Article1:Sabarcodes.co.za
The Future Of Barcodes From the time of their inception in the early 1970s, barcodes have come a long way. Today, barcodes are printed on more or less every product being sold in the market, resulting in faster check out in the cash register, better control over inventory for retailers and manufacturers, and tracking of data to analyze what customers like to buy. Product barcodes are like product fingerprints that are comprised of machine-readable vertical bars stored in them. Recently with the innovation of barcode scanning apps like Google glass and other wearable devices, barcode scanning has been taken to the next level, presenting a myriad of opportunities for breakthrough across the barcodes. Now individuals can interact with their purchases in a blink of an eye or a simple verbal cue. They have also redefined the way people work. Other Technology Breakthroughs in Bar-coding Coming Up Soon The biggest innovation in barcode technology up till now is the invention of 2D barcodes (QR codes). These 2d barcodes in combination with camera based image readers have opened new doors for barcode technology developers to develop solutions and devices tailored to specific industries. Barcodes are already being successfully used for tracking medical equipment, patient information and medication in the healthcare industry In the healthcare industry, online barcodes have already been used for tracking medical equipment, patient information, and medications. The need for tracking solutions increases as the population starts aging. Barcode technology is keeping pace with this by providing disinfectant-ready hardware for barcode printing and scanning. Barcode technology and hardware provide solutions for patient validation, inventory management, and tracking materials in addition to lowering risk of human error and spread of diseases. Use of barcodes in manufacturing offers a real-time wireless inventory control system. In retailing, bar coding is used to track product information, coupons, special offers and point of sale materials. Consumers can also make real-time product comparisons by using barcodes, tablets, and smartphones. In the case of small businesses, the use of barcode on a customer’s ID can help businesses to collect information from their customers for verification purpose. This is particularly helpful for businesses with age restrictions to avoid legal problems. The need for printed tickets is also reduced with the use of bar coding technology, thus minimizing the risk of ticket fraud. The Future of Barcode Scanning The future for barcode scanning remains bright with the present trend of continuous barcode breakthroughs. From the groundbreaking bar code scanners for IOS and Android mobile devices to the lauded barcode apps for Google glass, now is indeed an exciting time for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers for barcode scanners. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Article1:Sabarcodes.co.za
Jennifer Greene is a post-graduate student in Business Management, who specializes in logistics, inventory, procurement and sales. She has written many articles on inventory management, and believes www.sabarcodes.co.za to be a very good source of information and online barcodes.