Beginner’s Guide to Barcoding

Barcodes save your employees a colossal amount of time, cost and effort. Here is a brief guide to the efficiency and importance of barcoding.

Importance of barcodes

A barcode design is a visual form of data representation. It is a simple format that makes it easier for machines to read complex data. A barcode consists of parallel lines with varying widths and spaces. The code is scanned by an optical scanner, also known as a barcode reader.

Benefits of barcodes

A barcode design is typically used to checkout products at a retail store. It’s a universal system that was first developed in 1973. It is a form of automatic identification that captures data quickly and efficiently. Barcoding systems are simple, universally available and affordable to maintain.

Identifying items by their barcodes helps to speed up processing at checkout lines. The cashier does not have to read the ISBN number or type it in manually. Shoppers buy the items they want and get out of the checkout lines quickly.

Barcoding helps store managers to track which items enter or leave the store. This tracking system is designed to reduce the problem of shoplifting. At some stores, items whose barcodes are not scanned will beep at the door. So, it’s difficult for people to remove items illegally from the store. Some shoplifters have chosen to create their own barcodes, but most of them do not put in this amount of effort.

Reducing human error is another benefit of barcoding. Entering the data manually is tedious and tiresome. An overworked cashier is prone to make mistakes. The risks of errors increase every time you type in new data. On the other hand, barcodes are automated and always correct.

Managers may use barcodes to identify their customers and improve their marketing campaigns. This system makes it easier to identify people without requiring to see their ID badges. It also adds a personalized touch to their marketing efforts. Marketing managers are able to better understand the customers’ shopping habits and individual interests. When the shoppers check out, they can immediately receive product discounts and in-store offers.

How to create a barcode

There are many websites that allow you to generate your own barcode design for free. You can design and print your own barcode using online software. The first step is to choose your design from a list of selections. Then, you need to set up your barcode system by using your barcode design, a barcode reader and inventory or management software to store the data.

Next, test your barcode. You can do this using your own verification equipment or contact a verification provider. Not testing your barcodes is not recommended as poor-quality scanning is a waste of time and money that reduces productivity for your store clerks.

Last, print your barcode design on stickers or strips of paper. Place the printouts on the items that you want scanned.

In a second or less, you can identify every product, customer or employee in the store. Barcoding tools are effective at helping your business save time and money on overhead costs.