| Implementing a barcoding system can be an invaluable | | | | dirt, vibration, and other environmental factors, and |
| part of any successful business. It can make the work | | | | there is a very limited number of barcode software |
| of the retailer, management, and the employees easier. | | | | that support ink jet printers. |
| In return, they can give better service to the | | | | Laser printers are better barcode solutions. They act |
| customers and focus more on keeping the clients | | | | like a photocopier, which means they are able to print |
| happy. | | | | fast. Also, laser printers print with high resolution and |
| Barcodes have proven to be useful in various types of | | | | high density resulting in a high-quality image. This type |
| business ventures. It makes inventory management | | | | of printer is often the choice when documents with |
| easier for everyone involved as scanning the | | | | barcodes need to be printed. |
| barcodes using handheld scanners makes inventory | | | | A disadvantage of laser printers is the cost of supplies. |
| count quicker and more accurate. It can also be used | | | | Laser printers use up a lot of black toner when used |
| to better track documents and assets, and monitor | | | | as barcode label makers. Also, it cannot print on |
| field employees. Combined all of these benefits lead to | | | | chemical and water-resistant paper so the labels are |
| increased sales and improved profits. | | | | also less durable. |
| Are you already planning to use barcodes in your | | | | Thermal printers have special functions that can be |
| business, but don't know how? The answer lies in | | | | used to print single, individual labels rather than by batch |
| barcode software programs and barcode printers. | | | | or sheet. This eliminates the need of printing extra |
| Here are some barcode solutions for you: | | | | labels, such as is often needed with dot matrix or laser |
| Dot matrix printers are the most common barcode | | | | printers, which can save you money on supplies. |
| solutions. Dot matrix was the first ever method used in | | | | Among the barcode solutions already mentioned, |
| making barcodes, and it is still sometimes used today | | | | thermal printers are generally the only barcode label |
| because it is readily accessible and relatively | | | | maker that is capable of individual label printing. |
| inexpensive. It also uses multi-pass ribbons that are | | | | Thermal printers also produce high-quality barcode |
| generally cheaper than toners or inks. | | | | labels at a low cost, since the only printing supply it |
| Ribbons should always be monitored because as the | | | | needs is the special thermo-sensitive paper to be used. |
| ribbon wears down, the contrast of the printed labels | | | | One downside of thermal printers is that the labels |
| get affected. In barcode systems, the color contrast is | | | | produced are sensitive to heat and light, and can fade |
| very important in order for the barcode scanner to | | | | after 6-8 months. |
| decode the barcode accurately. Bleeding, caused by | | | | The most important advantage of thermal printers is |
| ink saturation, can also affect the quality of the | | | | that they can be synchronized with point of sale |
| barcode. A limitation of the dot matrix label maker is | | | | software. Thermal printers can interact with POS |
| that it is difficult to produce small barcodes due to the | | | | programs to print product information such as model |
| limitations of the dot-size of the printer. Also, it can only | | | | number, price, and product names or short descriptions. |
| print on paper so the labels are not that durable. | | | | Overall, the thermal barcode printer is the most |
| Another barcode solution is the ink-jet printer. This type | | | | efficient to use because it is specifically made for |
| of printer is also relatively inexpensive and papers with | | | | barcode printing, and with thermal printer prices now |
| adhesives (sticker papers) are readily available in many | | | | being relatively inexpensive they are the best choice |
| stores. However, ink-jet printers print very slowly. | | | | for businesses looking to print durable, fast speed |
| Aside from that, the printer itself is less durable to dust, | | | | barcode labels. |