What can barcoding be used for?

Barcoding can be useful in several different settings. Barcodes are a prominent tool used in facilities such as warehouses, distribution centers, stores, and manufacturing facilities. They not only help identify items but also work to improve maintenance efforts and even have a hand in controlling inventory levels.

Picking the right barcode label is important as several different options are helpful in select instances. This is because different types of barcodes have varying degrees of information that can be encoded. The simplest of those barcode types are code 39 barcodes while some of the most complex are data matrix barcodes and QR codes.

Equipment Organization and Maintenance

The effort put into being organized will reflect soon thereafter in the rate of productivity within a business. Because of this, barcodes can be a great addition to facilities looking for a simpler way to keep track of items or create a compiled list of information needed for maintenance workers, or information for customer use. The specific barcode types that can be seen being used for this purpose include data matrix barcodes and, in some cases, QR codes.

Inventory Management

Inventory management can be a massive undertaking without the right system in place. However, barcodes are a simple solution for inventory woes because they easily let workers know what is in stock and what isn’t. For example, UPCs, or Universal Product Codes, are seen on every product’s price tag in stores. EAN barcodes are specifically used by establishments that sell or loan books. Warehouses or distribution companies will most likely use Interleaved 2 of 5 barcodes to keep track of inventory. Regardless, all of these types of labels can track the departure and arrival of materials.

No matter how barcodes are used, they provide employees with the information they need to correctly do their job while also allowing for regular facility management processes to run smoothly.