Barcode Scanner Software for optimising your Inventory Processes

Chances are you either use barcodes as a customer or scan products as a worker. Barcodes have become an integral part of businesses with varying quantities of inventory, from white goods through to groceries. When starting a business, state of the art software can speed up workflows, manage industry guidelines, track sales and track inventory. Barcode scanner software is one of these systems that can be of great advantage, if you choose the right one.

 

The many benefits and uses of barcode software

While it may just seem like an easy way to count and scan products during the point of sale, there are actually a lot of benefits to barcoding, even if you aren’t customer facing. If your business requires any of these tasks to fulfil workflows and duties, you’ll benefit from barcode scanner software.

 

For warehouses

Thousands of inventory items add up, and whether you’re a grocery store, a retailer or industrial business, the organisation of stock is imperative to efficient workflow. If you manage warehouses with various stock, you will likely need barcode systems to track everything.

 

Vendors/retailers require barcodes

If you deliver your products to other vendors, they’ll have their own workflows and barcoding systems, meaning when they partner with other businesses, they’ll want appropriate systems in place. If you have matching software, and barcodes ready, vendors can both track delivery, manage stock and determine the supply and demand of each product.

 

Maintaining barcoding inventory

Variants and diversity in stock can lead to a whole lot of barcodes, and when you’re tracking and managing the stock of these unique products things can get overwhelming. For SKUs with variants, you can better organise quantities in categories, meaning you won’t have to scan every single unique code.

There are many pain points to inventory management, but the right software can help you manage a better workflow with better structures. This not only helps organise stock but ensures accountability across all departments.

Types of barcodes

There are three main barcode groups, all which suit varying industries and needs.

• Numeric

These are one-dimensional codes that are made of a combination of numbers. These have the recognisable black bars of varying sizes.

• Alpha-numeric

These have a combination of numbers and letters, usually necessary with a large inventory.

• Two-dimensional

QR codes are scanned to check-in or check a ticket, they come in a square or rectangle with a combination of lines and dots. You will find these at ticketed events and festivals, plus hospitality that requires check in.

 

Implementing your barcoding software

One thing to consider when implementing barcodes is what exactly you need to include on the barcode. If you work with smaller numbers of stock or have unique names for stock, you will likely want specifications in digits or words, such as the size, colour or brand of a product. This should be paired with the barcode combination, so you cater to the people stocking or serving, and the software tracking the product.

 

Ready to optimise your inventory tracking?

The team at Barcode Labels have delivered innovative stocktake and tracking solutions for a range of clients for over 20 years. With this extensive experience, we deliver unique solutions and understand the need for innovative and state-of-the-art software. To get started, call us today on 1300 369 513.