Monthly Archives: July 2017

Your Handy Guide To Barcode Software

While most people do not give much thought to the barcode equipment that scans their items at the grocery store, or scans their tickets at the movie theater, the truth is that these are very sophisticated devices that run on cutting-edge software. While the world of barcode software may be an uncharted one for many people, this wonderful software makes so many aspects of our lives more convenient. If you are curious about this amazing technology, and would like to know more about how it can make your life more convenient, read further. This article will serve as a handy guide to barcode software.

The Uses Of Barcode Software

Barcode software can be written – and used – for a wide variety of purposes. To name a few: barcode software is used to track inventory, manage assets, track attendance (an important function for tradeshows and exhibitions), and scan tickets. The preceding list is certainly not comprehensive; there are many other functions that barcode software can be used for, and creative minds are coming up with new uses for barcode software every day.

How Does It Work?

At this point, you might be thinking, “OK, all of this sounds really cool, but how does this stuff actually work?” Great question! Like other software, barcode software needs to be programmed into a device—in this case a barcode reader or scanner. A good barcode equipment vendor will likely have a team of data gurus who can program this software for you. The amazing this is that this programming can often be customized to meet your specific needs: you are not limited to a “one size fits all” program. That being said, you can purchase a pre-packaged software program, if that meets your functional requirements.

Renting Barcode Software

One important thing to note is that you are not necessarily required to purchase barcode software in every case. Barcode software rentals are an increasingly popular choice for people who need the software on a temporary basis. This includes event planners and organizers. In most cases, renting barcode software does not mean that you have to sacrifice the customization and programming expertise mentioned above: barcode software can still be set up and customized for rentals. The actual equipment – such as barcode scanners and readers – that the software runs on can be rented as well.

Technical And On-Site Support For Your Barcode Software

For those of us who are unfamiliar with a given program or software, expert guidance is often needed. Fortunately, when purchasing or renting software, you have the opportunity to take advantage of customer support—both technical and on-site. Technical support is where a customer service representative helps you troubleshoot issues with your barcode software (or correct user errors), so that everything can run smoothly again. On-site support is where a representative from the software vendor provides expert guidance on how to best use the product. Take full advantage of these opportunities: they can help you get the most out of your barcode software and equipment.

Tips For Using Barcode Equipment At Tradeshows

Tradeshows and barcode equipment go hand-in-hand. Many of the essential administrative functions that are performed at tradeshows – such as attendance tracking, data collection, and ticket scanning – can be automated using barcode software and equipment. Automating these processes can save time and prevent bottlenecks. For this reason, the tradeshow scanner has become an essential tool for exhibitors and event planners alike. If you are considering utilizing barcode equipment for your next tradeshow or expo, there are many factors that you need to consider, and tips that you should be aware of. Below is a helpful guide for making the most out of barcode equipment at your next event.

tradeshow-scanners

Know What Your Needs Are

There are many different types of barcode equipment, and the equipment that you will need depends on the functions that you wish to carry out at your tradeshow. For this reason, it is a good idea to sit down and think about the tasks that you would like to automate, before shopping around. This will help you focus and zero in on the products that are right for you. For instance, there are barcode readers and software that are specifically designed for attendance tracking. On the other hand, if there will be any ticketed events at your tradeshow, you will want to invest in ticket scanning equipment. You can also obtain equipment to print tickets, if that is required.

Know That Help Is Available

Barcode software and equipment can run the gamut from the relatively simple to the highly-sophisticated. Again, the type of equipment that you purchase will depend on the scale of your event, as well as the automated functions that you wish to perform. Whatever type of equipment you purchase from your vendor, you should rest assured that help will be available to you. Barcode equipment vendors often provide customer service and technical support, so that any issues that arise with your software and equipment can be quickly and easily resolved.

Taking that concept one step further, some vendors even offer on-site support. On-site support involves more than just troubleshooting and repairing issues: it involves a technician who works directly with you and your event staff to ensure that you are getting the most out of your technology. Such services might include helping you download leads and emails for exhibitors, badge printing, generation of attendance reports, conference tracking assistance, as well as data collection and scanner maintenance. Take advantage of these services: using this support effectively will help take your event to the next level.

Renting Is An Option Too

Many people don’t realize this, but you actually have the option of renting barcode equipment as well. This is a great option, if you only need barcode equipment in the short-term. In most cases, the customer service and technical support that is available to you when you purchase equipment will be available when you rent as well. You will likely also have access to the accessories that come with barcode equipment, such as batteries, chargers, docks, and download cables.

How To Save Big Money On Your Barcode Scanner

Many organizations have a big need for barcode scanners: businesses, non-profits, government organizations, and trade shows all find that barcode scanners are crucial for their day-to-day operations. If you are a manager for one of these organizations or events, chances are you often utilize barcode scanners – and other similar technology – as well. If you are wondering how you can obtain the barcode technology you need in the most cost-effective way, read further. Barcode scanners do not have to break the bank—the important thing is to find the barcode scanners that meet your particular needs, and fit your particular budget.

tradeshow-scanners

Buying Online

One great way to find a barcode scanner that fits your budget is to shop online. There are many websites that provide one-stop shopping for all of your barcode equipment needs. The prices on these sites are often much better than what you will find in stores. That being said, the best online vendors provide a level of customer service that meets or exceeds what you would expect from a store. For example, many of the best online vendors will provide technical support, in case you are having issues with your barcode scanner. Some vendors also provide on-site support, in case you are purchasing barcodes for a large event or exhibition. Also, buying barcode scanners online does not mean that you can’t return your equipment or have it repaired in case it malfunctions. Many online barcode dealers offer this option, and consumers actually find it more convenient than having to take their barcode equipment to a physical store. Most websites give you a variety of ways that you can place your order—either over the phone, through fax or email, through physical mail, or on the website itself.

Renting A Barcode Scanner

If you manage an event – such as a convention or trade show – then your need for barcode scanners will likely fluctuate throughout the year. You will likely only need barcode scanners during the actual event itself—especially during the registration phase (barcode scanners are great for scanning ID badges, after all). If this is the case, then a barcode scanner rental would be the best bet for you. This option gives you access to barcode scanners on an as-needed basis, so that you do not have to pay full-price to own a barcode scanner.

You have many options when it comes to renting barcode scanners. One of the cheapest and most popular options is to take care of your barcode rental needs online. There are many websites that offer rentals of barcode scanners, readers, and printers, along with other similar equipment. You do not have to sacrifice any convenience, just because you are renting. The best companies will deliver the materials to you, along with any accessories you might need, such as batteries and chargers. They can also help with things like setup and programming, so that you are not left wondering how to operate the equipment you are renting. You have the convenience of being able to customize your rental according to your specific needs.

More Creative Barcoding

There applications of barcoding in the business world are seemingly innumerable, especially as advances in data analytics tools and software give more value to the information barcodes can provide. More organizations than ever are deciding to buy or rent barcode scanners, as well as other equipment like barcode readers, barcode printers and tablets, and invest in barcode software that can help with key organizational processes like asset tracking, attendance tracking, inventory control and labeling. The right combination of barcode hardware and barcode software has been a boon to businesses of all sizes operating in a diverse set of industries.

barcode-printers

The applications of barcoding, interestingly, are also beginning to extend beyond the insular world of businesses, governments and non-profit organizations. More organizations and even individuals are starting to broaden the horizons of the barcode to see how it can improve the efficiency of everyday life for customers and for the general public. Thus far, some of these creative barcoding endeavors have proven to change the way we do things in ways that were unimaginable only decades ago. Here is a look at some ways barcodes have become entrenched in our daily lives.

Traveling

Anyone who has traveled recently is familiar with how online booking systems have changed the way we travel. When people travel now they can print their own boarding pass or even bypass the use of a physical document altogether by simply presenting their ticket on a smartphone. Of course, all of this wouldn’t be possible without barcodes. It is the barcode on the physical boarding pass and the mobile barcode on the smartphone boarding pass that is scanned by airports and airlines to help you get to your destination as smoothly as possible. It was innovations in the world of barcoding, accompanied by innovations in the broader world of technology and computers that made this new way of traveling possible. Beyond the airport, ticketing in general has been affected in the same way. You can now print your own tickets or show a ticket on a mobile screen to be admitted to movie theaters or nearly any other place requiring an admission ticket.

Advertising

Prior to barcodes, advertising was strictly a one-way street of communication. Advertisers actively presented their message to customers who passively interpreted the message, whether it was an image, a group of words, a jingle or some other form of advertising. Barcodes, however, are starting to change the dynamic of the relationship between advertisers and potential customers. By placing a barcode within an advertisement, a special type of barcode known as a QR code that viewers can scan with their smartphones, advertisers are now able to provide customers with an interactive advertising experience. Smartphone apps can read the barcodes and take the customer to a page where they can learn more information about a product or be given access to a special offer, among other things. These barcodes are also being placed in print newspapers as a way to bridge the divide between print and online news and in a variety of other ways that are only getting started creating a more active consumer experience.

Creative Uses For Barcodes

Most barcode discussions focus on how the black and white striped codes can improve the efficiency of a variety of different business processes. Basically, businesses are able to better manage, track and adjust their inventory by assigning a unique barcode to each of its products (or services, or assets or some other aspect of its business). Businesses have been tracking inventory using barcodes in this way for decades, ever since the barcode went mainstream in the mid 1970s. Since then, the value of barcodes has only risen, thanks largely to the advances in data analysis software that can glean important sales, marketing, advertising and other business insights based on the business process snapshot that barcode data provides. More and more companies and organizations of all types are choosing to buy or rent barcode readers for inventory management—as well as for other functions like tracking attendance.

In addition to an even more pervasive presence in the management world, barcodes have also come to occupy a major part of the culture at large. The capacity for barcodes to improve business efficiency was apparent from the start, but the barcode’s ability to improve our daily lives in other ways was less obvious. In fact, we’re just beginning to scratch the surface of other uses for barcodes. Here is a look at some of the more creative uses people have recently found for barcodes.

Diet & Nutrition

barcode-rentals

Barcodes have been placed on the packages and containers of food and beverages for decades, and ever since nutrition labels have been placed on these packages and containers, folks have been reading the labels to learn about the ingredients and the nutritional content in what they’re consuming. Now, consumers are able to quickly and conveniently combine the barcode labels and nutrition labels and access the nutritional information of a product on a mobile device just by scanning the product’s barcode. Scanning the barcode to record nutritional information allows people to more easily track their nutrient intake over the course of a day, week, month or longer—a process that used to require a notebook, a pen and way too much math. Thanks to barcodes, people can write their food diaries and track their food logs all on their mobile device.

Games

Anyone who has ever actually used a barcode scanner, such as those who have worked as a cashier at the checkout counter of a retail store or supermarket, understands that there is a certain satisfaction that comes with scanning a barcode label. Game manufacturers have seized on this feeling and created games based around the same concept of scanning a barcode label. These barcode scanning games, which sometimes are downloaded as smartphone apps and sometimes involve a stand-alone game console, incorporate tasks and storylines that involve the player scanning barcodes.

Art

Ever since they were first used in manufacturing and at checkout counters, barcodes have captured the cultural imagination in a unique way. The image of the barcode quickly became symbolic of business and of modern society in general; as such, artists, architects and other visionaries are continuing to incorporate the barcode into their art and design work. As an example, barcodes were featured on car license plates in the 1980s movie Back to the Future.