| We see it everyday. Millions of retailers are using | | | | read the "symbology" that you use. |
| barcodes and scanners to check out customers and | | | | WHAT YOU NEED |
| enterinventory. Even small stores find that bar coding | | | | You'll need the following items to start using bar |
| ispractical because it speeds up checkout, tracks | | | | coding... |
| stock, andassures pricing accuracy. | | | | 1. POS - Inventory Software that supports bar code |
| Unfortunately, not everyone uses bar coding | | | | scanningat the point of sale. |
| technologyproperly. And they don't reap as many | | | | 2. A bar code scanner that's compatible with your |
| benefits as theycould. | | | | POSsoftware. |
| Utilizing bar codes with your POS software will allow | | | | 3. Merchandise that's properly labeled with bar |
| youto... | | | | codesymbologies that your POS software and |
| - Serve customers faster and improve service by | | | | scanners can handle. |
| quicklyscanning bar codes at the point of sale (POS) | | | | 4. A bar code printer (if all your merchandise comes |
| instead oftyping a SKU. | | | | with |
| - Reduce pricing and inventory errors. Scanning bar | | | | UPC codes you won't need this). |
| codes atthe POS is much more accurate than typing | | | | HOW TO GET STARTED |
| a SKU. The typicalerror rate for human data entry is 1 | | | | Step 1 - Decide if you need a bar code printer. If ALL |
| error per 300characters. Barcode scanners can be as | | | | ofyour products already have UPC codes then you |
| good as 1 error in 36trillion characters depending on the | | | | can probablyuse those. Otherwise you'll have to buy a |
| type of barcode used. | | | | "bar code printer"and create your own bar code labels. |
| - Save time and improve efficiency. If all | | | | Step 2 - Contact your POS - Inventory Software |
| yourmerchandise isbar coded you can save time by | | | | Vendor tofind out which scanners and bar code |
| checking out customersfaster, instantly implementing | | | | printers they support. |
| mark downs and eliminatingthe problem of price tag | | | | You'll need to purchase a bar code scanner and |
| switching. | | | | possibly abar code printer. |
| - Quickly count your inventory at any time. If | | | | Step 3 - Ask your software vendor how to setup |
| youpurchase a | | | | your POS - |
| PDT (portable data terminal) you can count and enter | | | | Inventory Software to handle your bar code printer |
| yourinventory by scanning each item with a PDT. The | | | | andscanner. Then get your software ready to print |
| PDT willstore your inventory count so you can quickly | | | | labels andscan items at the point of sale. |
| upload it intoyour POS software. | | | | Step 4 - Get ALL of your merchandise bar coded and |
| - Reduce costs. If you have UPCs on your | | | | enteredinto your POS software. You'll need to use |
| merchandise thenyoudon't have to put the price tag on | | | | your POS softwareto print bar code labels for ALL |
| the product itself, whichsaves time and reduces | | | | merchandise that doesn'thave a UPC code. (Once you |
| handling costs. | | | | get everything labeled you canprint and label new |
| - Improve the accuracy of your inventory. One of the | | | | merchandise at receiving.) |
| biggestcost savings and benefits is maintaining a more | | | | You'll also need to make sure that the inventory in |
| accurateinventory. Bar coding reduces errors at | | | | your POSsoftware has the appropriate UPC code |
| receiving and at thepoint of sale so your inventory | | | | associated with eachitem. Some of your suppliers |
| stays accurate. | | | | might be able to provide |
| HOW IT WORKS | | | | "electronic price files" which can be loaded into your |
| First of all, a bar code is a series of narrow and | | | | POSsoftware. The price file would include SKUs, |
| widelines printed on a label or tag. Each bar on the | | | | prices and UPCnumbers. Otherwise you'll have to |
| labelrepresents a character for a "bar code reader" to | | | | manually associate a UPCnumber with each inventory |
| interpret. | | | | item. Again, you'll need tocontact your software |
| You can scan the bar code with a bar code reader | | | | vendor to learn how to do this. |
| which usesa photosensor to convert the bar code into | | | | Step 5 - Make sure your POS software has accurate |
| an electricalsignal as it moves across the bars. The | | | | pricingand each inventory item has bar coding |
| scanner thenmeasures the relative widths of the bars | | | | configured. |
| and spaces,translates the different patterns back into | | | | Step 6 - Now all you have to do is scan items at |
| regularcharacters, and sends them on to a computer | | | | theregister instead of entering the SKU. The SKU and |
| or portableterminal. | | | | priceshould get entered into the POS system |
| Most bar codes look similar but they can have | | | | automatically. |
| differentsymbologies or standards. The symbology | | | | If used properly, bar coding technology can help you |
| defines the width ofthe bars and the technical details | | | | checkout customers 20% to 50% faster and lower |
| of a particular type ofbarcode. | | | | error rates byalmost 4%. Not only does this |
| For example, the UPC (Universal Product Code) is | | | | dramatically improve yourcustomer service but it |
| seen onalmost all retail products in the USA and | | | | saves time and lowers your overhead. |
| Canada. And EAN-13is a common code used on | | | | If you need help getting started with bar coding, it's |
| European retail products. Your barcode reader and | | | | bestto contact your POS - inventory software |
| inventory software will need to be setupproperly to | | | | provider. |