subject: Barcode Reader Manufacturers – What Does the Future Hold? [print this page] Barcode Reader Manufacturers What Does the Future Hold?
Barcode readers, in the few decades that they have become important devices in the barcode systems, have greatly revolutionized the world of information and data management. While it's true that newer and more advanced data carrying technologies have been developed in recent years, barcode readers are still used in various sectors extensively.
The undiminished use of barcode readers is due to the fact that barcodes still satisfy the requirements of many users such that they have no justification to change to the more advanced and expensive technologies of reading encoded information. This continued popularity of barcode scanners has assured the profitability of barcode reader manufacturers.
The development of effective barcode readers has enhanced the widespread use of the barcode system. For decades, the widespread use of barcodes was hampered by the problems in quality of barcode labels as well as the capability of the available readers. When a reliable set of devices to support the system was developed, various industries and businesses began to enjoy the accuracy and efficiency of using an automated identification system. For a while it was predicted that barcodes would be significantly replaced by Radio Frequency identification (RFID), which makes use of radio waves compared to barcodes which is based on optical technology. However, the contrary happened and demand for barcode readers even grew, such that barcode reader manufacturers continue to get orders for the product
The continued demand does not make the barcode manufacturers complacent. To keep abreast with the new developments, the manufacturers of barcode readers keep on innovating to continually support their customers' needs. Thus, they have come up with other variations of barcode readers such as the camera based barcode readers, scanner-based barcode readers, and the CCD barcode readers.
Other barcode reader improvements are the capability to scan numeric barcodes and barcodes of inconsistent lengths and widths.
Innovation has helped the manufacturers of barcode readers to hold on to its place in the automated information systems. It is becoming clearer and safer to say that barcode technology can maintain its place alongside the newer and more advanced technology because of the availability of universally applicable symbologies. Some of the established barcode reader manufacturers such as Intermec, Symbol, American Microsystems Argox, Opticon and others have created reputations that will ensure their stable and bright future in this industry. More innovations that will make their products responsive to the needs of their customers will be the best assurance of the bright future of barcode reader manufacturers.
