Barcodes were first used in a commercial setting in the mid-1970s when a single pack of chewing gum was scanned at a supermarket in Ohio. Despite their relatively humble beginnings, barcodes have completely revolutionized the way that businesses perform key tasks such as selling products, tracking inventory, and cataloging supplies.
As you might guess, a barcode scanner is a special device that is designed to be able to scan barcodes on products or supplies. These scanners come in a couple of different forms. Some of them are designed to remain stationary while products are swiped past them. You can see these scanners at just about any grocery store. They are installed in the checkout counter with a clear window above them. As products are moved past the window, the scanner identifies and scans the barcode. Based on the barcode that is scanned, the price and name of the item are then registered and added to the other products that the customer is purchasing.
Handheld scanners are also quite popular. These scanners are small enough to be carried around, making it possible to scan products while you are on the go. They are ideal for tasks like tracking inventory since you can take them around the warehouse or store with you, scanning items along the way.
You can also find these small, handheld scanners at grocery store check stands. Clerks use them to scan large items that are too big or heavy to move out of the cart or to lift up onto the checkout counter.
Barcodes can be used in a variety of different situations. Most of us are familiar with the way they are used in a retail environment. However, they can also be used in other settings. For instance, did you know that many libraries use barcodes to track their books? This provides a quick and convenient way to monitor and catalog all of the books in the library.
According to IRC, the primary benefit of using these scanners is that it can dramatically improve efficiency. Instead of having to manually type information about each product into a cash register or computer, you can simply scan the product instead. This can dramatically reduce the amount of time that you have to spend on each product, resulting in far greater efficiency.
These scanners can also help reduce mistakes. If you are trying to type in numbers by hand, human error is inevitable. When you scan a number, however, the machine is far less likely to make a mistake. Of course, like any other system, there are glitches that can happen. For the most part, however, using barcodes is a great way to ensure accuracy.
Using a barcode scanner can provide your business with a number of benefits. Whether you work in a retail environment and are looking for a way to speed up the checkout process or you have a lot of inventory that you need to track or catalog, using barcodes can help make the process quick and easy.