Are you part of the bar code industry? QR code industry? RFID? Bar code apps?  If so , you company should be listed in our free online directory.

Here at The Bar Code News we offer a number of free services to our readers. Many readers, for example, have been enjoying our Free QR Code Generator and weekly eNewsletters. Another popular service is our free barcode directory, offered to anyone seeking information in the field. Each month thousands of visitors search the online barcode database for companies to create their barcode labels, provide bar code equipment, obtain RFID tags, or locate a VAR.

The directory's database contains roughly 1,800 companies representing 50 countries, providing products and services related to the bar code and point of sale industries; categories include: barcode scanners, bar code printers, bar code labels, bar code fonts, bar code software, inventory/fixed asset tracking,  used bar code equipment, manufacturers, distributors, resellers, mobile bar codes and more.

“It is our goal at barcode.com to act as a hub for the industry. We provide a single source where readers can go to find answers to their barcode-related questions and stay up-to-date with industry news and advances. This directory satisfies an industry deficit; we are proud to offer the world's most comprehensive list and are confident that it will be of great benefit to our readers and colleagues in the field.” says Craig Aberle, Publisher, The Bar Code News.

>> Click here to look up your company in our database.

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Are there companies who you know should be listed in the bar code directory? Please share this article with them.

  The smartphone has been ubiquitous for a very long time(at least 18 months now) and most of us would rather part with our desktop computer or a girlfriend than give up a beloved iPhone or Android. A few folks are still clinging to Blackberrys, but there are clinics (known as Apple stores) where one can be treated for that.

   In my vision of the future, virtually everyone has a smartphone or two. NFC (Near Field Communications - for mobile/digital wallets) has finally been widely adopted. Every retailer will have a mobile loyalty program, or several of them, and pretty much every human participates in reward programs of some kind. "Big data" will mean that every purchase in every country (including North Korea) is logged and every advertisement that pops up on a smart phone has been processed by the world's best algorithms and biggest super-computers. 95% of those advertisements still won't be relevant, and, unfortunately the most successful of those advertisements will be for "As Seen On TV" products.  But, big data will keep a lot of people employed!

   This obituary is from the future - the year is 2027. It is about an imaginary person named Bill Jones, who was well known for the records he set in the mobile loyalty space.

   Obituary for Bill Jones - Legendary Mobile Loyalty Superstar

   The mobile world is in mourning today, over the passing of a hero - Bill Jones! His untimely death comes as a shock to all.

  While a young man, Bill obtained a record setting 100 Foursquare Mayorships within 30 days. He was the world record holder for most posts on Yelp, Zagat, Yahoo and Craigslist - a record he set over 10 years ago, and one that remains unmatched today.

    Bill actually did not use cash for the last 8 years of his life - not even a dime (pennies were finally discarded in 2020, as were nickels in 2022, since so much of the population had trouble rounding to the nearest five cents). He either charged everything to a credit card, a loyalty program, or used his mobile wallet which processed it all through his chosen payment processors*.

   Never one to ignore the social network, Bill leaves a Facebook page with over 250,000,000 friends ( a record for a non-Hollywood and non-sports celebrity) and over 180,000,000 Twitter followers. He reportedly had over 5,700 apps on his smartphone. His Twitter handle "@billjones124" which could be worth tens of millions of dollars at an auction, is going to be retired by Twitter. A number of Bill's followers are reportedly making and selling t-shirts with his handle on them. Those wishing to share their grief can do so with the hashtag #memorialforJones. The funeral will be available on YouTube. A virtual viewing of his wake is online already, and professional stills are available for download on Instagram.

    Bill is survived by three children who are expected to be the recipients of his millions of frequent flyer miles and assorted points. The family has reported receiving condolences from over 50 major retailers and companies who operate loyalty programs, including American Express, Starbucks, and Capital One.

   The cause of death was not cancer of the thumb, which Bill had successfully beaten several years before, instead, he died instantly, mid-tweet, as a result of stepping in front of a robotic bus. His Beats headphones were on, as well as Google Glasses, and it was not known if he did not hear the bus, did not see it or was just preoccupied. The uncompleted Tweet shall forever remain a mystery, as his phone was crushed. I'd like to think it was something special, like him sharing the news about a new discount from a mobile loyalty program.

     Bill's source of income at the time of his death, and for many years prior, was from companies who paid him to post and tweet about "deals", to his huge fan base. He was one of the first full-time professional "poster-tweeters" and specialized in loyalty programs.

    Ever the proponent of the digital life style, Bill will be cremated and his wish was for for his ashes to be incorporated in a custom designed case for the iPhone 37.

Bill will be missed. Briefly.

What will be in your obit?

Written by Craig Aberle

* (I am suggesting that every player in the payment processing industry, at every level, is going to be reaching into their own pockets and handing out shekels. Excess profits invite excess competition!! Even small retailers will be using multiple processors and it will be negotiated in nano-seconds with the consumer's digital wallet.   Except in communist and totalitarian societies like China, Russia and North Korea where governments will finally realize that payment processing is the ultimate method of tax collection and will take over the industry in those countries.  America's Congress will look on in awe and envy.)

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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Seagull Announces Newest Version of BarTender Software for Barcodes, Labels, Cards and RFID Tags

Bellevue, WA, USA – Seagull Scientific has announced the immediate availability of BarTender 10.1, the latest version of its award-winning software for designing, printing and automating the production of barcodes, labels, cards, RFID tags and more.

Version 10.1 introduces features and improvements that enable more complex designs and solve tough real-world problems, including the world’s most comprehensive barcode support, new design “layers,” enhanced serialization, improved usability and new global data fields, custom page templates and conditional printing.

“Hundreds of thousands of users rely on BarTender to make their production printing and marking as efficient and reliable as possible,” said Harold Boe, President of Seagull Scientific. “With Version 10.1, we have incorporated some of the most requested features, plus a long list of innovations and improvements, to make the world’s leading design and printing software even better.”

To learn more about BarTender software and download the free, fully functional Trial Edition of version 10.1, visit http://www.bartenderbarcodesoftware.com/ .

About Seagull Scientific

Established in 1985, Seagull Scientific has long been a pioneer in the development of Windows-based software. They produce the award-winning BarTender software package for labels, barcodes, RFID and card printing. They are also the world’s largest developer of Windows printer drivers for special application printers. Headquartered in Seattle, WA, USA, Seagull has branch offices in Spain, Taiwan and Japan. With software and documentation translated into more than 20 languages, Seagull sells its products through a large network of resellers into more than 150 countries. Further information is available at www.seagullscientific.com.

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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  Long range barcode scanning can be an effective way to reduce labor cost, improve safety and increase profitability in your warehousing management operations.

Mobile computers equipped with long range scanning capability are able to scan at distances exceeding 30 feet, yet many companies do not take advantage of long range scanning technology. At long range an employee can effectively read a barcode at a top tier storage rack, or pallet bin location across a shop floor without moving from their jitney or work area. Time savings can reach up to 2 minutes per scan, and safety concerns from reading at heights are eliminated.

Retro-reflective labels are typically used for scanning ranges beyond 10 feet. They have ground glass embedded in the label, which allows a laser scan to bounce in thousands of directions at once, effectively increasing the barcode range. They also reflect the laser pointer so the employee holding the gun can see they have properly placed the laser on the label. A non reflective surface will not show proper placement. That will make scanning beyond 10 feet nearly impossible.

Retro reflective labels are expensive. A 4 x 8 printed label can range in cost from $ 3.00 to $ 8.00 per each printed, depending on quantity ordered. This cost is offset by the labor saving time achieved with their use. At just 15 seconds labor savings per read, (and typically a long range read will save more time), scanning a label 1
time per day each work day saves 65 minutes per year. At an average cost of $ 12.00 per employee, the 1 label returned up to 4 times its cost in just 1 year. That does not factor in increased efficiency and safety.

Retro-reflective labels also work well outdoors where bright conditions can impede ability to see scanned image. They have a thermal transfer laminate which makes the labels highly durable for the harshest conditions indoors or out. The imprint method for these labels requires thermal transfer printing with a full resin ribbon. This will be very durable with high scratch and chemical resistance, and holds up well to UV exposure.

Standard non reflective labels with reduced barcode density, (more space between bars), can be used for long range scanning from 2 to 8 feet. This speeds up scanning in small warehouses or tight spaces.

Long range and extra long range readers used for these types of applications are typically housed in durable plastic housings. They use laser technology which is extremely efficient and more accurate when compared to other types of scanners. Laser scanners can read barcodes in bright or low light conditions, indoors and out.
Extra long-range laser scanners are ideal for use in work-in-process, warehouse management and in transit visibility applications.

For more information on long range barcode readers, retro-reflective labels, or for test samples of retro-reflective labels contact Paragon Print Systems, Inc. – The Barcode Factory at info@barcodefactory.com, or call 888.237.8525.

Contributed By Robert Hess, President Paragon Print Systems, Inc. 2021 Paragon Drive, Erie PA 16510

(The scanner shown above is the LS3408-ER by Motorola.  Capable of scanning up to 45 feet away, depending on bar code size. )

Other articles that may interest you:

Assorted Bar Code Resources and How-To's

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    Lately, I can't have a discussion about QR codes, without someone saying that they heard that they are on the way out.  I totally disagree, but it does seem that a lot of confusion exists in the QR code world right now.
     Since the state of a market is often reflected in the pulse of its industry leaders, I decided to check in with Scanbuy CEO Mike Wehrs, and seek his opinion.  

      Scanbuy, in case you are not familiar with the company, is now in its 13th year and has an impressive client roster that includes Coca-Cola, UPS, Taco Bell, Starbucks, Staples, HP and many others.    The company's mobile apps are used in over 140 countries every day and functionality includes scanning, price comparison, QR code creation and more.     Wehrs joined Scanbuy as CEO and President in August of 2010.

   Based in NYC, Scanbuy also has offices in 8 other countries.  It also claims to have "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 and is backed by Motorola Mobility Ventures, Motorola Solutions Ventures, Hudson Ventures, and Masthead Venture Partners.

   Wehrs described business as "pretty darn good".     One area that is particularly hot is CPG, or Consumer Packaged Goods.  It is "off the charts" right now.  The reason is that QR code integration "allows them to engage with their customers on an unprecedented level with campaigns that are limited only by the imagination of their marketing team."    There is also strong demand from QSR (quick serve restaurants).
 
The Bar Code News:  How long does it take for a vendor to create and execute an advertising/marketing campaign involving a QR or other code  - from start, to completion of the campaign?
Wehrs:   The ScanLife Mobile Engagement Platform makes it very quick and easy for a vendor/client to create new QR code campaigns and monitor the analytics of the campaign.  From first login, to creation and download of the QR code, it takes only minutes. The Platform is so flexible that the client can change the action of the code at any time, even after the code is published.  For example a code could link to a coupon at one moment, and then a product video the next – all with a simple code action change within the platform.

The Bar Code News: How long does a campaign with QR codes usually run?
Wehrs: Client campaigns vary depending on the purpose of the campaign, for example product information compared to a contest.  If the QR code is setup for a specific marketing campaign, it generally runs for about three (3) months.  One common use of our platform is that a code can change what it does throughout its life so a code may drive a contest during a promotional period and then have its content switched to play a video.

The Bar Code News: Recently a YouTube video surpassed 1 billion views in a matter of weeks - (Gangnam style).  
How far away are we from that kind of hit for a QR code campaign?

Wehrs: There are existing ScanLife campaigns that are doing millions of scans.  In most cases these campaigns are on media or packaging and are local to a specific country, but we expect some additional large campaigns in the coming year to make a global event to increase the views.  The more important point is however, number of engagements as opposed to views.  An engagement is a far more valuable measure.

The Bar Code News: Does Scanbuy have any patents?    
Wehrs. There are two companies that have the lions share of the patents, Scanbuy and Neomedia, and we have cross licensed each other.  (Wehrs also made the point that Scanbuy's use of patents is primarily defensive.)

The Bar Code News: What else is on the horizon for this industry? 
Wehrs: Originally everyone had to have a QR code, but they didn't do anything to optimize the experience.  If the code resolved to a website that didn't support mobile it looked bad.  A lot of the companies are coming back… and the sentiment is "look we dabbled, we found we didn't really know what we were doing... but we know something is here... can you help us?"
 
There are a lot of companies out there offering a free or low cost QR code site, but Wehrs said he was "not seeing much pressure from those guys -  "there is a place for free --- but when your brand value is tied to it, it might not be the best choice."

"Companies," he went on to say, "undervalue how close a QR code can get you to the customer.  There can be 35 to 40 data points every time someone scans something, from detailed customer demographic profiles to real-time location, time and historical data."  Wrapping up, Wehrs described the analytics and business intelligence that can be derived from a properly executed program as "absolutely transformative" -Scanbuy is the engine that drives the process, then it’s up to the retailer to set the rules that they want to happen.

One person could scan the QR code and get a response; the next person could scan the same item and get a different response based on the data points received.

The use of the technology is "an opportunity to unlock the creativity of the marketing people in these companies."  

Sounds pretty darn good to us!    

Click here to learn more about Scanbuy.   Be sure to download the free Scanlife app from Google Play or the Apple store

Written by Craig Aberle

Other articles about Scanbuy

1. 1. Mobile Barcode Trend Report Q1 2013

      (Mobile Barcode News)

      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 ...

      02 May 2013

   2. Free webinar -How QR Code Analytics Transform your Marketing Intelligence

      (Bar Code Blog)

      Scanlife is offering a webinar on how to use QR code analytics - details below: What: Learn about ways you can utilize scanning analytics to uncover deep customer insights and improve your marketing ...

      07 February 2013

   3. How Mobile and Social Loyalty Programs Can Work for Your Business

      (Mobile Barcode News)

      ... be used to drive customer loyalty from multiple media. Interestingly, mobile bar codes are penetrating different parts of the world. ScanLife processes scans ...  ...

      01 November 2012

   4. "Intelligent" QR Codes Jump Start Marketing Strategy

      (QR codes and 2D )

      ... scanned the QR codes most each month, and target them with a direct mail campaign. Coca-Cola recently announced a partnership with ScanLife, and the introduction of QR codes on all Coca-Cola Classic ...

      27 June 2012

When to verify bar codes?

 The question seems to imply that there are times not to verify, and that is not what I’m suggesting. It is always better to verify than never to, but there are good times and not-so-good times to do it. I know this from personal observation.

It is an amazing thing to be invited to a major retailer or their contract printer who has not been verifying the bar codes on their consumer packaging. But it is even more amazing to find that many major retailers are not requiring their contract package printers to verify.

When to verify? Any time is better than never

The best time to verify is, of course, before the bar code enters the retail channel.

It is better to detect a batch of bad bar codes and reprint them or over-sticker them before they get out and wreak all the havoc they inevitably will on inventories, including point-of-sale meltdowns and unhappy consumers.

But there is an optimum time to verify.

When to verify a barcode is when something can be done about improving performance if, for some reason, it isn’t performing as it should. And that time is the moment of conception, if you will, when the ink is going on the package.

I can almost hear readers say, “Well duh!” but  this is not always so obvious to a lot of otherwise very smart people in very large consumer product companies.

Maybe it's human nature; maybe verification seems like a small detail in comparison to all the much more earth-shaking issues and concerns they face; maybe it's complacency.

The most often-heard rationale for not verifying is, “We’ve never had a problem.”

When to verify?  Here’s a better way to think about it and talk about it with your contract printer.

When to verify? When it can make a difference

“You print our bar codes and it’s important to us – and to you – that they perform as they should. We are holding you responsible for them — do you understand?"

Here is what you must do to test them. Buy a verifier that is ISO/ANSI compliant. Buy as many of them as you need to test every bar code you print. Make sure you go to a vendor who will train you on how to use it.

Then use it—and be prepared to prove to us that you did. Do you have any questions?”

When to verify? When there is a risk to be managed

They may not like it, but they love to cash your check and they want to continue doing so. You’re not being a bad guy, you are just being clear about what you expect from them in return for your loyalty. You are managing risk and protecting not only your business but your vendor’s business too.

About Barcode-Test

A 30-year veteran of the bar code industry, John Nachtrieb and his company Barcode-Test help provide solutions for customers' bar code quality challenges. He assists product managers, package printers, and suppliers by managing bar code related risk, and supporting bar code integrity over the long haul. You can find more of his writing on bar code quality at the Barcode-Test blog.

See related articles:

The Most Common Cause of Barcode Failure - Having spent many years studying, interpreting and explaining the ANSI/ISO 15416-1 specification governing the quality of printedbarcodes, ...

Bar Code Hardware - Bar Code Verifiers - Bar code verifiers - sometimes confused with bar code scanners - work hard behind the scenes ensuring that printed bar codes can be read successfully virtually 100 percent of the time. Designed to measure ...

Bar Code Quality: Why You Need a Bar Code Verifier Instead of a Scanner - For many people, the term “scanning” has come to mean anything having to do with reading bar codes, including bar code verification. ...

Official Sources of specifications and informational guides

GS1 General Specifications - http://www.gs1.org/docs/gsmp/barcodes/GS1_General_Specifications.pdf

GS1 Bar code Implementation - http://www.gs1.org/barcodes/implementation

GS1 Pick the Bar Code Placement - http://www.gs1.org/barcodes/implementation#9

Getting Started With AIDC - Free white paper By AIMGLOBAL - http://www.aimglobal.org/?page=get_started

Barcode Quality Step By Step - Connecting the Dots from the Verification Report to Solving Your Barcode Problems - Free white paper by Barcode-Test

Assorted Bar Code Resources - http://barcode.com/assorted-bar-code-resources.html

Bar Code Printing Methods -http://www.gs1.org/barcodes/technical/bar_code_printing_methods

Useful links:  "Inventory Tracking Software"  "Barcode Scanners"   "Barcode Labels"

"Restaurant and Hospitality Software"

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This crossword puzzle was developed specially for the bar code industry. Click on each clue to see the full text displayed. (Full text will appear at the bottom of the crossword puzzle).  Answers involve companies, people, equipment, and more from the bar code industry.

 Written by Craig Aberle 

When choosing a bar code label printer for your business, it's important to remember that not all types of printers are created equal. While dot matrix, ink jet, and laser printers may be capable, at least in theory, of creating scannable bar code labels, in most cases questions about lifetime ownership costs, ease of use, and bar code quality arise. When bar code labels are printed, the tolerances are quite tight, with the width of bars, spaces, and quiet zones measured in thousands of an inch or mils. If bar widths are inconsistent or the contrast between light and dark elements is lacking, the bar code label won't be read.

That's why most companies use thermal printers for their bar code labeling needs. These printers are capable of printing one or a thousand bar code labels at a time, with the highest print sharpness and quality. And since bar code labels are needed wherever products are kept, printers must be able to stand up to harsher conditions than the normal office environment.
 

(Images, top and right  - courtesy of Zebra Technologies)

What to ask when shopping for a bar code label printer

Finding the right bar code label printer requires an individualized approach. These questions will help you look at your own processes and needs a little more closely.

-What's the expected bar code label print volume?
-Will labels be printed in batches or on-demand?
-What size label will be used?
-How important is print quality? What will happen if bar code label can't be read?
-If label requirements change, can modifications be made internally or will outside support be required?
-How often will bar code label printers need to be replaced or repaired?
-Can the suggested printer stand up to the environment where labels are needed?
-How much ongoing IT support and operator time is needed to run and maintain the system?

Now that you have a better idea what you're looking for in a bar code label printer, consider the two industry standards.

Types of thermal bar code label printers

Depending on the application, a thermal bar code label printer will use either direct thermal or thermal transfer technology to imprint the bar code symbology on the label. Here's a little more information about each type of thermal printer.

Direct thermal bar code label printers

If you've ever left a receipt from a grocery store or a gas station out in the sun and watched the paper turn completely black, then you've observed the results of direct thermal printing. Originally employed with copy and fax machines, direct thermal printing uses chemically coated paper, and is considered very effective for printing bar code labels. The print head consists of a long, linear array of tiny resistive heating elements (100 to 300 per inch), arranged perpendicularly to the direction the paper moves. Each print head element heats the section of the chemically coated paper directly below it. The heat produces a chemical reaction, causing a black dot to form. More and more dots form the complete bar code image.

Thermal transfer bar code label printers

Similar technology is used in thermal transfer printing as direct thermal, but replace the chemically coated paper with non-sensitized label stock and a special, inked ribbon. Coated with dry thermal transfer ink, the polyester ribbon sits between the print head and the label. The heated print head transfers ink to the label surface, where the ink dries and adheres to the label. Once the ribbon is peeled away, the bar code image remains.

Direct thermal v. thermal transfer

Both types of thermal bar code label printers offer advantages and disadvantages during the printing process. In contrast to most laser printers, both direct thermal and thermal transfer printers easily switch between batch and single-label printing without much waste.

Direct thermal printers provide the following benefits:

✓    Easy to use and require no additional supplies like ink, toner, or ribbon.
✓    Sharp bar code print quality that's easily read,
✓    Low long-term maintenance costs and total cost of ownership (TCO).
✓    More durable than dot-matrix or laser printers, meaning that they operate reliably in both industrial and office environments.

The chief drawback of direct thermal bar code label printers is sensitivity to environmental conditions, especially heat and light. The paper also remains chemically active after the printing process is finished, often requiring a top coat that resists UV light exposure, chemicals, and surface abrasions.

Thermal transfer printers offer many of the same benefits as direct thermal technology, including these:

✓    Produces long life image stability
✓    Thermal transfer technology prints on a wide range of media stock.
✓    Very durable, allowing reliable operation in industrial AND office applications.

Supply costs are higher for thermal transfer printers, as they require replacement ribbons. In many cases the ribbons are not recyclable like those of other printer types. And the printer media and the ribbon must be compatible to ensure optimal print quality, otherwise heat from the print head could possible melt the ribbon onto the label, ruining the bar code labels and causing potential internal problems with the printer.

Bar code label printers to consider

Now that you know a little more about what to look for in a thermal bar code label printer, here are some places to start your research.

(1) Zebra Technologies. Zebra offers the widest selection of bar code printers in the industry and supports them extensively with software, connectivity assistance, and supplies. Greater than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. Visit http://www.zebra.com/

(2) Datamax-O'Neil. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, this global company offers a broad range of industrial bar code printers, and provides stationary and portable label printing solutions, with over 1 million printers manufactured. Visit http://www.datamax-oneil.com/do/com/EN-US/index.cfm

(3) Intermec. Intermec offers industrial label printers for a range of applications, from commercial light volume to rugged, round-the-clock performance. Visit http://www.intermec.com/

(4) K-Sun. Founded in 1978, K-Sun Corporation is a unique source for custom labeling, marking, signage and industrial identification solutions and has numerous exclusive electronic labeling machines, software and supplies. Visit http://www.ksun.com

(5) CognitiveTPG. CognitiveTPG has been a worldwide innovation leader in barcode and transaction printer technology for the retail, healthcare, manufacturing, service, and financial sectors for more than 35 years. Visit http://www.cognitivetpg.com

For related articles:

Assorted bar code resources

Selecting the Right Bar Code Font for Your Bar Code Label Needs

Should You Print Your Own Labels or Buy Pre-printed?

 For more bar code printer products, click on the "Printers" link on the left hand side of the screen.

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More than 16bn transport and events tickets will be delivered annually to mobile handsets by 2018, according to a new report from Juniper Research, three times the volume expected this year. While adoption will be strong across a range of markets, volume growth will be driven by metro and bus deployments, most notably in the relatively untapped US market.

2D Barcode Solutions to Prevail

The report  - Mobile Ticketing Strategies: Air, Rail, Metro, Sports & Entertainment 2013-2018 - noted that SMS-based solutions had achieved particularly strong adoption across markets such as Sweden, where mobile now accounts for 65% of bus ticketing sales. However, it argued that app-based alternatives delivering 2D barcodes were expected to gain greater traction elsewhere as smartphone adoption increased and would account for the majority of sales within the forecast period in developed markets.

Upselling & Cross-Promotional Opportunities

Furthermore, the report highlighted that a number of companies across the transport and event ticketing sectors had recognised that mobile delivery offered the opportunity to add value to the ticketing process. It argued that integration of mobile ticketing platforms with loyalty programmes was key to customer retention, offered a means of upselling additional services and cross-promotional opportunities.

As report author Dr Windsor Holden observed, “The airline industry in particular has led the way in utilising mobile as a sales and loyalty channel. More than half of airlines are planning major investments in mobile over the next three years, employing mobile as a means of enhance customer self-service options throughout the end-to-end passenger travel process.”

Other findings from the report include:

·         Transport operators should consider issuing smartphones to staff for mTicket validation

·         The short-term opportunities for NFC ticketing are limited with a lack of implementation standards a key barrier to interoperability

The Mobile – The Dream Ticket whitepaper is available to download from the Juniper website together with further details of the full report and the attendant Interactive Forecast Excel, which enables clients to interrogate the assumptions behind Juniper’s forecasts and create alternative future outputs.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

For further details please contact Jon King

E: jon.king@juniperresearch.com

(Above photo courtesy of codeReadr.com)

  I'm ready for a QR code to be scanned a billion times.  It's going to happen and soon!    Read on, and find out why this is just around the corner, more or less.  This industry is nascent and has not crossed the chasm, in my humble opinion. But we're close and it's definitely going to happen in this decade.

  To date, QR code campaigns have not been blow out successes.   I've seen statistics say that 50% of smartphone users have tried scanning a bar code.  Maybe that's true.  I think that for the majority of those it was a one time thing.  They did not have an incredibly pleasurable or meaningful experience, so they never tried it again.

  Whatever it is that is going to cause the first billion scans will have to produce a visceral reaction. Neural pathways will have to be lit up as a result of the scan!

  What will be the content/fodder/stimulus?  What will provide the endorphins, good feelings?  Entertainment, amusement?    Well, sex sells,  and according to some statistics porn accounts for a good chunk of Internet usage, so maybe it will be a sex related video.  But you don't need a QR code to see sex on the Internet.  I did a quick check on that and I can assure you it's not required.   I think the QR code content or event is going to occur at or near the retail counter.
   The QR code will have to be disseminated widely - and retail can deliver.     Those who are old enough should remember the first McDonald's Monopoly game craze back in the 1980s.    People went nuts and stores ran out of the game pieces being given away with each purchase.   That was a blowout success!   If there was a QR code in the store, and you could scan it with your phone, the store could never run out.  Or perhaps the store could print it on a receipt (the Epson TMT-88V receipt printer can print QR codes) - so you would have to buy something to get a contest piece.  That probably would get us to a billion.   And it wouldn't have to be a billion scans of exactly the same QR code. You could have the receipt printer generate a variety of QR codes.   But it could work!     McDonalds serves about 60 million customers a day according to Wikipedia.   That means it could very easily hit a billion QR code scans in less than a month with an interesting contest related theme.  Once the user has scanned, and found out they did not win a prize, a smart marketer could invite them to leave their email address to receive a free consolation prize - like 50 cents off a soda.  (Hmmm - how long before someone is marketing an email list of everyone on the planet?)
     Or, how about a QR code that produced a different event every time it was scanned.  Users could scan it up to say fifty times per day and a computer server would at some point pick a winner.   Millions of people would be scanning day and night for weeks to get a chance at a prize!  

     Readers of this column and visitors to this website are often those involved in the bar code industry as well as bar code enthusiasts and bar code evangelists.  You people are on the frontiers of the bar code world, and probably will invent the campaign that is going to change barcoding forever!    Are your servers ready for those first billion scans?   YouTube's servers have proven that they are ready - and they deliver billions of megabytes per day.    What you deliver from your servers will have to be very modest in size.   Hint - don't screw it up - if your servers crash as a result of too many scans, it will reflect badly on all of us!    A campaign tied into a Facebook page could probably handle it. 

  The good news for the bar code world, is that during and after a blowout event like a billion scanned codes, consumer acceptance of scanning bar codes will soar to new heights (presumably, so will the value of this domain name :)).   Having had a stimulating and pleasurable experience with one QR code, consumers will want to try others to see what type of gratification they can find.

A few "first billions" we've seen lately:

The first billion views on YouTube by a pudgy-faced wannabe rock star singing about Gangnam style.   He's an Elvis in his own way.  There was something compelling about that video. I watched it a few times.   Hmmm, if he had only embedded a QR code link to his website in the video, he probably would have a billion hits on that site by now.

The first billion users on Facebook.  Truly a staggering event. 

The first billion smartphones.  This number was passed last year by all accounts, and we're more than halfway to our second billion.  

By the way, arguably, the first billion views of Psy's video occurred about the same time as the number of people owning smartphones crossed a billion.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.  I watched it for the first time on a smartphone after hearing about it from my 12 year old son.  Only later did I see it from my desktop. 

My prediction - we will see a QR code campaign hit a billion scans within 2 years. Smartphones are like viral gunpowder.  They are a chained combustible item and an explosion is easily shared.   They will be the tinder for the QR code fire. 

Readers - what do you think?  How long till we see a billion scans of a QR code?  

(A suggestion for marketers - when that code gets scanned, it should produce not only positive visual images, but a pleasing audio.  Something short and memorable.  A jingle perhaps, or a memorable series of tones - like the five from Close Encounters, or that tone you get from the slot machines in Las Vegas - it's just slightly hypnotic.   You kind of want the user to be pressing the button again and again to be fed, or in this case, to stimulate endorphins.   We need to get off on the content.)

Written by Craig Aberle

To create your own QR code, click here and use the software from one of our sponsors.

To buy a UPC type bar code, click here - they cost much less than you think.

To get a bar code printer or scanner, and other bar code devices and software, just look at the menu on the left hand side of the home page.

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Intelligent Instrumentation, the leading U.S. manufacturer of  industrial data collection terminals announces the release of its latest rugged, open architecture  terminal: the TIMEpoint Power.

The TIMEpoint Power combines the industry-leading Secugen biometric fingerprint sensor with Intelligent Instrumentation’s industrial LANpoint Power X Ethernet terminal.  This industrial  fingerprint reader is the perfect match for the long-lasting industrial features that come standard  with LANpoint terminals.  Features like an industrial XScale processor, solid state memory,

NEMA12 (IP54) drip-proof or optional NEMA4 (IP65) spray-down housing, extended operating temperature of -20 to 70° C – without troublesome moving parts like fans and rotating disks.

The TIMEpoint Power can be ordered in literally hundreds of different configurations to meet  your specific needs.  
For example, the graphic display can be enhanced with an optional touchscreen so employees  can more easily query and manage their own benefit balances and usage in a 2-way secure realtime kiosk setting.  The open architecture Windows CE 6.0 OS makes the TIMEpoint Power easily programmed via Microsoft Visual Studio. The industrial fingerprint reader increases  security and eliminates buddy-punching.  Badge readers can be added for barcode and/or  magnetic stripe and/or RFID proximity badges like the iCLASS and HID brands.

The TIMEpoint Power even collects employee clocking as a standalone terminal when there are network or server down-time issues and power glitches.  Power over Ethernet (POE) is available with or without the optional internal battery pack and local non-volatile storage can retain all data even through an extended power outage.

About Intelligent Instrumentation Inc.

Intelligent Instrumentation’s FactoryView is a family of products interfacing the machines, processes and operations of an enterprise to data management systems. For over 29 years, the  company has manufactured a complete line of industrial data collection and data acquisition products specifically designed for industry and manufacturing.

Contact Information: 

Bob Auman

B.Auman@instrument.com 

Intelligent Instrumentation, Inc.

6640 S. Bonney Ave.

Tucson, AZ 85756

Phone: 800-685-9911

http://www.lanpoint.com

sales@lanpoint.com

European Contact: Gilles Guez g.guez@rnsystemes.fr  Phone: +33.(0)1.75.21.21.33

Manufacturers, warehouses and distributors have a challenging situation when their barcode devices and rugged mobile computers are deployed to customer sites.  Since a company may not be able to mandate just how the barcode devices are connected to their corporate network, there is a requirement to manage the multiple device configurations for the handhelds.  Some use the customer’s Internet connection, others use a telephone modem connection, or new methods may be required such as cellular connectivity.

Mobile device management (MDM) is designed to allow companies to manage multiple device types and device configurations through the use of device group.  A company can manage all the devices that use direct Internet connectivity in one group, those that utilize cradle modems in another, and those that may require a combination of both in yet another.  The benefit is that the configuration is managed at the highest common level rather than at the device.  Therefore a device can be reassigned to a completely different configuration by simply adding it to the appropriate group.

In addition to the issue of connectivity, a company’s customers are a cross-section of users; some are quite technical, while others have no interest in technical matters, some are too busy to be bothered by technical issues, and others are quite needy. Soti MobiControl and Supply Chain Services have designed a solution which allows help-desk staff to make trouble-shooting as pain-free as possible.

Supply Chain Services utilized MDM features to create a solution which is simple enough for any customer who can "tap" on an icon, and yet powerful enough to allow help-desk staff to eliminate software and configuration problems in only a few minutes.

Supply Chain Services has been able to overcome the problem manufacturers have in persisting not only the operating environment (i.e., firmware) on the devices but the fully functioning production environment on the devices.  Storing the fully functional production environment on the device, can be accomplished using an additional SD-Card, however maintaining that configuration to the latest levels is not something that can be done without a tool like MDM.  Every time the software is updated, every time a configuration change is made, the MDM administrator need only update the appropriate package or rule, and apply it to the device group.  The next time the device connects to the company network, the production image can be updated with the most current version.  Whether the device connects daily, weekly, or monthly the newest configuration will persist on the device.

Years of help-desk experience with handheld device support has proven that spending too much time diagnosing software, and configuration issues is inefficient.  Supply Chain Services has added into its solution the ability to restore the factory default software and configuration environment with a single “tap” of an icon.  After a reboot the device is returned to an “out-of-box” condition, they simply “tap” the production environment icon and after a few minutes the device software and configuration will be restored to the same configuration as all the other devices in the same device group.  This effectively eliminates software and configuration as being the end-users problem.  If they are still experiencing issues (typically with connectivity) the help-desk staff can focus on physical connection issues, or the hardware itself as having a problem.

The MDM solution also ensures that the data the customer collected before having an issue is safe.  Should the device have issues which require the device to be restored to factory defaults and back to the fully functioning production environment, the order data will still be there for their use, eliminating the frustration of repeating all their work to create the order.

Another unique issue is the ability to overcome was persistence of the password for the connection back to the company’s network.  Securing the password eliminates the need to provide the customer with the password for connectivity during the trouble-shooting process, sealing a potential security breach in the network.  This is a custom solution, however the deployment of this solution is made possible because of the MDM command-line features.

At the end of the day a company’s IT department can spend more time on business issues because with MDM they use remote control to take care of configurations, updates, and problem solving support for barcode devices. It provides the utmost in security to prevent unwarranted intrusions into their networks. And amazingly it can all be performed without needing to be an IT expert.

Article By Ken Boyd

Ken Boyd is the director of marketing at Supply Chain Services, a value added reseller of barcoding equipment. His experience in the high tech industry started with a 12 year career with IBM, then marketing positions at ROI Systems and Epicor Software. He is a subject matter expert and avid blogger for barcoding systems topics. More information about Supply Chain Services can be found at www.supplychainservices.com. 

According to a recent study, on average, inventory represents approximately 15% of total firm assets for public U.S. firms. If you think the cost of your inventory is merely the amount you pay for the items, it won’t take long for you to discover the truth. Running an inventory-focused business means there are some hidden costs not everyone is aware of.  These can include the cost of the space used to warehouse the goods, the cost of insuring them, costs of periodically counting them, shrinkage, breakage, obsolesence, handling of the items, opportunity cost (what you could be earning with the money you have invested in inventory), etc. So, how do you really know the true cost of inventory?  

First, we need to address the elephant in the room – carrying cost. The use of this vague term is incredibly deceptive; it gives a false impression that the cost of holding inventory is one big sum and that little can be done about it. According to the IMS Business Academy, inventory carrying costs are expressed as a percentage of the average dollar value of inventory over a fixed period – usually a year. As a rule of thumb, inventory carrying cost is 25% of a company’s average inventory investment, but when you tally up all the relevant carrying costs, it can run as high as 40% or more. This is understandable, but it perpetuates the false impression that you have little power over the total – you do. Breaking down and identifying each separate cost percentage allows you the opportunity to rein-in those costs and allows you the opportunity to significantly impact your bottom-line – one single bite at a time.

Below are the four, broad categories of inventory carrying cost with descriptions and real-life examples to help you take control over your inventory:

• Capital Cost. Your company’s capital cost is what you spend on carrying inventory, and includes two factors: inventory financing charges and opportunity losses.   Arriving at your total inventory financing charges should be easy and straightforward – this is either the interest lost on the cash used to purchase inventory or the interest paid on a line-of-credit used to purchase inventory. Opportunity costs include both the opportunity missed because your money is invested in obsolete or under-performing inventory, and the opportunity missed for ALL money invested in inventory. Implementing an inventory management solution is a low cost and extremely effective method of identifying obsolete, overstocked or underperforming inventory.

  Example: Maxim Integrated Products’ found that deploying an inventory management solution brought quick results. “Once we deployed an inventory solution in all eight stock rooms, and all 14,000 parts were labeled with barcodes, we discovered we were housing parts that we didn’t need to keep in inventory. As a result we sent those parts back to the vendors or to one of our other U.S. manufacturing sites, reducing the overall cost of our own inventory and freeing up a lot of cash and space,” said Javier Saenz, of Maxim Integrated Products. That freed-up cash can now be invested in a myriad of ways: research and development of new products, additional staff, or monetary investments like mutual funds or money market accounts.

Your capital cost should be the largest portion of your total carrying cost and should typically range between 6-12%.

• Inventory Service Cost. Service costs include insurance to cover your inventory and taxes paid to both local and federal government. Although the idea of purchasing insurance is not sexy, it is a decision that could make or break you. You need to evaluate the various, available premiums and the value of what you are insuring. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Do you want to cover your items at the depreciated value (actual cost value) or do you want to pay a higher premium that would cover full replacement cost?
2. What risks are you taking by purchasing cheaper coverage?
3. You should also evaluate the possibility of loss because of theft or natural causes. If there is likelihood your inventory is attractive to those with access and opportunity, or if your warehouse is geographically located in an area prone to natural disasters – then you need to pay the higher premium. Find other ways to cut costs.
4. Taxes are unavoidable. You do have the ability to decrease taxes levied by decreasing your total inventory. According to logistics expert, Martin Murray, many local authorities tax the level of inventory in the warehouse, so higher levels of inventory will lead to higher taxes paid. Taking the time to effectively manage stock level will have a definite impact on your tax rate. An inventory management solution provides all the necessary information needed to decrease unnecessary, duplicate stock.

Example: Pensacola Junior College’s Warrington Campus was able to significantly decrease stock after implementing an inventory solution. Instead of 5,000 pieces of inventory scattered around campus, the department slashed inventory by 65%, and now stocks just 1,750 items in two centralized supply rooms - for both dollar and time savings.

• Storage Space Cost. Storage space costs include all fees associated with renting or purchasing space to store your inventory: rent or mortgage, lighting, heating, air conditioning, janitorial services, equipment upkeep and all of the costs included in the handling of your inventory. Inventory needs a place to sit and it doesn’t put itself on a shelf. Whether you own the space or rent, you are still paying monthly to store your product. Your inventory also determines the space you need and whether you require specialized storage equipment. You will need to consider the cost to secure your facility. Security systems – low or high-end – cost money and many insurance policies require this securing of your inventory. According to Hurlbut & Associates, these expenses may also be made up primarily of wages and benefits, but may also include the depreciation or expense on hand-held radio frequency (RF) units, and other related equipment, as well as any miscellaneous expenses directly related to your inventory control team.

• Example: The Ambient Monitoring group eliminated tens of thousands of dollars in wasted time and significantly improved its inventory process by implementing an inventory management solution, including, up to $30,000 per year of time saved that was formerly used searching for parts, over $6,000 per year of time saved that was formerly consumed by managing and replenishing the stockroom and better use of inventory dollars. Now, the Ambient Monitoring group stores a broader variety of items and an ideal number of each part. Needed items are always on hand, eliminating delays in equipment repairs. Overstock has also been eliminated, ensuring that a wider and more effective mix of parts is always available.

  Your carrying cost for handling (including clerical tasks and cycle counting) will range between 3-8% and your carrying cost for warehousing and storage will range between 2-5% (9 Proven Tips to Control Your SMB Inventory).

   
  • Inventory Risk Cost. Holding inventory inherently comes with risk, and you need to acknowledge the potential cost. Product you carry, that has not yet been sold, is a gamble. If you carry inventory that quickly depreciates in value or quickly becomes obsolete, there is considerably more pressure to turn-over stock. If you’ve miscalculated the need for an item, and your turn-over is slower than expected, you could be carrying inventory that has lost a large percentage, or worse, all of its value. This inventory mismanagement significantly impacts your risk cost. The potential for inventory obsolescence is the greatest portion of your inventory risk cost with a range of 6-12% of your carrying cost. Included in your total risk cost is inventory shrinkage and damage. Inventory shrinkage is the loss of products between the point of manufacture or purchase from a supplier and the point of sale. The term shrink relates to the difference in the amount of margin or profit a retailer can obtain. If the amount of shrink is large, then profits go down. While most shrinkage is attribute to theft, other causes include administrative errors, vendor fraud or cashier and price check errors.

  According to The Global Retail Theft Barometer, published by the Center for Retail Research, the estimated annual retail shrinkage in North America was at 1.58 percent in 2011, representing a dollar loss of $45 billion.

   

  Example: Orthopedic Solutions, a third-party consulting service, found their clients lost a significant amount of inventory specifically to inventory shrinkage. Clients had a hard time tracking inventory. Manual tracking was slow and increased the amount of errors in data, on top of that, inventory was misplaced or lost – they had a huge inventory shrinkage issue. After implementing an inventory management solution, Orthopedic Solution’s clients reported a 90% decrease in inventory shrink.

  Why worry about inventory management at all? The lack of proper management will result in a loss of revenue. Stocking items customers don’t want or having a shortage of the items they do want all lead to your inability to provide prompt, quality customer service.

  You will be at a significant disadvantage if your competitors are able to out-market or adopt emerging technology more quickly than you. Level the playing field by reclaiming the costs associated with poor inventory management and reinvest in your business.

 

 

Written by Brian Sutter of WASP Barcode Technologies.

About Wasp Barcode Technologies: Wasp Barcode Technologies headquartered in Plano, Texas, manufactures barcode software and solutions. Solutions include barcode scanners, barcode printers, inventory software, asset
tracking, time and attendance systems, Point of Sale (POS) Systems and a range of barcode labels and barcode accessories.

Ever Wonder How to Put Barcodes on Your Products?

Putting a bar code on your product involves several steps;

     1 - having a barcode or creating one.

     2 - choosing the right place to put the barcode

     3 - choosing the method to affix or print the barcode

     4 - having a perfect image of the barcode itself

    Lets take these one at a time.    

1.   If you are producing items that will be sold in retail stores and you need bar codes for those products, you will have to buy them somewhere.  You cannot just make up your own barcodes. (Example - your company is going to product various types of funny t-shirts that tourists will buy,  in different colors and sizes and sell them through local stores in your town.)    Click here for instructions on how to get a bar code.   

If you intend to use the barcodes for purposes only internal to your business, then you may be able to print your own barcodes.   An example of this would be a serial number that goes on a product you are using. Each serial number bar code will be different and you want to print them out yourself.   

2. Where to put the barcode - Are you going to the barcode on the product itself?   This can be complicated.   If the product is say a circuit board that will go inside a computer, then the barcode will need to be very small and resistant to heat - it will probably be necessary to have these barcodes printed by a company that specializes in such a thing.    On the other hand, if the barcode is going to go on the outside of a box, you may be able to print these yourself, perhaps using a dedicated barcode printer and/or barcode software.   If the boxes are going to be exposed to long periods of sunlight, or extreme temperatures, be sure you get labels that can withstand such factors.   Labels for jewelry tags may sit in display cases where temperatures can easily get into the high 90s or even over 100 degrees.  

 3.  As mentioned in part 2 above, barcode labels may require special adhesives.   If the barcode is to be used for tracking fixed assets - like desks, chairs, file cabinets, computers, or construction machinery - you will want bar code labels that will not come off and will not be easily destroyed.   There are many companies that can provided barcode labels made out of metal, with permanent adhesives that can withstand extreme temperatures.  

It is often worthwhile to purchase a dedicated barcode printer to produce quantities of labels cheaply and without trouble.   There are many types of label printers and some can be found in the Products/Barcode printer section of our website.   Generally these are easy to use and fit right on your desktop.

For large quantities of labels, or for printing barcodes on tags, wristbands and other interesting places - a specialized barcode printer is the best method.

4. Have a perfect barcode image - there are very precise specifications for the creation of barcodes.  What you can create on your own computer and printer may not meet those specifications.  If you are putting your products into the retail environment, they will have to be able to be scanned by hundreds of different types of barcode readers.   Therefore the actual printing of the barcode should be done by a specialist who will test the barcode with a special device to ensure it is 100% accurate.    

If the barcodes are simply to be used in your own company, you can easily print some yourself and then test them.  It is highly recommended to test the barcodes before you print thousands of them.   Plenty of people have gone and printed barcodes without ever testing them, only to find that eventually, for some reason, the barcode was not readable.   Always test your barcodes before you put them on things.

To try creating your own barcodes, click on this link:  Make a barcode.

Written by Craig Aberle

If you liked this article, try some other articles in our Learn Section.

YouTube Video's that illustrate how to make labels and bar codes:

1. Create a QR Code for business cards

2. QR Code for Signs and Flyers

3. Create a UPC Bar code

4. Make sheets of bar code labels

You may also enjoy:

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

Retailers using Android and iOS devices for mobile business management now have a new tool in Point Inventory Count. The software, developed by New West Technologies, allows users to count, assign, analyze, post, report, and update inventory in real-time from multiple devices. Point Inventory turns smart phones and tablets into intelligent counting devices for barcode scanning and point of sale (POS) updates to a central management interface that the company has named Control Point. This interface enables users to manage counting devices, make inventory exceptions and corrections, run reports, and update inventory easily and efficiently.

Beyond simply counting inventory, the software also allows the user to quantify inventory value. This is crucial to small- and medium-sized retailers who may rely on seasonal sales. According to the company’s website, the reports generated can help analyze business performance, inventory turns, merchandise replenishment planning, shrinkage and price management in response to fast or slow inventory movement. All count data is stored in the cloud and is accessible from any browser, anywhere.

Features include real time data sync to the online system, an intuitive user interface, custom scope counting with cycle counting capability, and data connector for Microsoft Dynamics RMS and export compatibility with many POS and ERP systems, including Quickbooks.

Point Inventory was designed to be intuitive, user friendly, fast and portable for business and retail operations. With a crossover platform compatibility for all Android and iOS mobile devices and tablets, all reports are accessible in real time, allowing retailers with multiple stores to compare performance, rotate stock and analyze profitability on the fly.

Control Point is the heart of the system. It allows users to define the scope of the count using filter criteria and parameters including a specific location, a specific supplier, department, category, price range, type or any other custom filter criteria. Because the software is built as a seamless integration between the mobile device and the Control Point, no data is lost in the event of a disconnection.

According to the company, every aspect of the control panel was designed with the user in mind. Feedback from customers pointed to a need for a reduced ramp-up time, integrating workflow to the navigation, and posting data back to the POS or ERP application.

The intuitive navigation options conform to the menus users are already familiar with on both Android and iOS applications, from app download to simplified installation and menu selections. The app, now available on Play Store and iTunes, downloads and installs in less than 20 seconds, and can be found on the Google Play store.

Features include real time data sync to the online system, an intuitive user interface, custom scope counting with cycle counting capability, and data connector for Microsoft Dynamics RMS and export compatibility with many POS and ERP systems, including Quickbooks.

For more information about the Point mobile inventory system including video demos, visit www.getpointmobile.com.

( Click on the video to watch it.)

About New West

Founded in 1992 in Portland, Oregon, New West Technologies is a leading integrator of retail POS software solutions and Microsoft Dynamics Retail products. The company is a full-service technology provider with extensive experience in small business computer networking and retail software development and installation. For more information, visit newestech.com/pos-solutions/mobile-inventory.

By Suzi Harkola

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