How to Select the Best Barcode Scanner for Your Business

How to Select the Best Barcode Scanner
for Your Business

A barcode scanner can make your daily business operations much more efficient.
The right one will offer plenty of benefits such as making asset management easier,
preventing loss of equipment, and improving the speed at which things get done.
This is why even smaller retail stores and warehouses need to invest in high-quality
barcode scanners.

That said, choosing the best type, model, and brand of a barcode scanner can be
tricky. How do you start? Here are two questions to consider:

What kind of barcode are you going to use?

Before you begin implementing a barcoding system in your business, you need to
choose the right type of barcode, to begin with. Should you use 1D or 2D? To pick
the right type for your business, think how much data you need to store in your
barcode.

The 1D barcode is the most commonly recognizable—it has linear black and white
spaces with varying widths and 12 numbers or characters. It can hold any text
information. One disadvantage of a 1D barcode is that it gets longer as more data
is encoded.

Meanwhile, a 2D barcode uses patterns of shapes and dots when storing data. It
looks like a QR code. The best thing about this barcode is that it can store more
data while still appearing small. It can hold up to 2000 characters. Aside from this,
a 2D barcode can also encode binary data like images, voice, and website
addresses.

Where are you going to scan your products or items?

Barcode scanners are either wired or wireless. Each type has its respective
advantages. The best choice should suit the nature of your business operations. If,
for example, you need to move around your warehouse to make inventory, then a
wireless ​barcode scanner​ is the right choice because it gives you more flexibility.
It's also a good option if you are scanning bulky items that are difficult to place at
the checkout counter. When buying a wireless scanner, do consider the maximum
transmission distance.

On the other hand, if you have a busy shop and need to check out products
consistently, then a wired scanner might be the best choice. Aside from it is more
affordable than wireless scanners, it's also easier to use because it is directly
connected to the computer. No need for batteries—just plug and play.