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Barcode Scanners- Everything You Need To Know

Handheld Barcode Scanners is one of the most recent innovation in making POS or point of sale scans as well as to instantly gain access to specific files in a database. So how exactly does a barcode scanner work? This contraption comes equipped with a light source, light sensor and a lens which is responsible for interpreting the optical impulses to electrical impulses. It reads the barcode image as the light flashes on it and transmits the interpretation to the output center, commonly a computer screen or a cash register.

Among the most common brands in the market for the Handheld Barcode Scanners nowadays are Symbol, Metrologic, Wasp, Adesso, TS, PSC, CCD, CK1, Intermec, Trakker, Datalogic, Standard and Informatics. Though there are a number of brands available, they come with different features for each piece. The weight alone vary, some weigh as little as 9 ounces while others weigh up to 3 pounds. Some are slim while others are more bulky, there are also some which are connected by USB ports and wires while others are wireless and are connected via Bluetooth. For Handheld Barcode Scanners which are wireless, the hand held scanner is powered by a battery; each fully charged battery can scan up to 20,000 scans or can stay on for up to 30 hours. The standard line or range is one hundred and sixty feet; although for some models, there is still room to be able to scan and store outside these lines for one to twelve inches away from the boundary by using the memory mode. For those models which are connected with wires to a station, these can normally extend for up to 5 feet which makes moving it around easier than that with a very short cord. These hand held scanners are now more usually featured with a plug and play feature via a USB plug; this will enable one to instantly connect the scanner to the port station without having to install it with a separate software.

If one is to consider purchasing one of these Handheld Barcode Scanners, there are a few factors to consider to be able to make a wise decision. They would have to first identify the purpose of its use for them to be able to make the right decision. The first thing to consider should be what type of bar code will be scanned; there are two types; the 1 Dimensional and the 2 Dimensional barcode. A one dimensional barcode is that which is most common; these come in a series of vertical bars of different densities thus forming a rectangle. However, for codes which require more information, these are the 2 Dimensional barcodes which looks quite different and may seem like a small pattern, sometimes come in boxed images. The orientation of how the barcode will be scanned is another factor; the most common Handheld Barcode Scanners are those which have linear beams; this is only effective when the scanner has been positioned to be perpendicular to the barcode. The other type is the omni Directional scanner; this is where the scanner is effective in scanning barcode regardless of the orientation of the barcode—may it be horizontal, diagonal or vertical, it will still be able to read and interpret the bars. If the scanner will be used in a specific station much like that of a check out counter, they can opt for the standard scanner which are wired and ported; however, for more versatile needs such as back room or inventory scans, the wireless version or the Bluetooth and memory mode featured scanners would be a better fit. Both the warranty and guarantee of the product will play an essential role in purchasing a scanner; if it will be used in a small scale purpose or business, an extended warranty or those up to 5 years or so may not be required; however for handheld barcode scanners which will be used in industrial environments and will require a huge number of scans and storage needs, those models with specified warranties which extend for long periods of time may be more essential.

Copyright (c) 2009 Chris John

Finally, If you are looking for the cheapest and most advanced and durable handheld barcode scanners currently on the market with optimum performance specifications then check out this handheld barcode scanners list for a comprehensive items list of different handheld barcode scanners to compare the prices and choose the cheapest and best ones with the specifications that suit your business most!

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But do what does your company really need? A fully-fledged custom warehouse management system can track everything from stock location, warehouse activity monitoring and user activity tracking, whereas asset management software is more focused on managing assets and/or inventory through a barcoding system. Warehouse management software and asset management software can be a great way to keep track of your assets and inventory, but it all begins with assessing your needs and requirements.

Warehouse Management Software

As the name suggests, warehouse management software encompasses a large part of your logistics operation, from tracking products from your suppliers, its storage and user interaction to its final destination. This process is accurately and closely monitored by a barcode scanning system that can identify products and receipts that need to be logged and eventually tracked from the warehouse management system itself.

If your business is involved with the delivery stage of the product, consider an automated service where the delivery route is planned according to multiple delivery points in any given delivery service. This will typically be implemented when goods are picked for delivery, a real time saver since loading personnel will first of all be able to choose the correct stock that will be selected on a certain day and then locate the stock according to its inventoried state.

As you can see, it’s a highly integrated approach that relies on correct user input and reliable software that will bridge each stage of development. Of course, this centrally managed warehouse system is even more valuable when you have multiple warehouses. As a result, web-based warehouse software is a much more attractive option in that different warehouses can store and retrieve information based on real-time inventory information – especially effective when you can synchronise data with existing products, such as Sage or QuickBooks.

Inventory Management Software

Where warehouse management is (usually) a seamless mesh of integration, an asset management system controls just one aspect of logistics – the assets (and inventory) of your business. A barcode scanner will usually be the interface of choice for most companies, although this is set to change with the advent of RFID tagging. Either way, stock or assets are managed through a central system much like warehouse management software and can be tracked at their different stages in the supply chain.

Wasp Barcode, the barcode scanning company, distinguishes assets as products which are used by the company and may need to track their assets based on who has them etc. Inventory management, on the other hand, is much more fluid in its operation since this is incoming (from suppliers) and outgoing (to customers) stock. In their line of products, then, asset tracking software is all about locating assets whereas inventory management software is basically tracking the input and output of stock in a business.

Despite this distinction in product type, if you need to track stock accurately (probably a requirement of most successful businesses!) and even want to update your customers with current stock levels (common in the case of e-commerce), then inventory management software is really the only way to go to ensure quality and efficient stock taking.

Which One?

When it comes to choosing, the most obvious difference in the two types of stock management is scalability. If your company is involved with picking stock from a supplier, storing in a large facility, selling to customers and delivering the goods, then warehouse management software is certainly a wise choice. On the other hand, small businesses might choose asset management software in conjunction with barcode scanners to maximise their stock management accuracy, ultimately reducing the time and cost for unnecessary deliveries and customer dissatisfaction.

Handheld Barcode Scanner Guide (http://handheldbarcodescannerguide.com is a great resource for everything on pda barcode scanners, laser barcode scanners, warehouse management software and much more!
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