How to Select the Best Barcode Scanner for Your Business

by Shinna Hu Leading Electronics Company

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.

About the author:

Inateck is a leading electronics company dedicated in the field of various high-quality niche electronic related products. With seven years’ experience, they are particularly professional for cutting-edge barcode scanners, hard drive accessories like PCI-E card, HDD enclosures & docking station, iPad Keyboards and more.