| The retail industry generates billions of dollars of | | | | items are fully controlled within that department, |
| revenue annually, and every penny, ruble, and peso | | | | directing the consumer to those check-out lanes only |
| depends on accurate, timely, and efficient inventory | | | | to purchase those products within the high-security |
| control. Ensuring product items are priced correctly, in | | | | area before moving to another department or exiting |
| place, and removed from inventory when sold are key | | | | the store. Security equipment—whether gates at the |
| to a retail business's survival. Hardware Applications | | | | exits or in-counter sensors--have reduced worldwide |
| From the receiving dock to the store's exit security | | | | shrinkage by up to 40% since their invention and use, |
| gates, the retail industry is heavily vested in inventory | | | | saving retailers hundreds of billions in revenue currency. |
| control techniques and systems to ensure maximum | | | | Software Applications |
| accountability and Return On Investment or ROI. POS | | | | Inventory management software in the retail |
| equipment even facilitates accepting charge cards for | | | | environment is pivotal in both accountability and profits. |
| easy consumer purchasing. | | | | Most inventory management software is compatible |
| As inventory arrives, immediate bar code scanning | | | | with common desktop, laptop, and notebook operating |
| enables full accountability and location verification. From | | | | systems for easy and familiar installation, commands, |
| that point products can be priced and placed in the | | | | updates, and upgrades. All software products enable |
| retail environment and made available to the consumer | | | | multiple license packages, reducing expenses and |
| if the bar code label on the individual product already | | | | enhancing ease of use. |
| meets the retailer's requirement. If they don't, the | | | | Important keys in any inventory management and |
| retailer programs new information into the inventory | | | | control software are adaptability, changeability, and |
| control software to reflect unique product identifying | | | | accuracy. Item descriptions, price, and availability must |
| information and prints new bar code labels, commonly | | | | accurately reflect the intent of the retailer to save cost |
| called Unique Product Codes or UPCs, and attaches | | | | disputes and unnecessary, wasteful corrective actions |
| the labels to the individual products or updates shelf | | | | which risk customer satisfaction. There is little more |
| tags to correlate. | | | | damaging than a consumer having to pay more for a |
| Hand-held, Bluetooth(tm)-enabled scanners capture the | | | | product than he or she is led to believe, based on shelf |
| bar code label information, transmit the data to the | | | | tag misinformation. A customer's complaint reaches a |
| inventory control program, updating stock counts in real | | | | wider audience than does a customer's praise. |
| time and streamlining in-storage and on-shelf inventory | | | | Inventory management software can reduce theft, as |
| control procedures. Hand-held or hands-free models | | | | well. By instituting access protocols, price control and |
| enable distance scanning from a less than an inch | | | | item accountability improve tremendously. Information |
| (approximately 25 mm) to thirty yards (roughly 27 | | | | on labels can be locked down for maximum protection, |
| meters) from scanner lens to bar code label, | | | | allowing only view and print access by |
| depending on model capabilities and mobility. | | | | non-management or non-supervisory personnel. |
| In-counter scanners rest within the counter structure, | | | | Permissions can be granted by department, title, or |
| itself, and can capture bar code labels either vertically | | | | login, ensuring only those with proper authority adjust |
| or horizontally, depending on the model configuration, | | | | inventory and profit-related information. |
| freeing the cashier's hands and reducing hand, arm, | | | | Summary |
| neck, and back strain, as well as optimizing check-out | | | | Retailers depend on correct pricing and true, real-life |
| throughput. The in-counter scanners may also include | | | | data capture in their POS equipment. Choosing the |
| produce racks and weigh scales, maximizing utility and | | | | right equipment for retail operations depends on |
| continuity of flow. | | | | security, environmental, and customer throughput |
| Larger retailers and select smaller retailers utilize | | | | concerns. Close investigation of all available options |
| security gates at entrances and exits to reduce | | | | should garner cost-effective and cost-saving |
| product theft. Department stores ensure high-value | | | | point-of-sale equipment. |