Wireless Barcode Scanners: Step up Your Scanning Game and Improve Efficiency aLittleBitOfAll
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Wireless Barcode Scanners: Step up Your Scanning Game and Improve Efficiency

Wireless Barcode Scanners: Step up Your Scanning Game and Improve Efficiency

Barcodes and barcode scanners are everywhere. They’re used in retail stores, in social media apps and even on event tickets! Barcodes don’t just identify individual products; they provide businesses with an amazing amount of information which helps them track inventory better than ever before so, and improves productivity and efficiency among staff. In this day and age, barcodes can be found almost everywhere- but exactly are they?

Barcodes are composed of lines and shapes that represent specific information about the product such as measurements, and the white space between them contain more in-depth details like production location or quantity in inventory. This information is readable with a cordless barcode reader, which scans the barcode, sends it to a computer software system and displays a visual of everything the code contains.

Investing in a barcode scanning system for your business will bring you a multitude of benefits, so maybe it’s time to let modern technology give you a helping hand in running a successful company.

Why Do You Need a Wireless Barcode Scanner?

using wireless barcode scanner on phone
source: totinfoaidc.com

A wireless barcode scanner, at its essence, is a piece of equipment used to scan a barcode on a certain item or product in order to retrieve the information embedded in its pattern.

The device is made of three key components: the illumination system, sensor, and decoder. The illumination system, or simply the laser, scans the pattern of the barcode and the sensor produces an analog signal that is sent to the decoders. Once the signal reaches the decoder, it gets transformed into a text containing all of the information of the code. This creates a database for all products in inventory. Apart from bettering inventory, barcode scanners include benefits like:

  •   Increases efficiency- These easy to use devices keep an extensive inventory list, which helps detect what are your best-selling products or even help you see which products need to be removed from inventory. Research has shown that using a barcode scanning system can increase efficiency in inventory by 200%. This results in better customer service and a fully stocked inventory at all times.
  •   Allows free movement- When using a wireless scanner, employees can move around the area unobstructed and scan inventory without having to haul the items to a scanning machine. Plus, without the presence of cords, you decrease the chances of injuries or unwanted entanglements and damage to the equipment.
  •   High durability- The scanners are made to be used in setting where there is a lot of movement and traffic, so their durability levels are higher than regular scanning computers. Their high-grade materials ensure that they can withstand a lot of impact without enduring damage, so you won’t have to buy a new one so frequently.
  •   Prevents human error- When using a wireless code reader, you minimize the chances of human errors during encoding the data. The employee will never need to manually enter data, which means they can focus on more important tasks like customer service or preparing products for shipping instead of spending their day encoding incorrectly scanned information.

Types of Wireless Barcode Scanners

man using a wireless barcode scanner
source: radley.com

The market for a cordless barcode reader is pretty extensive, but picking the right one depends on various reasons. How much information do the barcodes hold? From what distance will you be scanning? How many scans a day will you be making? The answers to these questions will help you determine which is the right scanner for you. With that being said, let’s go over the different types of wireless readers and learn exactly what the product entails.

1D Scanners

One dimensional laser scanners are the first generation of this device. They were invented for the simple linear barcode, which consists of basic vertical lines. 1D scanners work in the way that they bounce back information using light waves- much like how we read books now with our eyes! They are rarely used now, since barcodes have become more complex and hold up more information.

These scanners have evolved with age and branched out into variations such as 1D laser scanners and 1D linear imagers. The difference between the two is that the laser scanner is more affordable but only works in close proximity to an undamaged barcode, while 1D linear imagers work even on greater distances. This scanner takes a photo of the barcode and converts the image into data.

2D Scanners

2D scanners or area imagers take advanced photos of a 1D or 2D barcode, optimize the image and decode all of the data. 2D barcodes contain up to 2,000 characters of information, because they have a more complex code pattern and can be read horizontally or vertically. Area imagers are the most optimized variation of wireless barcode scanners, as they work in distances up to 3 feet and can even scan photo images and QR codes.

Area imagers work best in a fast-scanning environment, as they cut down manual labour and improve the overall performance. In addition, they are made to withstand more handling, therefore, more durable and will pay off in the long haul.

Maintenance Tips

Using a wireless scanner has become a daily occurrence for most businesses, and that makes them prone to damage and breakage. To prevent having to buy a new one every few months, here are some great maintenance tips that will prolong the life span of your scanners.

First, always put the handle strap around your wrist and secure it tightly. This will ensure you won’t lose grip of the device and have it flying across the room next time you try to scan a little too fast. Plus, you minimize the risk of displacing your device or leaving it in inappropriate conditions.

With that being said, never leave your scanner in extreme heat conditions or in any location that is exceptionally damp or dusty. If the scanner doesn’t provide protection from these conditions, they can easily damage any component inside or out. Be very mindful of where you leave your device.

Lastly, to prolong the life span of your scanner even more, you have to learn how to clean it properly. Don’t use any harsh cleaning products and just gently clean the dust on the screen and reader. You don’t have to remove any parts for cleaning as that can affect the integrity of the scanner and it won’t function properly. Follow these basic steps and you won’t have any issues with your wireless scanner.

Stephanie Tierney
tierneystephanie1@gmail.com