Rapid Prototype Blog

Posts Tagged ‘handheld barcode scanners’

The first thing you will need if you have decided you need handheld barcode scanners for your business is your budget.  These handheld devices can vary enormously in price and you don’t want to buy scanners that either perform functions you don’t need, or those which fail to satisfy your business’s needs now and in the future.

You will also have to decide if you need a laser scanner or a charged-coupled device commonly referred to as a CCD scanner.  The latter is the latest technology and is more able to read today’s barcodes.

Barcode readers have been around since the late 1940s, when they were designed to read a special ink that included ultraviolet dye.  Technology has improved greatly since those days and the advent of wireless or handheld barcode scanners has improved efficiency, both at the checkout counter and in the stock room.  They are increasingly being used in libraries and hospitals, and the same technology is used at toll booths, where a car can simply drive through and the owner debited or billed monthly for using the road. 

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For use in a stockroom or warehouse, where goods are stacked high, a wireless barcode scanner can be used for stocktaking and inventory purposes.  The device must be durable and not break if dropped onto the floor, so look for durability when purchasing barcode scanners for this purpose. 

If there are many thousands of items to count, which happens when supermarket floor inventory is performed, the barcode scanner should also be lightweight and comfortable to handle, so the operator does not get a sore hand or arm after a short time.

Can the scanner be upgraded in the future to keep up with changing technologies?  Far too many electronic devices cannot be upgraded, rendering them completely useless if better technology is introduced, so it’s a good idea to check – it may save your company thousands of dollars.

Check how easy a barcode scanner is to use and program.  Purchasing the wrong kind of scanner may involve training staff to use them and complicated programming, which will lead to decreased productivity and extra expenditure.

There are hundreds of different kinds of handheld barcode scanners to choose from ranging in price from to over 0 each, so it is important to make the right choice.  You may also need to check if they come with stands if necessary, or a means of attaching them to a belt for warehouse workers.