What Can Beeping Barcodes Do For My Business?

We all know how useful barcode scanners are

We all know how useful barcode scanners are. Cashiers use them every day. We see them every time we enter a grocery store, computer store, or other big box retail outlet. These scanners are everywhere, but not many of us know what do they do, or what types of scanners there are.

Our basic lack of knowledge of this technology leads us to believe that their cost couldn't possibly be justifiable for a small business. This is too bad because barcode scanners keep track of inventory and aid in sales and returns, but they can do even more. They can keep track of time and attendance. They can track assets and help with data entry.

In short, if something has a barcode on it, it can be tracked. That is not all. There are several different types of scanners on the market today. There are laser scanners, wireless scanners, cordless scanners and even little pen scanners.

The laser type are the most prevalent. The laser light shines down on the barcode and measures the amount of light reflected back. The data is then read and processed by software to let the user know the details of the code.

Wireless and cordless barcode scanners are essentially the same thing. These scanners do not need to be plugged into a computer. They send signals via a WIFI connection to the computer. The benefits of these units are numerous. Wireless types use less wires which results in less cluttering of counter tops and cabinets, and they are not limited by the length of a cord.

Little pen scanners are amazing and ideal for data entry. They read and display text and barcodes on a computer screen as if the user typed in the data manually. They can reduce the time it takes to process paperwork exponentially.

Time and attendance data of employees can also be tracked via this technology. The person is handed a name badge with a barcode. When the employee arrives at work a code reading time clock scans the barcode and records the time of arrival, departure and breaks. This greatly reduces the time it takes to process payroll, and ensures that payroll is accurate.

There no guessing whether an employee wrote a four or a nine on their time sheet, and since the data is all electronic, there's no paperwork. All the payroll processor has to do is double check the entered data and print the checks.

The cost of barcode scanners has also become affordable for the small business. The prices range from as little as fifty dollars to a few hundred dollars, depending on where the code scanner is purchased and the installed features. The cost can be justified given the reduced amount of paperwork and man hours needed for that paperwork, accurate payroll record keeping, and accurate and instantaneous inventory and asset tracking.

In short, investing in a barcode scanner or multiple barcode scanners increases productivity and reduces overhead. Both of these advantages can increase profitability for nearly every small business.

by: Judy Hendershot

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