Tag: barcode scanners

Posts about barcode scanners.

What is the Importance of Inventory Control?

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date September 20, 2017

No matter the industry you work in, inventory control is a vital aspect of your business. Managing your inventory can help you keep track of your products, streamline your sales, and monitor other factors such as ordering and shipment. This could answer questions you have about your products and your sales. How much inventory should you always have on-stock? How large of a storage space do you need?

Today we’re discussing a few key ways improved inventory control can change your business for the better. Ready to learn more? Let’s dive in!

Keep Track of Your Sales

Keeping better track of your products, made possible by utilizing stock labels and documenting them, can improve your sales tracking processes. Not only does inventory control better monitor your sales, it can also increase your sales.

Say you had a product that didn’t sell well. You can keep track of how many times it was sold, and how many products you have left. Then, you can discount that product in retailers and online. At a lower price, you’re sure to increase sales of the product, generating more revenue for your business. If you didn’t practice inventory management, that product could have been sitting in the warehouse, not generating any revenue. You can also gain better insight on what sells best, any trends in sales, and other information on customer preference.

Always Know How Much Inventory To Have

A tricky issue to tackle is knowing how much inventory to store and sell. Ordering too much could result in bad ROI conversions, and ultimately cost you money. Ordering too little could result in stressful situations such as ordering new products in a time crunch. When you properly utilize inventory control, you can keep tabs on how much is too much and how much is too little. If you have leftover stock or find yourself ordering more products, you’ll be able to have better judgment on ordering stock.

Improves Customer Satisfaction

By managing your inventory, you can create a system of ordering inventory for your best-selling products. This is a way to increase your customer satisfaction. Say you have a product that’s popular amongst your customers, and you didn’t order enough of that product. The result? Frustrated customers who could take their business elsewhere. Inventory management allows you to better monitor these sales so you’re sure you have enough inventory, especially during busy seasons.

Prevent Revenue Loss

Keeping track of your inventory will save your company money, whether it’s directed to sales or cutting costs on storage. You can also keep tabs on specific product information that could result in revenue loss when stored. One example is a spoilage. If a time-sensitive item, such as a food or cosmetic product, is stored past its expiration date, it must be thrown out. Dead stock is another example. If the product is not in season, no longer popular, or completely irrelevant, it can’t be sold.

Improve Your Inventory Control Today!

Controlling your resources can help you better manage your products and deliveries. Moreover, inventory management can even lead to more sales and help prevent loss of revenue. If you find managing your inventory difficult, call us to learn more about how we can help you track your products. We’d love to put the right tools in your hands!

Tags Barcode labels, barcode scanners, barcode systems, Inventory control

Barcodes for Business News

The Ultimate Barcode Printer Buying Guide

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date September 20, 2017

Does a poorly printed barcode really matter that much?

Yes, it does.

Barcodes are responsible for everything from allowing ticket holders to enter events, enabling shops to sell products, and ensuring packages are delivered correctly. They can also increase efficiency in warehouses and storerooms. Incorrectly printed barcodes could render products unusable and cause you to lose business, so choosing the right barcode printer is essential.

Confused by all the barcode printing options? Don’t worry. We’re here with the ultimate to guide to purchasing the right printer.

What Type of Barcode Printer Do You Need?

There are three main types of barcode printers.

All of these printers are known as thermal label printers, meaning you can print onto any media that the printer can hold, including tags, labels, tickets, and wristbands.

Desktop

Ideal for small, one-off jobs or businesses that only need to print the occasional label, desktop printers are easy to use and don’t take up much space. They’re perfect for small offices and retail stores.

Industrial

Need some serious printing capacity? Then an industrial barcode printer is the right choice. These printers are capable of printing constantly, meaning you can be as efficient as possible.

Mobile

Want to print barcodes while on the go? Mobile printers are handheld and don’t need to be connected to a PC, making them perfect for ad hoc printing. While capacity is limited, they’re ideal for staff who need to print labels on the shop or warehouse floor.

What Will You Be Printing Onto?

Are you printing onto unusual media, like a wristband or ticket?

You’ll want to consider this before making your purchase and look at specialized options. Dedicated wristband printers are easier to refill than standard printers, and can create high-resolution images. Perfect for attractions like theme parks where regular wristband printing is required. Special ticket printers accommodate large stacks of tickets and print them in a folded arrangement that makes them easier to store and distribute. Compare the shapes, size, and material of your media with the capabilities of the printer you choose.

Should You Choose Direct Thermal or Thermal Transfer?

Direct thermal printers create high-quality barcodes, don’t use ink or ribbons, and are easy to maintain. They’re ideal for creating short-term labels, or labels which won’t be exposed to harsh conditions.

Thermal transfer printers are more expensive and do use ribbons. They create barcodes which can withstand harsh environments and have a long shelf-life. They’re also capable of color printing.

For long-term barcode printing that withstands extreme conditions, thermal transfer is the right choice. For short-term printing in normal environments, direct thermal printing will do fine.

Will You Need Any Printer Add-Ons?

Handy add-ons can improve your barcode label output and efficiency. A cutter neatly separates labels for you, an RFID add-on lets you encode data into labels while printing, a peeler can automatically apply labels for you, and a rewinder feeds printed labels back onto a roll for you. Be sure to consider these extras when choosing your printer – a little extra expense now could save you loads of time and money in the future.

Looking to Buy Your First Barcode Printer?

Finding the right printer means choosing between desktop, industrial and mobile, comparing direct thermal and thermal transfer printers, and including add-ons to save time and increase quality.

Feeling overwhelmed? List all your requirements, check them against this guide, and you’ll be ready to start comparing printers online to find the best fit.

Tags Barcode labels, barcode scanners, Barcode System

Barcodes for Business News

How to Choose the Right Barcode Label

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date September 20, 2017

You’ve done it. You’re taking the leap from being one of the 46% of small businesses that don’t use inventory tracking technology to streamlining your process and putting yourself on the road to having a more efficient pipeline. There’s just one problem: You don’t know which barcode label type to invest in.

Let’s change that.

Today we’re going over how to choose your barcode label wisely. Ready to learn more? Let’s go!

A Note on Barcode Types

First, a quick overview. There are two primary types of barcodes, 1D barcodes, which are a rectangle or square of up and downline vertical lines and 2D barcodes, which are usually square. There are two primary types of barcodes, 1D barcodes, which are a rectangle or square of up and downline vertical lines and 2D barcodes, which are usually square. Each of these has several variants with their ideal applications, but the biggest difference is that 1D barcodes are linear and can only be scanned one way (think the UPC code on a cereal box when you head to self-checkout with the thin red horizontal line to scan it).

A 2D barcode label, on the other hand, can be scanned in any direction and can store far more data than linear codes. That won’t matter for every application, but more stored data means that a single scan can input that much more information seamlessly into your database. Which of the many kinds of labels you choose from depends in part on your business needs as well as the industry you’re in. Some barcodes are proprietary or are the standard in a certain field, like the 2D Aztec barcode which is used in the Transportation industry, or the Code39 1D barcode which is used by the U.S. Department of Defense (among other applications).

How Durable and Versatile Do You Need Your Barcode Label to Be?

Once you’ve figured out which type of barcode your industry uses (or if you have the freedom to choose whichever you’d like), consider how durable and versatile the barcode needs to be. The 1D ITF barcode, for instance, has wide spaces and thick lines, meaning it can be easily printed on rough material like cardboard and still be read by a scanner. Therefore it’s used primarily in the packaging industry. Also consider what kind of environment these labels are going to be exposed to, what kinds of surfaces they need to be applied to, and how long they’ll be expected to last in the elements they’ll be stored and shipped in.

Saving Money, Smartly

As with most things in life, better quality labels printed with better adhesives that last longer also cost more. Sure, you could just spring for the top of the line, but good stock management means spending as little as possible to get the job done well and correctly. Related to this, you need to decide whether you want to have your labels printed by a third-party and pre-tested or to invest in your own barcode printer. Some companies, like Idezi, provide extra insurance on your printer investment by guaranteeing protection for unexpected print head failures, depending on the service programs that are available.

We’re Just Scratching the Service

Want to know more? We’ve got the expert barcode tips and industry data you need to make the most educated decision. Learn all about barcode label and scanner technology across multiple industries on our blog today!

Learn more about labels and there different applications.

Tags Barcode labels, barcode scanners, barcode systems

Barcodes for Business Healthcare Industry Science

How Do Barcodes Improve Medical Safety?

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date September 20, 2017

In 2010, 4,000 women experienced ruptures of faulty breast implants, according to BBC News. And among the 400,000 women who’d received the same implants worldwide, few were able to find out if theirs were one of the bad ones. Tragic and scary, but the damage could have been lessened–and helped these women achieve some peace of mind–if these implants had been printed with a humble barcode.

Medical Barcode Technology Can Save Lives

Barcodes on implantable items like breast implants or pacemakers might seem like the stuff of dystopian science fiction, but its real-world use has more utopian application. Between seven and 15 percent of deaths in hospitals can be attributed to medication dispensing errors, i.e., a doctor or nurse misprescribing a drug that patient shouldn’t be taking. With barcode technology used throughout the hospital system, these medications can be scanned, checked, and verified, lessening the potential for dangerous administrations or contraindications.

Tracking Your Warehouse-to-Patient Supply Chain

Instituting barcode technology can help hospitals track medicines, implants, and patients all the way through the supply chain and beyond, collecting valuable data on the medicines themselves, implant wear and tear, and more. It can even be set up to tell nurses and doctors when their patients, who are wearing scanned barcode wristbands, are overdue for their next shot or treatment. The system can even be set up to tell nurses and doctors when their patient (with a scanned barcode wristband) is overdue for a dosage (from their scanned barcode medicine). Barcodes are truly improving healthcare.

Barcode Technology Helps Hospitals Cut Costs

All of this saving lives and streamlining the system saves money, too. One study found that using a barcode system saved a hospital pharmacy $2.2 million per year by significantly reducing medication dispensing errors, with a net benefit after five years of $5.5 million. Naturally, instituting a thorough barcode system is expensive, but here, too, the study found that hospitals reached a break-even point with the tech as early as one year to no later than 10 years after instituting the technology.

The average? 51 months. In other words, it’s money well-spent.

You Need Good Barcode Technology and Training, Though

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to get any old barcode tech. You need solid equipment and the requisite training and hospital culture to make sure it’s being implemented effectively. As many as one in two nurses had performed their previous shift without scanning either patient barcode or medication barcode in their previous shift, one 2012 study found. That’s a good reminder that while technological solutions are marvelous, they’re only as good as the people using them.

But Good Machines Still Matter

That’s not to put the blame solely on doctors and nurses, though. Guess the number one and two reasons for noncompliance?

Bad labels and faulty scanners.

Change is hard and it’s harder to build trust when you’re using unreliable equipment. There’s a solution, though, and it’s simple: Use the best technology you can get and get it serviced regularly. Here, we’ve got you covered. Check out our scanners and scanner repair services here.

Learn more about the solutions we offer for healthcare facilities, hospitals, and sterile environments.

Tags Barcode labels, barcode scanners, barcode technology

Barcodes for Business News

5 Things to Consider When Getting Barcode Scanners

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date September 20, 2017

Most people don’t give a second thought to the barcode scanners at the grocery store or gas station. The only time we think about them is when they aren’t working properly. But for many business owners, the choice between barcode scanners is a big decision. There are several types of scanners, from in-counter to handheld, and it’s a lot to think about. However, if you keep a few things in mind while deciding, you should be just fine. Here are the five things to consider when buying scanners.

1. The Form

By this, we mean how it’s going to be used. Specifically, we’re talking in-counter, countertop, or handheld. There are slight variations to each, but one of these will likely cover your needs. Grocery stores and other businesses with a high volume of products often use in-counter or countertop scanners. But that probably won’t work for a business with large or awkward products. And it certainly won’t work if your scanning is being done out in the field. For that, you’ll need to go handheld.

2. The Wireless Capacity

If you are doing your scanning outside of your business, you’ll likely need wireless scanners. They’ll connect via Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, or Bluetooth. This allows your employees to transmit data in real-time, no matter where they are. You might also want to look at wireless capacity if your employees are moving about a large warehouse. Wireless barcode scanners allow them to scan items easily and transmit the data from anywhere in the warehouse.

3. GPS Scanners

Speaking of warehouses, another useful addition to warehouse scanners is GPS. Items that are scanned at various locations are pinpointed by the GPS. This is useful when you’re moving items to and from storage or your business. It’s also a clever idea to have GPS when you’re moving expensive products or any shared equipment.

4. 1D or 2D Barcode Scanners?

1D barcodes are one-dimensional, and they represent their data with the black bars and numbers we’re familiar with. These are the barcodes that are on most packaging you get at the store. 2D barcodes have both vertical and horizontal data and can contain up to 2,000 characters. That’s compared to the 20-25 characters a 1D barcode can handle. QR codes, a type of 2D code, have become popular recently in marketing. Keep these distinctions in mind when you’re choosing your scanners.

5. Durability

If your employees are simply swiping items at a counter, you may not need the most durable scanners. However, if your scanners are being used in the field, you might want something more rugged and durable. Look for scanners that are sealed from dust and can withstand drops from several feet. They may be a little more expensive, but in the long run, it can be a good investment.

Looking for More?

At this point, you probably still want to dig into some more research on scanners. If you’ve still got questions on the right scanner for your business, then contact us. We’ll help you find the perfect scanner for your needs at the right price.

Tags Barcode labels, barcode scanners, barcode systems

Barcodes for Business News

Barcode Logistics: Everything You Need to Know

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date September 20, 2017

Did you know improving the flow of inventory can lead to increased profits and reduce employee workloads?

But, figuring out how to improve that flow can be a challenge. Increasing the number of employees can be costly. Improving employee training could help, but at some point, even that growth will end.

That’s where barcode logistics come in. Barcodes have been around since the 1970s, and you see them so often that you probably don’t think twice about them. But implementing them into your shipping process can be revolutionary for your business. With barcode scanning systems, the flow of inventory can rapidly increase, without the need for extra employees or added training. If you’re new to the use of barcodes, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know to implement barcode logistics for your business.

What Does a Barcode Do?

A barcode consists of several different elements.

At a glance, two are obvious; the barcode itself, and the number underneath.The barcode and numerical code contain information that will instantly communicate with your barcode reader about what is inside the package that the barcode is attached to. Each barcode will be unique to a certain individual product. This allows you to easily track the path of each product in your warehouse, eliminating confusion or lost items. If implemented correctly, all you’ll need to do to track down an individual item is go to the computer system linked to your barcode logistics and search for that barcode. If it was scanned when it entered your warehouse, the information stored by that barcode will tell you where it is located. To implement a barcode system, you’ll need a barcode printer, scanner, and a software system tying them all together.

Customizing Barcodes for Your Company

The information included on a barcode can easily be customized to meet the individual needs of a company or demands of a particular industry. You could use it to tell the scanner where that package belongs in your warehouse, how many of those products you have in stock, or when that inventory came into your warehouse.If your company deals with food or other perishable products, you could program the barcode to include an expiration date. If your inventory will be shipped to the client or to another location in its current packaging, your barcode logistics could include barcode labels with shipping and return addresses.

From healthcare to food service, barcodes can revolutionize the way that you ship, receive, store, and send out product.The options are endless. When your company integrates a barcode system, they will get the chance to completely customize what these barcodes will do, allowing them to decide which options work best for their company.

See How Barcode Logistics Could Improve Your Business Today

Barcodes can streamline the entire process of ordering, shipping, receiving, and sending out product for your company. They help eliminate loss and confusion, reduce the amount of time it takes to do inventory management, and more. If you’re ready to see how a barcode system could improve your workplace management, contact us today to find a system that works for you!

Tags Barcode labels, Barcode logistics, barcode scanners

Healthcare Industry News Science

Improve Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals with 2D Barcode Scanners

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date September 13, 2017

You might normally associate barcode technology with checking out at your local grocery store or preferred retailer, but 2D barcode scanners are seriously changing the healthcare industry.

Barcode technology is saving lives in the medical field. It plays a crucial role in the proper delivery of medicine. It’s been so efficient, in fact, that the FDA issued recent rules that actually require machine readable labels on any medication. Because the barcodes are small, they are easy to put on even the smallest of vials. They offer all the information needed by a nurse or doctor with just one swipe of the barcode under code-reading scanners. With medical errors being the third most cause of deaths, it’s time for a change. As technology improves, so do our chances of survival and access to fantastic health care. Here’s how the scanners and barcodes are changing medicine:

2D Barcode Scanners Prevent Errors

Barcode scanner technology is helping to eliminate errors in identifying patients and administering the proper medicines. With so many life-threatening mistakes that can be made during patient care, it is essential to get every step correct. There are too many deaths that occur on a yearly basis because of medical errors in hospitals. These mistakes can be avoided with a barcode system. Patients receive barcoded bracelets upon checking into the hospital, and anything administered to that patient must match up with the exact same barcode. When all vendors have a barcode for their medication, this should leave little room for error. Hospitals can protect their patients by incorporating barcodes into every aspect of their patient care.

Reduced Fossil Footprint

2D barcode scanners are able to help hospitals save resources. When a hospital saves on resources, they will also save money. What’s better than improving both the patient care and the financial circumstances of a healthcare institution? What’s more? Hospitals will pay off the implementation of the barcode system in just one year. Hospitals will save about $2 million dollars annually with the system. By cutting documentation materials in half, you’ll not only save trees, you’ll save coins.

Multi-Device Functionality

Implementing the 2D barcode scanners is not a complicated process for any medical facility. Idezi’s customer support for these systems is unparalleled and always available to help. The barcode scanners can also be used with mobile computer device89. This makes it easy to access information with the touch of a button from anywhere in a hospital. The sophisticated system can give both patients and healthcare teams great peace of mind, as stress is reduced, due to accurate and reliable information.

Go Big and Go Barcode

Barcode scanning systems can save lives, money, and are the most reliable system on the market. Eliminating hospital errors will improve patient survival rates. Safe and effective patient care is the key to any successful medical facility. This unique barcode scanning system works in collaboration with medical teams all around the globe. Experience maximum positive patient outcomes with a reliable, accurate system. For continued education on barcode scanning equipment and implementing the best system into your hospital, contact us today!

Learn more about the solutions we offer specifically for Pharmaceuticals, from labels to inserts.

Tags Barcode labels, barcode scanners, Barcode System, Barcodes for Healthcare

Barcodes for Business Food Service Outdoor

Need a Truly Durable Barcode Scanner? This One Is Practically Indestructible

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date June 22, 2017

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In manufacturing, warehousing, and other industrial environments, mobile equipment and technologies often come with a high cost of ownership. The daily use and abuse of these devices can lead to premature servicing or catastrophic damage that requires a full replacement. Even supposedly “rugged” or “durable” devices, like barcode scanners, may not withstand your environment or the demands of your workforce. Everything from dust and liquids to extreme temperatures and accidental drops could spell disaster for these devices. At Idezi, we have seen these problems first-hand. We’re often called upon by manufacturers and warehouses to help them find and install barcoding technologies that will truly withstand the rigors of their workplace and daily needs. Often they have struggled with previous devices and barcoding systems that don’t make the grade. We solve their hardware challenges with extremely rugged and durable mobile scanning and computing devices from our partners at Zebra Technologies. Zebra is the global leader in barcoding systems, RFID, mobile computing, and printing, and its latest innovation has settled the issue of device durability once and for all.

Zebra’s 3600 Ultra-Rugged Series Barcode Scanners

With the new 3600 Ultra-Rugged Series of barcode scanners, Zebra has created a virtually indestructible barcode scanner. It’s built to withstand the most extreme environments, including subzero to ultra-hot temperatures; it’s dustproof, spray proof and waterproof; and it features the highest drop and tumble durability of any rugged barcode scanner. It’s built to handle heavy abuse and drops to concrete from up to 8 feet, which makes it 23 percent more durable than any competing barcode scanner. It also survived and thrived in Zebra’s grueling test of 5,000 consecutive tumbles, which simulates the typical tumbling that happens after a device is dropped. IP65- and IP67-rated sealing makes this device impervious to dust and water– it can survive 30 minutes while fully submerged in water. Its scanning exit window is scratch-resistant and recessed for the highest level of durability. The 3600 Ultra-Rugged Series is also designed to operate at extreme temperatures ranging from -4° F to 122° F, and it can be stored at temperatures as cold as -40° F or as hot as 158° F.

Performance to Match Its Unbeatable Durability

Amazingly, though, this device isn’t just durable. It is also remarkably efficient and can cover any scanning requirement, anywhere you need. The 3600 Ultra-Rugged Series scans 1D and 2D barcodes fast and reliably, with advanced scanning intelligence that enables virtually any barcode to be scanned, regardless of its condition. If the label is dirty, smudged, damaged, or poorly printed, it doesn’t matter. This device will scan it the first time, every time.

With a multi-code feature, it scans up to 20 barcodes with a single press of a trigger, and the series includes an ultra-long-range model that scans barcodes from as far away as 70 feet! Zebra’s 3600 Ultra-Rugged Series is also available with a corded or cordless option and Bluetooth LE (BLE) connectivity for fast, accurate performance in picking, packing, shipping, receiving, inventory tracking, cross docking, or virtually any application. Zebra has also equipped these devices with PowerPrecision+ smart battery technology, which provides power for up to 70,000 scans and a charge gauge for visibility into your battery power. It’s also the first device in its class that allows users to monitor battery age and ability to hold a charge. With this incredibly durable device, you get reliable barcode scanning and continuous performance in virtually any environment, and your cost of ownership is far lower because you won’t be wasting time and money on repairs or replacement.

Want to learn more and check it out for your business?

Visit us at www.idezi.com, call us at 615-377-8849, or email info@idezi.com.

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Tags barcode scanners

Barcodes for Business

Improving Your Warehousing Efficiency with Long-Range Barcode Scanning

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date June 22, 2017

Today’s customers want to receive their goods and shipments faster than ever before, which calls for ever-greater speed and efficiency in warehousing. Businesses need to identify, move, and track products and shipments as quickly as possible, without sacrificing accuracy or quality of service. This is one area where a surprisingly simple upgrade can make a huge difference, and it can be found in your barcode scanners.

Most barcode scanners suffer from a built-in limitation that can slow down your workforce and get in the way of better productivity and efficiency. Standard barcode scanners are only equipped to provide short-range barcode scanning, so workers often need to be within inches of a barcode label in order to scan it. The limitation of conventional barcode scanners becomes a time-consuming problem when workers have to get out of forklifts to scan pallets, take extra time and steps to get within range of a barcode or find the right angle to scan. It’s especially a problem if a worker can’t reach inventory on high shelves or other places that aren’t within immediate reach of the scanner. The need to improve efficiency makes a long-range barcode scanner a far better alternative. Long-range scanners can capture a barcode accurately from as far as 70 feet away, even under layers of shrink-wrap. They also feature omnidirectional scanning, which means you don’t have to line up the scanner and the barcode perfectly. You can scan barcodes from different directions and angles, which dramatically speeds up scanning and ensures a first-time capture.

The result is less effort and less time spent scanning and getting within range. This also reduces the overall cost of your operations while allowing workers to move goods and shipments faster. Importantly, long-range barcode scanners also provide continuous, reliable performance, regardless of your operating environment. Even in dimly lit working environments, their accuracy and precision are unaffected, and they can also scan sequentially, which means a worker can hold down the trigger and identify multiple items on the go. This also means workers no longer have to pace up and down the warehouse floor to scan barcodes. In vertically structured warehouses, long-range barcode scanners are absolutely critical. By combining long-range and omnidirectional barcode scanning, they make it easy for workers to scan inventory and assets stored on high shelves that would not be accessible to a conventional, short-range barcode scanner.

An investment in long-range barcode scanners is a dual-purpose investment that delivers short-range barcode scanning as well. Long-range scanners also offer excellent scanning capability at short range so they can be used effectively across a range of distances—from an item inches away, to one on the highest shelf in your warehouse. Sophisticated long-range scanners provide operational capacity at both short and long range, which eliminates the need to buy multiple devices.

At Idezi, we recommend long-range barcode scanners from our partners at Zebra Technologies, the global leaders in barcoding, RFID, and barcode printing solutions. Zebra’s LS3408-ER rugged barcode scanner is a corded, handheld scanner that captures 1D barcodes as far away as 45 feet or as close as 0.25 inches. The new long-range barcode scanner in Zebra’s 3600 Ultra-Rugged Series provides long-range barcode scanning from 70 feet, and it includes a wireless option with Bluetooth Class LE connectivity.

Contact us now to learn more about these long-range scanners and get a free consultation for your scanning needs. Visit us at www.idezi.com, call us at 615-377-8849, or email info@idezi.com.

Tags Barcode labels, barcode scanners, barcode software

Food Service

Scan & Track Your Cold Storage Inventory Without the Headache

Post author By Dane Titsworth
Post date June 22, 2017

If you’re working with products or inventory in cold storage, a common problem is how to scan barcode labels and track your assets, especially when most barcode label scanners aren’t designed for extremely cold environments. Most barcode scanning devices cannot operate in extreme cooler, refrigerator, chiller, and freezer conditions. They’re also ill-equipped to handle the constant changes in temperature and conditions that occur when workers move between cold storage and warmer zones in the workplace. When moving in and out of cold storage, condensation can accumulate on barcode scanner windows and reduce scanning performance or make barcode scanning impossible. Barcodes in cold storage environments are also frequently covered with frost or condensation, leading to the same scanning difficulty or impossibility. In addition, cold temperatures are tough on batteries, which often means you can’t use cordless barcode scanners in subzero temperatures. Battery performance typically drops as temperatures decrease, and at some point, batteries may stop functioning altogether. A final issue is the problem of trying to operate barcode scanners while wearing thick gloves to protect against cold temperatures. Even if you can keep a barcode label scanner running and scanning reliably, the difficulty in handling and operating it can get in the way of maximum efficiency. To solve these challenges, cold storage scanning requires highly specialized devices that can operate seamlessly in extreme cooler, refrigerator, chiller, and freezer conditions.

Zebra’s 3600 Series Cold Storage Scanning Solution

Thankfully, there is now an ideal solution for ultra-rugged and freezer-compliant barcode label scanning from Zebra Technologies. Our partners at Zebra recently introduced the 3600 Series of barcode label scanners, designed specifically to meet the most demanding and extreme cold storage requirements. Zebra’s freezer-compliant devices are engineered to provide reliable and easy operation in even the most extreme cold storage environments. This makes your entire supply chain more efficient, protects your customers, and enhances the profitability of your business.

The 3600 Series offers an operating temperature range of -22° F to 122° F when corded and -4° F to 122° F with a cordless configuration. Zebra’s unique PowerPrecision+ battery is also fully freezer rated, with no decline in performance over the entire operating system range. To prevent condensation on the device’s scanner window, Zebra also offers a heated scanner holder accessory that keeps the scanner head warm and prevents condensation buildup. If you need to connect your scanner to its host computer with a cord or cable, the 3600 Series includes freezer-rated cables with special jacketing to maintain flexibility and ensure reliable operation in subzero temperatures. Importantly, you can also go cordless with Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. Large keys on the Zebra 3600 Series keypad, an easy-to-use touch-screen, and an ergonomic mobile computer ensure that your workers can quickly scan barcodes and efficiently enter data, even with gloved hands. An advanced scanning engine also ensures that your workers will be able to scan 1D or 2D barcodes the first time—every time—even when barcodes are covered with frost or damaged, dirty, torn, smudged, or poorly printed. While it solves the problems of cold storage environments and moving in and out of cold temperatures, Zebra’s 3600 Series has also earned IP65 and IP67 ratings for its waterproof and dustproof design. This protects the device from virtually any challenge in your environment, including dusty aisles, outdoor yards, pouring rain, spilled coffee, high-pressure spray-downs, and wipe downs with industrial-strength cleaners.

These innovations are among the reasons why Zebra is the globally recognized leader in barcode scanning, RFID, and printing for cold storage environments and an array of industries. And they’re also why we recommend Zebra barcode scanners and mobile computers to all of our clients at Idezi.

Learn More & See It for Yourself

If you’d like to learn more about the Zebra 3600 Series Barcode scanning system and request a free consultation to help you choose the right cold storage barcode scanning solutions for your business, contact us now. Visit us at www.idezi.com, call us at 615-377-8849, or email info@idezi.com.

Tags Barcode labels, barcode scanners