Monthly Archives: June 2017

A Barcode Breakdown

There are perhaps no innovations as ubiquitous as the barcode. From supermarket checkout counters to the warehouses where all types of businesses store and move the products we buy, barcodes are intricately involved in nearly everything we do. Beyond its usefulness and versatility, what makes the barcode a particularly interesting innovation is that most people don’t think of it as an innovation at all. If asked to list the most important innovations to their daily lives, few people would have the black and white barcode bubble up in their mind. Their attention would probably turn toward computers, cell phones and other pieces of technology apparent throughout their house; they wouldn’t think to look at the barcodes on these items or the barcodes on the boxes and containers of food their pantry. Barcodes are in this sense an innovation that has made and continues to make other innovations possible. With the rise of data analysis tools, the use of barcodes is also increasing. New industries like healthcare are seeing businesses and organizations buy and rent barcode equipment in order to collect data and reap the insights that are now available. With the use of barcodes going up, it only makes sense that everyone’s knowledge about barcodes should increase as well. Here is a basic breakdown of exactly what a barcode is and how it works.

 

The Bars

 

Understanding barcodes begins with considering how they got their name in the first place. To some degree, barcodes are literally codes made up of bars. Anyone who has ever glanced at a barcode knows that the bars are black and white, but only a closer look reveals that the black and white bars are actually each of different lengths and widths. Even if you have looked close enough to see the difference in the lengths and widths of the black and white bars, you still might not understand exactly how it works. What happens is that the barcode reader “reads” the lengths, widths and spaces between the barcodes in order to identify the unique “bar code.” A computer either internal or external to the barcode reader translates the unique bar code pattern into numbers. There is a certain pattern that equals “0,” a certain pattern that equals “1,” etc. Most barcodes are known as linear codes, which mean they’re meant to be read from left to right in a straight line, just as you would read the words on a page.

 

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The Numbers

 

We just learned that the pattern of the bars on a barcode is translated into numbers by a barcode reader. Don’t confuse this with the actual numbers that are usually included below the bars. This number is usually the UPC (Universal Product Code) of a product. There is a single number at the beginning, usually 0, that indicates what type of numbering system the code is using. After that comes a series of numbers known as the manufacturing code, which indicates what company or company division made the product. Thus, two products from the same company will often have identical manufacturing codes, at least for the first few numbers. Then comes the item reference numbers, which is the code that identifies the specific product. That’s right; each specific product has its own number. So, just by looking at the numbers below the barcode, we can tell what country’s number system it uses, who manufactured it and exactly what product it is.

 

The System

 

Just whose job is it to keep track of all the codes? Believe it or not, there is an organization that does this. There is an international barcode standards organization called GS1 that coordinates all the UPC codes across the globe. Some countries have developed their own system, but for the most part this international group tracks every single product bought and sold at every mall and market from Minneapolis to Mozambique. Barcodes are truly a universal language.

 

 

 

Inventory Factors To Consider

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, as the saying goes, and it turns out it is a saying that is just as applicable to supply chains. When most outside observers think about the links in a supply chain, they think in terms of broad categories like production, shipping and inventory. Of course, a glaring problem with any major aspect of a supply chain, such as those previously mentioned, is going to dramatically diminish the functioning of the overall process. What those who follow supply chains more closely understand, however, is that each broader category contains within it a series a series of sub-categories and sub-processes that are also crucial for the overall success of the entire supply chain.

 

Considering each aspect of a supply chain at such a micro level is important for several reasons. A breakdown in a major area such as shipping is obviously problematic, but it is usually such a glaring issue that it will receive the immediate attention it needs in order to get things back on track. By contrast, a problem with a small aspect of shipping, such as inefficient communication between a supply chain manager and a temporary trucking company manager, may be a subtle inefficiency that goes unnoticed for months or years at a time. Over the course of such an extended lifespan, a slight problem can build up even more long-term consequences than an obvious disaster. With that importance of attending to details in mind, here is a look at a few factors to remember that can affect the overall quality of an inventory system and thus the overall quality of a supply chain.

 

Staying Organized

 

For a type A, hyper-organized personality, there are few things more satisfying than setting up or analyzing a warehouse categorization system. Warehouses often hold tens of thousands of parts, a scale that requires a thorough, effective system of organization in order to locate what’s needed when it’s needed. As an example, many warehouses employ a categorization system referred to as ‘ABC classification,’ wherein the pieces of the inventory are given an A, B, or C label based on factors like the item’s value and the level of documentation that it requires; items given an A designation may be the most valuable and have the most documentation required in the event they need to be moved. There is more than one way to implement an inventory categorization system, and some are more conducive to different inventory sizes. Whatever system is used, it should be simple and easy to understand—and not just for one expert warehouse manager. To promote growth and efficiency, new people should be able to quickly learn the classification system.

 

Tools Of The Trade

 

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Though warehouses don’t seem like a hub of modern technology, using the latest technology is a surprisingly vital part of modern inventory control. Inventory tracking hardware and software, which collects usable data by scanning inventory barcodes, is one example. Many businesses with smaller inventories choose to rent inventory scanners for this purpose. Integrating mobile technology through a warehouse management system and upgrading conveyor belt-based shipping systems are other ways a warehouse can improve its inventory control processes.

 

Relationships

 

While tech is important, old-fashioned personal relationships are also a vital part of warehouse and inventory management. Maintaining strong working relationships with each shipping supplier can help maintain success and efficiency. Often, a warehouse management system can be programmed to track supplier performance (by a number of different metrics such as communication and scheduling). This allows warehouses to assess the performance of each supplier and potentially provide incentives and consequences based on performance. In this way, new technology and old-school business practices need to stay competitive in today’s inventory game.

Trade Show Badge Essentials

Most business sales and marketing, these days, takes place without any face-to-face interaction. One of the last stands of in-person business networking is the trade show. Of course, like everything else, even the face-to-face, in-person sales and marketing aspects of a trade show have been automated in recent years. The trade show transition online, however, is perhaps a little more subtle than in other areas of business. In fact, a lot of trade show modernization is found in an unlikely little place: the trade show badge. Trade show badges were once an afterthought of the trade show experience, a way to introduce oneself before getting on with the real business. Now, the trade show badge is a more integral part of the experience. This is because trade show badges can now be barcoded with vital data and information; they can then be scanned using a tradeshow badge scanner and have this vital data and information stored for later use and follow up. The value of data makes this data collection and follow-up process a more crucial aspect of a successful trade show than it has been in the past. So, exactly what are the key elements of a trade show badge that makes it such a great tool for businesses? Here is a look at the essentials.

 

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Contact Information

 

Contact information relayed by trade show badges isn’t just limited to name and company. They also frequently display the wearer’s status at the event, whether they are an exhibitor, attendee, buyer, member of the press, speaker, student or have some other designation that can be useful for sales, marketing and/or networking purposes. Not only does this allow businesses to be more selective in speaking with their target audience on the day of the trade show, it also allows the follow-up process to be more efficient and effective as follow-up communication can be customized and tailored based on different groups of people engaged with at the show. Of course, the individual’s name and company are also displayed on the badge.  Attendance tracking, which is keeping track of names, titles, locations and company affiliation, also streamlines the follow-up process and helps businesses remember each interaction they had at the trade show and maximize its potential.

 

Barcode

 

What makes storing all of this information possible is the barcode on the badge. This may be a standard barcode but may also be a QR code. It is usually located in the center of a trade show badge. These barcoded badges are only possible at a well-organized event that pre-registers attendees, solicits their contact information and assigns it to a specific barcode. Often times, trade shows are businesses in and of themselves, so it behooves them to be as organized as possible to be more conducive to conducting business both at the show and in the future.

 

Equipment

 

The missing link between the barcoded badge at the event itself and the valuable data it stores that can be accessed and used later is the tradeshow badge scanner. A highly-organized event with lots of motivated buyers isn’t as useful as it could be if the vendor doesn’t have a scanner to collect the information on the barcoded badges. After it’s collected, trade show vendors also need the right software to store and transfer the information. Scanning a badge might seem like a silly process at first, but any vendor who has experienced a successful trade show follow-up campaign understands that the scans bring serious value.

 

Are Smartphones Smart For Warehouses?

There’s no denying that smartphones have changed the way we communicate. On a personal level, it’s never been easier to quickly get in touch with people and to quickly execute a range of everyday functions—from banking to getting driving directions—all from phones that are getting smaller and more capable seemingly by the day. Of course, the increasing functionality, portability and efficiency of smartphones also means they’re changing the way many businesses function. Many of the smartphone facets that have changed our personal lives have the capacity, if scaled and adapted properly, to similarly change the way we do business.

 

In some ways, smartphones offer functions specifically relevant to the business world. One such function is their increasing ability to work with barcode technology. Smartphone apps are being developed that function as mobile barcode scanners, with the capacity to scan barcodes in order to store and transfer their data. When most people think of barcode technology and barcode scanners, they might think of supermarkets or the retail industry more broadly. While barcode technology has certainly been a growing part of the retail industry, it has also been a significant part of increasing efficiency within the manufacturing sector. As smartphones are increasingly able to scan the barcodes used by warehouses, how are business leaders within the manufacturing sector best able to gauge whether smartphones might be a good option for their situation? Here is a look at some factors to consider.

 

Range

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In a warehouse setting, it is vitally important that a barcode scanner have the necessary scanning range. Many barcode scanner and inventory scanner rental options come equipped with an impressive range that warehouses are comfortable with. To this point, the consensus seems to be that the range of most smartphone barcode scanning apps is not yet up to part with the hardware that is designed specifically for the purpose of scanning inventory. Before eschewing regular barcode scanners completely in favor of smartphone scanners, make sure the smartphone scanning range is going to work for your warehouse.

 

Speed

 

Warehouse scanners also need to be able to scan quickly. Not only do they need to scan quickly, they need to be able to scan barcodes that are potentially difficult to read due to being smudged or dirty. Anyone familiar with warehouses understands that the environment isn’t the same as a clean, quiet office. To realize the economic and efficiency benefits that come with a barcoded inventory system, it is important that a scanner be able to move quickly through the inventory. Smartphone scanners are making progress as far as speed goes, but it may still limit your ability to use them for a warehouse, especially for relatively large inventories.

 

Cost

 

While the range and speed may limit your ability to use a smartphone scanner in the warehouse, the cost may be one variable in the smartphones’ favor. Considering the cost of a phone or tablet, a protective carrying case and the scanning app itself, there may be some cost savings when compared with a traditional barcode scanner. Renting barcode equipment may be the answer, getting all the power and efficiency of actual barcode scanners & varying equipment, at costs significantly lower than purchasing. Though it depends significantly on the nature and quantity of your inventory, a smartphone scanner may be something to consider even if it’s only as a supplementary tool.