Barcodes might not be the newest technology on the block, but they are growing in popularity thanks to their simplicity and versatility.
Barcodes are helpful in a number of applications, whether it’s administering medicine in hospitals, ringing up groceries, or upgrading a supply chain management system to reduce holding costs.
Implementing Barcodes Is Easier Than Many Companies Think
Some businesses still use a primitive pen-and-paper system, especially smaller ones. Often, they don’t realize just how easy it is to make the switch to barcodes. This means they are missing out on the many advantages barcodes boast over manual processes.
One important metric that barcode use can improve is accuracy. According to estimates, Excel spreadsheets have an average of one typo for every 300 characters; the error rate for barcode scanners is one out of every 36 trillion. These mistakes can be quite costly and have a tremendous impact on the bottom line.
Another benefit is accountability. Barcode systems can help keep track of assets and inventory to make sure items do not disappear. They are not only helpful in retail but also in sectors such as advertising, entertainment, finance, education, and medicine.
Barcodes can also help businesses use their time more efficiently. They eliminate the need for employees to waste hours looking for zombie assets or misplaced inventory.
The possible applications for barcode systems are countless. Whether it is for basic tasks such as tracing inventory movement from the raw material state to the final products or more complex jobs such as tracking the productivity of employees, barcode technology can transform a business with relatively little investment and without employees needing to learn complicated systems or undergo extensive training. In fact, businesses can even create their own barcodes to keep costs down.