards - by Bret daCosta

Your business card is integral to your image and now that image can be an interactive link to a mobile landing page.

In the past a business card was designed solely for the purpose of sharing contact information while also placing emphasis on the brand via a logo, slogan or other imagery.

With the advent of the 2D barcode coupled with the invention of the smartphone it was only a matter of time before a truly new way to project your image would emerge.

Using a QR code or Microsoft Tag as the template, I create artistic 2D codes that link to micro-pages specifically designed to display on a mobile device. Your business card can now be brought to life with images, video, links to social networks, testimonials, maps, and auto dialers.

The content behind your card is limited only by your imagination. The living business card is beautiful to the eye and and instantly connects your clients or anyone with a smartphone to your digital content.

Use the Tag Reader app http://gettag.mobi to read 2d Logo Tags by daCosta, Microsoft Tag, QR Codes and NFC. 

The Bar Code News is proud to feature creative and artistic uses of bar codes.  Other bar code artists interested in sharing their work may contact us here.

The above artwork was designed by Bret daCosta.   You can see more of his work at http://www.2dartcode.com/

Please check out Bret's Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Microsoft-Tag-Master/167736043271797?ref=tn_tnmn

  Did you find this interesting, intriguing, amusing, entertaining, threatening,engaging, or novel?  If so, please Like it or share it with others by using the buttons below. Thanks!

     Try these links for:  RFID Tags/ Labels    Bar code labels   Sheets or Rolls of labels  Create a QR code

Other articles:

Whatever Happened to the Coolest Tag?

There's a new color bar code in town and it offers new exciting potential uses that conventional bar codes can't match.    Some major companies have already licensed the code.   The technology is known as Colorbit(R), and it is comprised of a string of colored little blobs that can be translated into a binary code/numerical code.   

 

The code was developed in Japan and is relatively new to the United States.  It is being represented by Chris Anderson and Jim Kast - more at Colorbit-USA.com 

 

What is unique and different about this code?  Well, first of all, a picture can be taken of a group (!!) of Colorbit bar codes and the reader will decipher all of them.   Instead of a bar code reader that scans one code at a time,  a bicycle rental company in Japan uses the technology to take a picture of an entire racks of bicycles with Colorbit codes on the back of each bike, and the software takes inventory instantly!   Many codes - but just one picture. This happens to be an actual use of the technology in Japan.  The technology can resolve hundreds of codes from a single picture.

 

Another actual use is at a large solar array site in Japan.   The individual panels are all marked with Colorbit codes and are inventoried with an aerial photograph.   The technology is not limited to large codes - according to the vendor - "Colorbit^® can be read even if it is microscopic. There are many possibilities for its use: not only for papers (e.g. on the spine of a slim book or file, and on the edge of an envelope), but also for edges of metal plates, glasses and P.C.Boards."

 

A sample of this technology is displayed in this YouTube video - its just 20 seconds long - so click on it and take a peek. 

 

 

 

 The code is comprised of colored cells continuously arranged without being branched or crossed. The decoding method is by camera image processing technology tracing color differences between cells, i.e., tracing only the transition of color of each of neighboring cells, so the shape and the size of the code is flexible. Colorbit^® is a unique technology which is useful even for the field where barcode, two dimensional code and RFID tags cannot be used. 

 

 

Any PC camera supported - according to the company "Any PC connectable camera such as a web camera, a digital camera, a digital video camera, and a machine vision camera (an industrial camera) can be used. The camera should be selected according to conditions of use and required accuracy levels. For the usual usage an off-the-shelf web camera is more than enough. Printing of Colorbit^® can also be done by general-purpose color printers." 

 

It may even displace some RFID uses. 

 

According to Anderson,  B.Core, Inc - developed the algorithms , coding scheme and decoder.  The need was an unconstrained ability to read codes.  "Existing bar code schemes are very fussy about line space, orientation , quiet zone, etc  and are also only able to read one bar code at a time.  This code does not constrain itself to straight lines or smooth surfaces .  It can read a couple hundred of these codes at a time and even tell you where a particular item is.  The code can be created in spiral or geometric shapes." 

 

The company reports that 3M has licensed the exclusive right for development of it on retro-reflective material, and Sato, the well known manufacturer of bar code printers, has also licensed it. 

 

Colorbit-USA is looking primarily for systems integrators and VARs and will be attending the RFID Live show in Orlando in two weeks. 

 

 

Written by Craig Aberle

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Assorted Bar Code Resources and How-To's

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GS1, a non-profit agency headquartered in Brussels and with member organizations in over 100 countries, maintains the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world. Their primary goals include designing and implementing global standards and solutions, and improving the effectiveness of supply and demand chains the world over.

Standards improve the accuracy of data within the supply chain and maximize profitability for businesses, large and small. From grocery stores and supermarkets using new bar code technology to enhance food safety by providing more information about the products (even on very small items) to more mature RFID tags and readers working to reduce counterfeiting and medical errors, uniform standards make things run more smoothly.

And the GS1 system of standards is the product of over 30 years of experience across multiple sectors and industries. GS1 lays the foundation for clear, understandable exchanges between companies, bringing together manufacturers, distributors, retailers, hospitals, transporters, customs organizations, software developers, and local and international regulatory agencies.

Listed below are links to some helpful resources on the GS1 website.

When your business is ready to start creating and using bar codes, follow these 10 steps to ensure your bar codes meet the worldwide standard. Click on the name of your country and the steps will be customized for you.

Stumped on bar code terminology? Need to comply with a trading partner's request? Search the Frequently Asked Questions for both basic and more advanced information on bar codes.

Questions about which type of bar code best fits your business application? This bar code gallery gives technical details on the six basic types and shows multiple images of each.

Need more information about the nine identification keys (GTIN, GLN, etc) used to identify objects and other components in the supply chain? This page has clickable links to each key, where you'll find specifics on creating the data structure.

Want more in depth guidelines about the rules for Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) allocation? Click here for links to specifications and best practices.

Use the Check Digit Calculator to confirm that your bar codes read accurately. The page has automated calculators for GTIN and SSCC formats and also information on how to perform a manual check.

Need some definitions? This searchable glossary is an A to Z reference for common bar code industry terms.

Mobile phone use is exploding worldwide and smart phones can now interact with bar codes and read RFID tags. Download white papers focused on choosing the right bar codes for mobile commerce, and strategies for getting the in-store environment ready for mobile.

Do you have a bar code (GTIN), a container code (SSCC), or a Global Location Number (GLN) that belongs to a GS1 member company? Use the Global Electronic Party Information Registry (GEPIR) to locate basic contact information for the company.

Industry sectors such as retail, healthcare, transport and logistics, consumer electronics, defense, and various collaborative groups benefit from improved supply chain efficiencies. Learn more about the latest industry engagement strategies used within your field.

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If you liked this article, also try:

Useful Resources Found on the Auto-ID and Mobility Website

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Art tracking solution depends on Metalcraft RFID labels to help manage art collections around the world

Opportunity: reliably track the location of art to prevent theft or loss

Many art museums, galleries and private collectors use cameras to secure their collections. Most also have processes for taking inventory or recording the movement of art within or across locations.

Some want systems that prevent the handling or movement of art and others are pained to keep inventory without visible barcodes or other identification.

Still, the value of art works demands more than many art owners and custodians have invested in tracking these valuable assets, according to Silent Partner Technologies who brought their background in RFID and barcode tracking to the development of a flexible RFID solution for asset management and theft deterrence for high-value art.

Solution: RFID-enabled tracking

Silent Partner was first asked in 2007 to help an art store owner manage inventory across several galleries. RFID technology brought new approaches for the challenges faced by the art seller.

“Display, storage, transfers and sales are all important events when we’re talking about high value art,” said Ted Kostis, president of Silent Partner Technologies. “You want to know where your artwork is at all times.”

The company’s web-based solution covers asset management and theft deterrence using a mix of technologies suited to the needs of the individual collection manager. In some installations, Kostis installs antennae to complete a web-based inventory automatically every few minutes. Other art-owning clients are content to complete inventory with a handheld RFID reader during periodic inventory or handling – moving from storage to display, for example.

In all instances, the premise is that each piece of art is detailed in a database and assigned to an RFID tag that is attached on the back or inside of the artwork – each tag’s pre-encoded number links to the data, allowing a traceable history of each piece accessible via the Web.

Kostis had relied on Metalcraft for durable RFID and barcode products in other work. He asked the Iowa-based manufacturer of property identification solutions to produce small, customized RFID labels for the art tracking solution.

“Metalcraft’s labels come out gorgeous,” said Kostis. “We get the read range we need at a size that works discretely inside and behind artwork. They’re keeping our clients happy.”

Result: dependable identification and tracking of art collections

RFID greatly reduces the time to locate art and removes the need to handle a piece during identification – “totally eliminating” the potential for catastrophe, such as dropping or destroying a work of art. Collection managers can identify art without moving it in a gallery or unpacking it from a shipping crate (tags read right through the crate), reducing labor, time, and potential damage.

The solution gives owners and sellers improved visibility of and control over artworks, too. They can run more frequent inventory counts to get a handle on the whereabouts of the pieces of art at each location.

“Many in the art world still don’t know that RFID exists,” said Kostis. “There’s so much potential. RFID can help art sellers confidently expand. Museums and private collections get better visibility to high-value artwork with less effort.

Kostis’ recent testing with Metalcraft tags inventoried 93 larger paintings in a 30,000 square foot floor in a New York City high-rise in under three minutes and read 237 paintings inside of a storage room under two minutes.

“How could one person do that work without RFID?” asks Kostis. “It would easily take an hour, but most pieces aren’t even moveable alone. We’ve figured out how to deliver faster, better art collection management, and art owners are taking notice.”

About Metalcraft

Call 800-437-5283 or visit www.idplate.com for more information on Metalcraft RFID tags and their customers’ solutions.

See related articles:

Five Ways RFID Can Benefit Asset Tracking in a Healthcare Setting - Hospital assets, including medical equipment, prescription drugs and, yes, people, are now being tracked and monitored by RFID (radio frequency identification) tags. Whether mounted directly on equipment ...

The Future of RFID - An Infographic - With the rise of radio frequency identification (RFID) applications, more and more businesses are looking for ways to use RFID tags and readers to keep track of inventory, prevent theft, and control access ...

Westminster, MA Uses RFID to Manage Gate Access to Waste Transfer Station - While Westminster knew they wanted to track usage and were interested in RFID technology, they were less certain about how to automate gate access and link gate activity to the Town’s ...

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  TV viewers undoubtedly know the phrase "What's In Your Wallet?"  made popular by Capital One - well, I don't use their credit card, but I do have a short list of some good and a couple awesome loyalty programs.  

First - (and not in any particular order) - Starbucks.  I get a free drink for every 15 coffees that I buy.  I think its a good deal - I buy a short coffee most days for $1.67 and then when I get my freebie, I use it towards a large mixed drink worth three or four dollars.  I like it.  It's not on my key ring, because I have the mobile app on my smart phone.

  Second - maybe my most favorite key tag of all, relatively new to my collection of loyalty programs,  and actually set to expire shortly - Ben & Jerry's.   They run a V.I.T program - Very Important Taster club.  I get 10% off my ice cream cones and a free taste of whatever new flavors they are offering. The key tag says it expires April 30th, 2013.  Too bad - the program makes it worth my time to drive an extra ten minutes to get there.  That, plus the best tasting butter pecan ice cream on the market!
 
  Third - GNC Gold card.  GNC has morphed their program over the years.  It used to be that you had to show up in the first few days of the month to get the discount, now a person can show up at any time. There is a savings on many products and since I buy their multi-vitamins it does save me money, even though I have to pay an annual fee to be in the club.   I am not sure if I will renew this next year however. I have an Amazon Prime account, and I find it simpler to order my GNC vitamins on the Internet - and save a half hour by not going to the mall.  The shipping is free, even if the vitamins cost me a little more.  

  Fourth - Staples - I have been part of their rewards program for ages.  I get all kinds of rebates and cash back when I return my empty ink cartridges.  I have to say that they have a great rewards program in terms of the money I get back, but the worst quality key tags of any company - the ink wears off in months and that causes delays at the checkout counter.  (Asides: Three memos to the Staples marketing staff - seriously - get a new key tag vendor.  Most other tags on my ring don't wear out at all.  Also, what is the scoop with the "buy a big pack of batteries in December and then get a 100% rebate" in January?  Are you having cash flow problems - or just trying to goose your sales numbers in the 4th quarter to get a bigger year-end bonus? Either way, it smells funny. Lastly - if you want me to check-in with a mobile app in the store, don't put the QR code to do so at the checkout counter. Point it out BEFORE I do my shopping. Otherwise...love your store.)   

Fifth - Panera - this program I like because I eat there a few times a week.  Soup and salad usually.   But in the last year or two, they seem to have dialed back on the number of free things they give away.   Then there is the problem of them giving me a freebie or a discount on an item I don't like.  If I don't use up the discount, I have to wait until it expires before they give me another, and that can take two months.  Maybe a shorter expiration date would be helpful.  They certainly can tell how frequently I patronize their stores.   Frequent members should have discounts that expire more quickly.  Lest we get annoyed having to look at that discount we don't want, on a regular basis. (I am in a Panera as I type this article…but finished it at a Starbucks, fwiw.)

Sixth - my biggest secret - this company just gives you a free chocolate once a month.  You don't have to buy anything, you just show up at their store and show your card.  It's Godiva, and it's damn good chocolate - and they have a store at the Tampa mall.  Unfortunately for me the mall is an hour and fifteen minutes away , so I don't get there very often, but I always stop in when I'm up there.

Seventh - this is not on my key ring - but they send a coupon via email and it is often a BOGO (buy one, get one) for a Blizzard  - it's DQ (Dairy Queen).   My son and I both like them.   I like the Butterfinger or Heath Bar mixed in with vanilla.  Good stuff and a nice treat from the retailer.  Sign up for free on the web and they will remember your birthday too.

Eighth - the newest item on my key ring is "The League" - by Sports Authority.  SA has some of the craziest pricing.  Everything is very expensive, so you really need to clip that 25% off coupon in the newspaper.  However, when my kid needs cleats or something, there are not too many other places to go. So a little credit for each purchase is a nice thing.

Ninth - Fit 2 Run - this saves me about 10% on each sneaker purchase.  Since I belong to a bike club, I also get another discount.  I don't go too often, but I like their selection, and they have the running machines with the cameras mounted on the back so they can slow-mo my pace and check for pronation and other problems.   When good quality running sneakers go for $100 a pair, 10% off is worth the effort.

Lastly - Best Buy - it's kind of a sleeper program, as I don't shop there too often, but I seem to get a $20 or $30 a year in rewards.  It's mobile centric - comes via email and that is fine with me.

  I estimate the combined value of the annual benefits I receive at about $750.  It's adds up, and it's a bit of fun being in their programs.
  Are you using mobile loyalty programs? Email us about what you do or don't like.

Written by Craig Aberle

 PS - If you found this article useful or entertaining, please share it with someone who might benefit from it by using the buttons below ;)

Smartphones and tablets are becoming an indispensable tool for many Americans. They provide convenient access to email, the Internet, personal contacts, banking, shopping, weather, and much more.  Most people are familiar with applications (better known as 'apps') that can be downloaded on your phone to serve a specific function, but perhaps not as many people know about apps that allow a smartphone or tablet to be used as a bar code scanner or a QR code scanner. 

Scanner apps that scan 1D bar codes, like you might see at the grocery store, can make shopping and saving more convenient.  QR codes are a popular way for businesses or other organizations to provide easy access to information, loyalty perks, or other valuable digital content, so a QR code scanner app can be a handy tool as well.  Here is a collections of barcode and QR scanner reviews and resources.

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  Socket Mobile, Inc., (OTC: SCKT) an innovative provider of mobile productivity solutions, today announced the upcoming availability of a spring color collection of the Socket Bluetooth Cordless Hand Scanner 7Ci, a small and sleek wireless barcode scanner for the Apple iPad®, iPad mini, iPhone® and iPod touch®. The vibrant new barcode scanners — available in red, yellow and blue — enable businesses to enhance corporate branding in retail point-of-sale (POS), field sales and service, and other customer-facing applications.

The Socket CHS 7Ci is currently available in yellow and gray from Socket Mobile’s worldwide distribution channels and online at: http://www.socketstore.com. Red and blue models of the scanner will be available in late May. Customized colors and private label scanners are offered with a minimum order quantity, and developers can obtain a Software Development Kit (SDK) at: http://developer.socketmobile.com/

Last year in the Bar Code News we complained about the lack of color products in the industry in several columns including this one:

http://barcode.com/20120402868/fifty-shades-of-gray-in-the-bar-code-industry.html

Subsequent to that article, at a trade show, an anonymous source tipped us off to a pink bar code reader.

While the pink scanner never made it into production, the idea was refreshing.

http://barcode.com/20120501892/is-there-a-market-for-pink-barcode-scanners-socket-mobile-responds.html

We hope other companies will be inspired to come up with innovative and attractive products!

Written by Craig Aberle

Share this article with others by using the buttons below! Thank you.

   Barcodes have proven to be a cost effective way to price your products for retail, track inventory data, ship packages, and even promote your company – but how do you get started? Printing barcode labels for the first time can be a daunting task due to the amount of variables involved, but it doesn’t have to be a complicated, stressful process. Below, you will find some of the most commonly asked questions related to printing barcode labels. The answers will have you ready to print your own barcode labels in no time!

What type of barcode do I need?

Simply choosing the best barcode for your application can be a difficult decision. There are currently hundreds of different barcode symbologies being used across different industries. The term symbology refers to the different types or formats of barcodes available to you. Luckily, the majority of barcode symbologies are very specific to certain industries and can effectively be removed from consideration for common usage. The first major decision when selecting a barcode format for your application is choosing between a 1D barcode and a 2D barcode.

1D barcodes are the more traditional barcode type, and are likely what comes to mind when hearing the term “barcode”. This is due to the fact 1D barcodes consist of a collection of bars and spaces, of varying lengths, formatted in a linear manner. 1D barcodes are ideal for laser barcode scanners – they are commonly used in point-of-sale systems in retail stores, as well as in applications using handheld laser scanners. The different 1D formats vary in the type of characters that can be used and in the number of characters they can carry. The most popular 1D barcode formats are listed below:

UPC-A and UPC-E
These barcodes are found on products being sold at retail outlets throughout the United States. UPC-A is the default retail barcode, while UPC-E is a condensed format mainly used on packaging where limited space is available. A UPC barcode is necessary if you want to bring your products to market. To receive a UPC barcode for your products in the United States you must apply for membership with GS1-US. To receive more information regarding applying at GS1-US, along with information regarding the applicable fees, please visit their website at the link below:

www.gs1us.org/get-started/i-need-a-barcode

EAN-13 and EAN-8
These barcodes are essentially the equivalent of UPC-A and UPC-E if you are selling your products outside of the United States. EAN-13 is the default, while EAN-8 would be the condensed format for packaging with limited space available. Similar to the UPC barcodes mentioned above, you must register with GS1 to receive barcodes for your products. You can apply with GS1, and learn more about the fees, by visiting the following link:

www.gs1.org/barcodes/need_a_bar_code

Code128
Code128 is a newer barcode format. The number 128 refers to the fact that this barcode symbology can hold any character within the ASCII 128 character set. This means that a Code128 barcode not only includes numeric digits, but all characters and punctuation marks as well. This broadened selection of characters will allow you to store a large amount of diversified information within a compact barcode.

Code39
Code39 barcodes also allow for use of numeric digits and uppercase letters. This format is not as compact as Code128 barcodes but is still commonly used in certain industries. Because of the lower data density compared to Code128 more space is required to encode data, making Code39 barcodes less than ideal for compact applications where there is little space available for a barcode label.

When deciding which 1D barcode may be best for your application, keep the following information in mind:

- If the barcode will be scanned in retail stores you will need to apply for and use a UPC or EAN barcode
- If you need alphabetic characters in addition to numeric characters you will need a Code128 or Code39 barcode
- If you have limited space available for a barcode label you will need to select a high density barcode such as UPC-E, EAN-8, or Code128

While 1D barcodes are ideal for a variety of different applications, 2D barcodes offer some special characteristics that make them useful for entirely different purposes. Rather than using a linear set of bars, 2D barcodes use a series of tiny dots of squares that can contain any type of alphanumeric data. 2D barcodes are capable of holding significantly more data when compared with 1D barcodes. 2D barcodes cannot be read with traditional laser barcode scanners, instead requiring the use of an imaging device such as a camera.

The most popular type of 2D barcode is the QR Code. QR Codes are very commonly used for promotional or marketing purposes within magazines, advertisements and on business cards. This type of barcode is geared towards consumers, and the fact that most modern cellphones incorporate a camera means that anyone carrying a smartphone can scan a QR code. QR codes can contain contact information, URL addresses, and even plain text. QR Codes are free and simple to generate. You can access a free QR Code generator at the following link:

http://www.onlinelabels.com/label-generator-tools/QR-Code-Generator.aspx

At this point you probably have an idea of which barcode format will be most suitable for your application. We can now look forward to some other topics that are important to consider when printing your barcode labels.

What type of printer will I need to print barcode labels?

You can use just about any popular printer type to print barcode labels, but we are going to focus on inkjet and laser printers, which are commonly found in most home and office environments, as well as thermal transfer and direct thermal printers that are more specialized for barcode and shipping label applications.

The biggest advantage to printing barcode labels with an inkjet or laser printer is that these types of printers tend to be readily available, allowing you to print barcode labels without having to buy dedicated printing equipment. Using an inkjet or laser printer means that you will be printing your barcode labels on standard letter size sheets. This is ideal for applications in which you need to print multiple copies of the same barcode label at one time. Printing different barcode labels on your sheets can be accomplished as well by using a barcode mail merge within your printing software. Because it is important for barcodes to be printed at a high resolution, it is important to use inkjet or laser printers that are capable of resolutions of 300 dpi or greater.

If you are planning on printing barcode labels at a high volume on a regular basis, a dedicated barcode label printer may be the best option. This is where thermal printers really shine. There are two different types of thermal printers available: direct thermal and thermal transfer. Thermal printers are capable of on-demand printing, allowing you to print the exact number of barcode labels that you need at any given time.

Thermal transfer printers use a heated printing ribbon to produce durable barcode images. They are capable of printing on a wide variety of different material types. If your application requires an extended shelf life, thermal transfer printing will likely be the most ideal solution as these printers are capable of producing barcodes that will stand up to handling and storage over long periods of time.

Direct thermal printers use a thermal printhead to apply heat to chemically coated paper, allowing you to print barcodes without the need to constantly replace printing ribbons. The benefit of removing the need for printing ribbons is offset by the fact that labels printed with a direct thermal printer are less durable when compared to labels printed with a thermal transfer printer. Environmental conditions such as heat or excessive exposure to light can cause the print quality to deteriorate over time. Because of this, direct thermal printers are ideal for applications that require a short shelf life, such as shipping and postage labels.

What type of label material will I need?

The type of label material you will need for your barcode labels will ultimately depend on your application. For most purposes, basic paper label material will be the most cost effective choice. If an extended shelf life or contact with moisture or chemicals is a concern you will likely want to consider a durable, weather resistant synthetic material, such as polyester or polypropylene, for use in either a laser printer or a thermal transfer printer.

The most important factor to consider when selecting a material for barcode labels is the color and finish of the material. Printing barcodes on to a white surface is ideal. Printing on to a colored surface will reduce the contrast between the bars and the spaces between them, which may cause certain barcode readers to have trouble scanning the barcode. You will also want to avoid any label material that could potentially be reflective, specifically foil label material and ultra glossy label material. A reflective surface will almost always cause barcode scanning to fail. In addition to colored and reflective surfaces, clear label material should be avoided as well. Printing barcodes on to a clear surface is risky – if the clear label is not applied to a white surface, the contrast may not be high enough to allow for a successful scan.

Are there size limitations when printing barcode labels?

Unless you are printing UPC/EAN barcodes, you will have a lot of flexibility regarding the label size for your barcodes.

If you are printing UPC barcodes it is important to adhere to the size regulations specified by GS1. The standard size for a UPC barcode is 1.469” x 1.02”. It is recommended that UPC codes be printed within a range of 80% to 200% of the specified standard size. Printing a UPC code at less than 80% (1.175” x 0.816”) could potentially cause an unreadable barcode – depending on the retailer this may result in a fine or even disqualification as a vendor.

If you are not printing barcodes for retail you can potentially go much smaller with your labels. A high density symbology such as Code128 or Code39 and a printer capable of high resolution prints (preferably 600 dpi) will allow you to print a barcode with a height as small as 0.375”.

If you are printing your own QR barcodes you could potentially print them on a label as small as 0.5” x 0.5”. Again, this would require a printer capable of high resolution prints to ensure that the barcode is readable. A QR code smaller than 0.5” x 0.5” may have difficulty being read by most consumer devices.

Printing your own barcode labels doesn’t have to be a headache inducing process. While it may seem daunting at first, the information provided above should get you heading in the right direction. You’ll be printing barcodes for your business in no time!

Written by Dave Carmany

About OnlineLabels.com

OnlineLabels.com is the premier resource for all your bar code labeling needs.  Whether you need 1 sheet or 100 sheets, we can accept your order because we have the largest selection of ready-to-ship blank labels for laser and inkjet printers in the world. We carry over 1,100 label configurations in stock, and if that's not enough, we can custom manufacture any label sheet configuration you require.  We offer a money back guarantee and same day shipping!

You probably wouldn't think of leaving home without your smartphone, especially when heading out for a day (or night) of shopping. And that's what many retailers are hoping for.

Tweaks on existing mobile bar code technology are surfacing just in time for Black Friday, as retailers try to stand out.

With the advent of the holiday shopping season (although it seems to get going earlier and earlier each year), here are some ways retailers are using barcoding technology to bring in customers.

Target's wayfinding project

With the goal of luring shoppers into their brick-and-mortar stores, Target is piloting an in-store navigation program.

In the test phase at all new CityTarget locations and other selected stores, the Minneapolis-based retailer's so-called "wayfinding technology" aims to enable a customer's smartphone to recognize that person's location within a specific store. Then the shopper is guided directly to a selected item, saving time and potentially beating out others headed for popular toys and gifts.

In addition, Target's television spots, bus shelter ads, and catalog pages will feature QR codes and SMS short codes, expanding the mobile experience for potential customers.

Simply scan the QR codes attached to the 20 hottest toys, and have the option of buying via a mobile site, and having the loot delivered to far-flung relatives and friends, or to your own home.

Apple's digital wallet

Debuting with the recent iOS 6, Apple's Passbook mobile app offers a quasi-digital wallet for iPhone and iPod Touch owners.

Designed to store electronic detritus like loyalty cards, tickets, coupons, and boarding passes, Passbook's highest profile partner is Starbucks. Four Major League Baseball teams (the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, and New York Mets) also used Passbook to generate digital tickets this past season.

iPhone owners seeking their java fix can add a Starbucks account to Passbook via the mobile app, enabling them to make in-store purchases of food and drinks, check card balances, reload cards with cash, and add rewards for free drinks with their phone.

McDonald's has also jumped on the Passbook bandwagon, although currently payments can only be made at 45 locations in France.

With a mobile app called McDo France, customers place an order and pay using their iPhone. Pick up your McDonald's grub by presenting the generated QR code at the counter.

What does the future hold for mobile barcoding technology in retail?

While retailers have made great strides - a report from NeoMedia indicates the use of QR codes has grown 120 percent over this time last year - there are still plenty of opportunities for retailers.

Many brick-and-mortar stores still fight so-called "showrooming," where customers use their smartphones to gather information in-store while buying online.

But industry experts predict that savvy sellers can turn that negative into an opportunity. By increasing engagement within the mobile channel, retailers can add value via education and offer relevant deals available only in the store.

And opportunities for mobile rebates and mobile layaways will keep customers throughout the economic spectrum venturing into stores and pulling out their wallets.

See related articles:

Mobile Shopping Apps: Changing the Way People Shop - Mobile shopping apps have changed the way that merchants sell products and the way that buyers interact with the products in stores. With a mobile phone, you can scan a product bar code and easily see ...

Mobile Barcode Scanning in the Retail Environment - One of the major player's in the burgeoning mobile barcode industry, Scanbuy, recently conducted a survey regarding mobile barcode usage in the retail environment. The study's findings revealed that more ...

Mobile Barcode App for Holiday Shopping: Price Check by Amazon for Android - Now that you've wrapped up your Thanksgiving leftovers and watched a ton of football games, it's time to get your holiday shopping in focus. It's the time of year that can make even the most prepared shopper ...

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Welcome to the era of “mobile and social first.”

In this new world order, everyone is scrambling to push out a mobile product or a social solution.

In fact, “mobile” is so hot today you can often put the word in front of traditional product categories and create entire new industries: mobile payments, mobile ordering, mobile marketing – to name only a few.

And “social” is being connected to everything from entertainment to major purchases to everyday household needs.

But does it all make good business sense?

If you’re a small to mid-size business owner, where do you put your resources to ensure you take advantage of the benefits of mobile and social without getting caught up in the hype?

Loyalty marketing is one place you should definitely take a hard look at.

Loyalty marketing has been enjoying a revolution of sorts, due in large part to the fact that mobile and social technologies are evolving at a breakneck pace. Smartphones, those ubiquitous mini-computers everyone carries, offer a unique opportunity to completely change the paradigm of customer/merchant interaction.  In fact, they already are.

Mobile advertising is poised to grow into a 20 million USD business by 2015, according to Gartner Institute. And a study from Juniper Research shows that mobile coupons are 10 times more likely to be redeemed than traditional ones.

Add in social media, which is the preferred method of sharing shopping and brand experiences (55 percent of online shoppers prefer to share their purchases on Facebook), and you’ve got a powerful combination to help grow your business.

However, when considering investing in a mobile or social loyalty program for your business there are some key considerations. Your biggest and most important task is to determine if the solution is nothing more than a mobile or social face on a traditional application or if it actually drives a shift in consumer convenience and behavior, the latter of which will drive higher profits for your business.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of solutions that are nothing more than a mobile or social interface on an otherwise unchanged product.

For example, in the mobile payment space, there are dozens of applications that allow consumers to store their credit card numbers in their mobile phone then present the phone as a surrogate for a credit card at the point of sale. Nothing about the checkout process has changed by these apps other than the form factor of the credit card.

There are a few noteworthy applications, however, that change the checkout process entirely.

Take TabbedOut for example. While consumers do store their credit card numbers within the application, the mobile app completely alters the method of checking out by allowing the consumer to close their check and complete payment without any interaction from the wait staff.

Compared to a mobile app that simply allows consumers to present their credit card number at the point of sale via an onscreen QR code or NFC transmission, interesting apps like TabbedOut have the potential to drive significant value for your business.

The same is true for loyalty programs.

It’s entirely possible to “mobile-enable” a traditional card-based loyalty program by allowing your customers to store their card numbers on their phones and enabling the collection of mobile numbers on sign-up forms for outbound SMS text marketing campaigns.

However, compare that method to a mobile loyalty program that is designed from the ground up to leverage the two-way communication capabilities of a mobile phone to completely change the way consumers participate and interact with your loyalty program. In many cases, these “mobile first” loyalty programs offer increased consumer experience and easier in-store operations, driving higher consumer participation and engagement than traditional programs.

In a similar fashion, it’s possible to “social-enable” any loyalty program by simply adding a Facebook “Like” or Twitter “Share” button to email communications, web sites, and mobile applications. These buttons make it convenient for consumers to share your program with their friends if they are so inclined and remember to do so.

Try comparing these techniques to a loyalty program that is also a social application (i.e., Zynga’s Farmville game is not just a page, but an application in which players interact): consumers connect with your business by granting permissions to the social loyalty application. These permissions grant the social loyalty app the ability to collect information from the consumer’s social media account and permit that app to post on their behalf for all their friends and followers to see.

Suddenly, your loyalty program can go socially viral through automatic check-in and sharing features that happen independently even when your customers forget – but always with their permission. The difference between these two approaches couldn’t be more dramatic in their effectiveness.

A good mobile/social loyalty program should offer consumers increased choice, convenience, and control while still being easy to operate.  In addition, it should prove its worth to your business through clear and concise ROI metric reporting.

In creating MercuryLoyalty, ease-of-use was a top priority – for both merchants and their customers – without sacrificing data collection and analysis sophistication.

Because the solution is integrated into a merchant’s POS system, customers can collect customer data in several buckets including contact info, demographics, purchase history, promotional response, and social usage/response. Couple this intelligence with digital marketing, and you can create highly effective customized promotions.

You can tag offers as they go out and track each individually as they come back in, allowing you to “close the loop” on your marketing campaigns and measure your spending against generated results. It is not unusual for a digital marketing promotion, such as an SMS text message broadcast, to generate $5 or more in return for every $1 spent on the campaign.

The bottom line? Demand more from your mobile/social loyalty solution.

It should deliver a paradigm shift for you and your customers – going way beyond a simple mobile interface on a traditional product or social integration that centers on “Like” and “Share.”

Look for solutions that leverage and work with your existing technology investments, are easy to use, but sophisticated, and offer closed-loop ROI reporting to prove the program’s value to your business.  It takes a little homework, but your customers, and your accountant, will thank you.

About the Author:

Travis Priest is Vice President of Loyalty at Mercury where he leads the company’s strategy and execution in this space via its new MercuryLoyalty solution. A world-class technology visionary with a proven track record of delivering market and shareholder value, Travis pioneered mobile and social loyalty marketing at Sundrop and continues his innovative work at Mercury.

About the Company:

Mercury is a trusted innovator in POS-integrated technologies for payment processing, card data security, gift cards and loyalty. Recognized for around-the-clock support and service, Mercury is an award-winning partner to more than 500 POS independent software vendors and 2,500 POS resellers serving thousands of merchants nationwide. Mercury is pioneering the “social POS,” empowering merchants to identify, acquire, and retain customers through unique engagement and closed-loop measurement using Mercury’s patent-pending SaaS loyalty platform.

See related articles:

Mobile Coupons Via Credit Cards Equal Convenience, Savings, ROI - ... in their constant battle against on-line shopping, bringing the deals to the consumer instantly and in storefront locations through their mobile phones. See related articles: Mobile Loyalty Programs ...

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 Moves Forward With Mobile Payment Options - ... options including credit and debit cards, payment instructions, coupons and other deals such as preferred customer perks including affiliate and loyalty membership accounts for hotels and airlines. Transaction ...

Mobile Bar Code Trends - ... made the list, indicating that QR codes can be used to drive customer loyalty from multiple media. Interestingly, mobile bar codes are penetrating different parts of the world. ScanLife processes scans ...

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   ScanLife Issues Q1 2013 Mobile Barcode Trend Report Over 18 million scans recorded

    If there was ever a question that QR (Quick Response) codes were a growing trend in retail and social marketing, the most recent report from ScanLife should put that question to rest. The company recorded more than 18 million scans in the first three months of 2013, with March being the highest scan month for the company ever with 6.7 million scans. It stands to reason that QR code scanning is on the cusp of its popularity and can only increase from here.

ScanLife markets a QR code platform supported by a robust analytics engine that maximizes scans and personalizes them for specific marketing campaigns and corporate goals. The software is designed to monitor shopping behaviors for the benefit of business owners, and to provide enriched shopping experiences for consumers.

According to the company’s website, over 15 code actions can help implement marketing strategies including product launches, video demos, CRM programs, click-to-call campaigns, social networking, and more, with additional features available such as mobile video encoding, surveys, personalized mobile web pages, specialized branding and custom-branded QR codes that include a company’s logo, brand artwork, or brand color.

The most current report, issued in April 2013, identifies the average number of scans by day of the week, time of day, gender and age of users, comparison of android to i-phone, the most used industries, the most accessed content, and the most liked apps. The QR Code campaigns that are scanned the most frequently connect users to product information within the retail industry.

According to the report, scans were relatively consistent throughout the week, with a slightly higher level of activity on Saturday and Sunday. As recorded by ScanLife, most scans occurred between noon and 9 p.m. More men than women are scanning QR codes – 65 percent to 35 percent; and nearly half – 48 percent – are between 25 and 44 years old. Fifty-seven percent are Android users, who tend toward value, catalogs, games and books; while 41 percent are iPhone users who scan for value, games, auto, fitness and music information.

Industries include, by popularity, retail, hospitality, wireless, print and toys. Content is ranked by product, social, commerce, video and coupons. The most liked QR Codes, based on the number of scans, are McDonald’s for product information, Coke for video, Kohl’s for customer feedback, Tim Horton for contests, and Publix for coupons.

Read the entire report here, and visit ScanLife for more information about the company and their
product offerings.

About ScanLife

ScanLife is a global leader in providing cloud-based mobile connection solutions, with users in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in New York City, offices are located in Argentina,  Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Israel, Spain, and the UK. The company holds the largest and oldest patent portfolio of any company in the industry, with over 30 rights granted, covering the entire barcode strategy. The company is privately held.

Pictures used with the permission of ScanLife.

The Problem

Mr. Bills is a multi-site business, operating out of three retail locations and a central warehouse location. Prior to POS Express implementation, managing inventory among all of these locations was a challenge. Stock levels for the individual retail locations, the warehouse and all locations. were difficult to obtain. Tracking item transfers from one location to another posed another problem. Since Mr. Bill's is a business that aims to be the best for their customers, the company also wanted to increase overall speed and efficiency of sales transactions.

The Solution

Motivated by these issues, Mr. Bill’s sought a solution. Using Software Advice, a service that matches retail operators with software vendors based on business needs, Mr. Bill's was connected with POS Prophet Systems. After working with Mr. Bill's to identify their specific needs, Bill at POS Prophet Systems proved that POS Express was the best solution through a series of web demonstrations.

The Benefits

To address the multi-site issue, POS Express has a Store Code feature designed for the needs of multi-site businesses. All data is placed in a centralized, secure location, enabling the administrative terminal at the warehouse, as well as the POS terminals at the retail locations to connect and access the database. This provides each location with the ability to run real time inventory reports for each individual location or the inventory totals for all locations. Sales associates can easily check stock levels at all four locations from any POS terminal. The warehouse manager can also transfer inventory and run reports to track all transfers.

Since implementing POS Express, Mr. Bill’s and its customers no longer suffer from inventory inefficiency. Armed with immediate access to accurate inventory data, sales associates are more helpful and efficient. If a customer cannot find an item at one location, the sales associate can easily locate that item at another one; this increases customer satisfaction and sales for Mr. Bill's.

Specifications

Mr. Bill’s is using Dell computers and Posligne Printers, provided by POS Prophet Systems, in conjunction with the POS Express Software.  Suzanne, from Mr. Bill’s, says, “POS Prophet Systems seemed a good fit because it provides tremendous reporting without a huge initial outlay of dollars.  I love that it is very user friendly – our staff loves the new system – and the back end is easy to use, as well.  The support is tremendous – any issue we had at the beginning of our relationship was taken care of in a very timely manner.  We have been using it for a couple of months and find that working with their tech support on any new reports we would like is really easy.  I am very pleased with the software and the support.”

About POS Prophet Systems

POS Prophet Systems is a full-service software firm focusing on small to medium-sized retailers. POS Prophet Systems is different from other software providers because they design, develop, deliver and support state-of-the-art software and hardware solutions for their clients. They own their software code and are not a value added reseller (VAR). They give clients the technology tools necessary to compete with the “big box” retailers at a price they can afford.

The POS Express retail software solution includes point-of-sale, integrated payment processing, inventory management, customer loyalty and gift card programs, time and attendance, multi-site support, robust reporting, email marketing, fully-integrated e-commerce, full food and beverage solution and much more.

POS Express is a great solution for a large variety of business types. Their list of clients range from museums to independently owned book and music stores, and from air brush artists to smoke shops to family owned feed stores. They are also ideal for kiosk franchisors and operators. Their multi-site, store code features are very helpful with managing multiple locations.

The Point of Sale News, an online magazine dedicated to the retail industry.

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Surf Shop Spreads Stoke with New POS and Barcodes

CashierLive recently introduced a mobile iPhone app that does scanning and inventory tracking as an adjunct to their web-based POS system.   This new app makes taking inventory in a store much easier.

“Inventory counts are a major pain point for independent retailers. Before, they had to buy a dedicated device for over $1,000, pay an outside company, or have their employees use pen and paper” said Tom Greenhaw, founder of Cashier Live. “We wanted to take technology that a lot of store owners already had, an iPhone or iPod touch, and give them a tool to make inventory counts easy.”

The Retail Inventory app uses the camera to scan a product’s barcode, after which the quantity is entered. Once a product is saved in the app, the quantity on hand inside of their point-of-sale updates instantly. There is an option to export an inventory file for use with other POS software.

According to Cashier Live, their beta test stores were able to compress the time it took to conduct a manual inventory count from days to just an hour or two.

An Android version of the app is on the way, but retailers can immediately install the app from the iTunes App Store. 

Although it has just been released, CashierLive reports that it has already been downloaded over 600 times.  Downloads are running at a rate of about 40 per day.

Download the app now at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/retail-inventory/id440020325, or learn more about Cashier Live’s inventory app.

About Cashier Live

Launched in 2010, Cashier Live is now a leading provider of web-based point-of-sale software for retailers. Over 3,000 retail locations use Cashier Live daily to conduct transactions, manage employees, and monitor inventory. In addition to providing software, Cashier Live provides POS hardware to a multitude of retailers ranging from antique stores to toy shops.

For more about CashierLive and its web-based POS solutions click here

For a list of other quality Point of Sale software providers click here

For a list of LOCAL Point of Sale resellers by State click here