Inventory Software Barcode Scanners- What They Are and How to Use them

What is Inventory Management?

Inventory management is a key task that every organization has to perform to keep its business running smoothly. It helps organizations keep a close eye on their stock on hand. Tracking stock utilization, depreciation, depletion, reordering, purchase, over-portioning, as well as vendor management, demand planning, demand forecasting, and stock wastage are all part of this process.

Although managing inventories is a laborious task, no firm can ignore it. However, modern technology can ensure that inventory management is made easier, quicker, and more precise than conventional, manual techniques.

Inventory management is a close kin of supply chain management since it involves the acquisition, storage, processing, shipment, and sale of both raw materials as well as finished goods. Modern software allows organizations to precisely track inventory coming in and out of storehouses and points of sale.

The main goal of inventory management is to prevent a business from failing to fulfill orders due to stock depletion, and from ending up with superfluous inventory that consumes precious storage space and money. What organizations, therefore, seek to accomplish is robust inventory control.

What is Inventory Software?

Inventory software is a computer application that automates the management of stocks. Inventory management software enables owners of businesses to monitor stock levels and promptly arrange orders when supplies run low. Smart software helps determine the precise quantity of goods needed for efficient production, avoiding unnecessary purchases and wastage of resources as well.

With the help of inventory management software, it is possible to quickly view stock levels on a mobile device and initiate appropriate action. Stock-taking is easier with modern software than it is manually, or with the help of spreadsheets.

Furthermore, using barcode scanners makes inventory counts faster, simpler, and less labor-intensive. Users can also count products with the help of voice search tools.

In order to provide an organization with all-around benefits, smart inventory software can be integrated seamlessly with other systems of business management like point of sale, customer relationship management, demand planning, and supply chain management systems.

Organizations in the foodservice industry can utilize inventory information to anticipate sales, plan purchases, manage orders and vendors, make decisions about ingredients and menu items, and choose the stores in which they need to invest more.

Additionally, cloud-based inventory solutions enable business owners to track stock data on the go and at any given time. Furthermore, any mobile handheld device can be used to access the data. Multiple users can also simultaneously access inventory data.

What are Barcode Scanners?

A barcode scanner is a tool used in inventory control and item tracking. It is made up of a lens, an illuminator, and a sensor, and can be linked to a stationary or portable computer through a wire, or wirelessly through Bluetooth. By directing light on barcodes/QR codes on item labels, a scanner can read information about the product.

The scanner's sensor measures the beam that is reflected by the barcode and converts optical impulses into electrical energy. This energy in turn is converted with the help of the decoder into comprehensible information and transmitted to the inventory management software running on the mobile/computer device. The information appears as text that is easy to understand.

The ability to fit huge quantities of data into a tiny product label is a significant benefit of a barcode inventory system.

How is Inventory Done With Barcode Scanners?

A barcode-based inventory management system is a highly sophisticated system with specialized alpha-numeric or numeric codes known as barcodes at its core. These are usually printed on labels attached to products.

One-dimensional or 1D barcodes are made of vertically-running alternate black and white lines, while two-dimensional or 2D barcodes are made of complex patterns. The latter is also known as QR codes.

Product information contained in barcodes and QR codes includes product category, price, weight, manufacturing date, name of the manufacturer, use-before date, geolocation information, email address, etc. QR codes, in this regard, contain a far larger quantity of information than simple barcodes. The beauty of these codes is that a huge amount of data can be squeezed into very little space.

This information is interpreted by scanning the codes with a barcode scanner. This gadget reads information from the space between the bars in a barcode and can also read 2D codes like QR codes and data matrix codes.

Your mobile camera can also work as a barcode/QR code scanner that picks up encoded information and sends it to an app downloaded on your mobile device that translates the data into a comprehensible form.

Types of Barcode Scanners

There are five major types of barcode scanners.

1. Pen wand- The most straightforward and affordable barcode reader/scanner is also extremely durable. It contains no moving parts, requires direct contact with barcodes, and operates at a specific angle to collect data. The speed at which the scanner must pass over the barcode is specified.

2. Slot scanner- Objects are to be pulled manually through a slot on this stationary scanner. Barcodes on cards are often scanned using a slot scanner.

3. CCD scanner- This is a charge couple device scanner. It is frequently utilized for retail operations. It has a longer range compared to pen wands and has a gun-shaped interface. To accurately record inventory data, many readings must be obtained while holding the device in close proximity to the barcode. These devices have the drawback of only being able to read codes whose breadth corresponds to the size of the barcode scanner's face.

4. Image scanner- Since it employs a tiny camera to capture a picture of the barcode, this device is also known as a camera reader. This scanner has the advantage of possessing digital imaging processors and being able to read barcodes located up to nine inches away.

5. Laser scanner- A laser scanner can also read barcodes without being in close proximity to them. It can be fixed or handheld. With the use of mirrors and lenses, these scanners can operate from up to 24 inches away. They can also read barcodes irrespective of their orientation and can undertake scans at a rate of up to 500 scans a second.

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Top Scanner-based Inventory Apps

1. Zip Inventory
This Hubworks product is among the most advanced inventory solutions available today. Owners of bars and restaurants can directly monitor stock levels on the Zip Inventory mobile app thanks to shelf-to-sheet stock counts. Additionally, customers can conduct stock counts using the voice search function of the app by simply uttering item names aloud. Barcode scanners can be combined with the Zip Inventory software to make inventory management simple and accurate. This program instantly syncs stock information with the cloud, allowing operators to monitor their business in real time using any mobile device and from any location. Furthermore, the app's reports on cost of goods sold (COGS) and variance allow business owners to monitor shifts in F&B expenses, pinpoint issues that result in losses and identify Cost Reduction measures.

2. AccuBar
This bar inventory software uses scanners and portable devices like tablets and smartphones to count supplies and 'empties' (empty and reusable liquor bottles). It also helps bars maintain a comprehensive wine inventory list. Reports based on inventory data offer operators guidance on how their operations can be enhanced. These reports assist companies in calculating crucial indicators such as variance, pour cost percentage, etc, which help lower losses and improve employee accountability. Most bar point of sale systems and other back-end software programs can be integrated with AccuBar. With the use of this program, barcodes can also be generated for products that don't already have them.

3. Fishbowl
This software has all the capabilities required to streamline inventory management and expand a business. It is a top software option for a medium or small business. Barcode readers are relatively simple to incorporate with this software. Moreover, Fishbowl delivers easy connectivity with numerous important business applications like Adobe, QuickBooks, Amazon, Shopify, and Salesforce. Notable features of this program include barcoding, inventory control, material requirements planning (MRP), job shop floor control, work order management, projecting inventory needs based on sales patterns, and raw material management. Business operations can be improved, efficiency can be increased, and expenses can be cut with Fishbowl's real time updates.

Barcode Inventory FAQs

1. How do barcodes work?

A. Barcodes use visual patterns that can be read by machines for encoding product data. They are made up of a collection of vertical black and white lines that represent various text characters. If the order of the bars is altered, a new text would emerge. Barcode patterns are read by a scanner, which then decodes the data and transforms it into text that can be easily understood.

2. How small can you make barcodes?

A. 2D barcodes may contain squares measuring just 1/8th of an inch. A smaller barcode will be able to store a smaller character number. If the codes are too small, high-resolution label printers would be required to produce them so that they can be read easily by scanners.

3. Do barcode scanners need special software?

A. Barcode scanners can operate without any special software. Computers perceive scanners as common input devices because they resemble keyboards while entering data.