Barcodes have revolutionized the way businesses track inventory, sales, and shipments. However, ensuring the accuracy and quality of barcodes is crucial for maintaining supply chain efficiency, customer satisfaction, and industry compliance. Barcode verifiers are the solution to these challenges, as they can help businesses avoid costly errors and improve efficiency.
What is Barcode Verification?
Barcode verification is the process of checking the accuracy and quality of a barcode to ensure that it meets industry standards and can be read accurately by scanners and other devices. Unlike a barcode reader, which simply reads the information stored in a barcode, a barcode verifier uses advanced technology to analyze the structure, size, and readability of a barcode, and it provides a detailed report on the quality of the barcode.
Barcode verification typically involves scanning the barcode, analyzing the image to determine various parameters, comparing the parameters to industry standards or specifications, and generating a report with a grade or score indicating the quality of the barcode. Barcode verification is essential for businesses that rely on barcodes for tracking inventory, sales, and shipments, as inaccurate or unreadable barcodes can cause delays, errors, and lost productivity in the supply chain.
Why is Barcode Verification Important?
Imagine a retail store that uses barcodes to track its inventory and sales. One day, a shipment of new products arrives, and the store’s staff begins scanning the barcodes to update the inventory system. However, some of the barcodes are unreadable, and the staff members have to manually enter the product information into the system. This process takes longer than usual, and the staff becomes frustrated and stressed. As a result, they make mistakes, and some of the products are entered into the system incorrectly.
A few days later, customers come into the store looking for the new products, but the inventory system shows that they’re out of stock. The store’s staff doesn’t realize that the inventory system is incorrect because some of the products were entered incorrectly due to the poor quality barcodes. The customers are disappointed and frustrated, and some of them may decide to shop elsewhere.
As a result of this incident, the store experiences a loss of sales, lower customer satisfaction, and increased staff stress and frustration. Additionally, the store may have to spend time and resources manually correcting the errors in the inventory system, which can further impact productivity.
How to Choose the Right Barcode Verifier?
Choosing the best barcode verifier for your business can be a daunting task, but it’s essential to ensure that you’re getting the best value for your investment. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a barcode verifier:
Accuracy and readability: The most important factor to consider when choosing a barcode verifier is its accuracy and readability. Look for a verifier that can read all types of barcodes, including 1D and 2D codes, and that has high accuracy rates.
Industry standards compliance: Ensure that the barcode verifier meets industry standards and specifications. For example, ISO/IEC standards specify the requirements for barcode quality, and a verifier that complies with these standards can ensure that your barcodes meet industry requirements.
User-friendly interface: Look for a barcode verifier with an intuitive and user-friendly interface that’s easy to use and doesn’t require specialized training.
Reporting capabilities: The barcode verifier should generate detailed reports on the quality of the barcode, including the parameters measured, the grade or score assigned, and recommendations for improvement.
Cost: Consider the cost of the barcode verifier and whether it’s within your budget. Keep in mind that a high-quality barcode verifier can be a significant investment, but it can also provide a significant return on investment by reducing errors, improving efficiency, and increasing productivity.
Customer support: Look for a barcode verifier with excellent customer support, including technical support, training, and maintenance services. A good support system can ensure that your verifier is always functioning optimally and that any issues are resolved quickly.
By considering these factors, you can select the best barcode verifier for your business, ensuring that your barcodes meet industry standards, are accurate and readable, and contribute to your overall supply chain efficiency and productivity.
Questions?
SSE Technologies has been a supplier of barcode verifiers since they were first introduced in the 1990s. Our application personnel have extensive knowledge of all of the manufacturers including: Axicon Auto ID, RJS Technologies, Omron / LVS / Microscan.
Contact SSE Technologies if you have questions on barcode verification and we can help you find the right solution for your application and budget.
