A barcode scanner is a great took for small business inventory management and can help with a number of aspects including stocktaking, stock organisation, and knowing when you need to reorder items.
Before deciding on the best barcode scanner for your business needs, it’s important to know what you are going to use it for and exactly what it does.
There are different types of scanners too. The best barcode scanner for you might be wireless or bluetooth enabled. There are lots of options to choose from and in this post we are going to highlight the main things you should look at when making your decision.
How To Choose The Best Barcode Scanner and Software
When looking at barcode scanners, there are a number of main features that you need to consider.
Barcode Scanner Hardware
This is the first item to consider. Barcode scanners typically have one of three types of scanning hardware.
Laser: This is the most popular scanner type and it uses a laser to read the barcode.
Linear Imager: This is similar to a laser scanner but it can only read 1D barcodes by taking a picture of the barcode and then analysing the information contained in the image.
2D Area Imagers: These scanners work like linear imagers except that they can read stacked and 2D barcodes. They can also scan in any direction.
The type of products you want to scan will determine the type of barcode hardware you need. If you are using UPC codes then a laser scanner might be the best barcode scanner for you. If you use stacked barcodes then you will need to choose a scanner that has compatible hardware. If your business holds stock in the likes of an industrial warehouse, you might be looking to invest in an industrial barcode scanner. We have all the different barcode scanners available on our site, but before you go over there, let’s look at the different elements that will help make your choice easier.
Barcode Scanner Software
Most barcode scanners don’t require any specific software or drivers to be installed to send the information they acquire to your computer. There are however some specialty barcode scanner apps that can read barcodes and decode them for you. Some of these apps will let you do a stocktake using a barcode scanner. The one thing you need to make sure when choosing the best barcode scanner for your business is that it’s compatible with the software you use to manage your inventory.
Barcode Scanner Portability
It is important to keep in mind the size of the barcode scanner. If you want portability you should look for one with wireless connectivity. Remember too, that not all cordless barcode scanners are created equally and some will function without being tethered to a power source but might not transmit data wirelessly to a central database. If you need to capture data and update your database on the go a bluetooth enabled barcode scanner will be best.
Our Best Barcode Scanner
We have a number of exceptional barcode scanners from our partner Datalogic, depending on your requirements from simple hand helds to industrial barcode scanners which work in rugged conditions and extreme temperature and can be used in manufacturing facilities that are exposed to dust. Be sure to check out our full range of Datalogic barcode scanners.