The Mechanism of Wireless Barcode Scanning and its Uses

While encoding information as unique visual patterns is not new, Bluetooth technology has enabled wireless barcode scanning and many practical applications. Bluetooth connectivity has made wireless transmission of scanned data possible and provided many new practical applications. The earliest known attempt to leverage this concept occurred 75 years before the development of electronic scanning technology.

In 1948, a pair of students from Drexel University in Philadelphia proposed a bullseye-like array of concentric lines to improve inventory control and speed up the retail checkout process. The duo obtained a patent, but their system proved impractical given the limited technology of the ‘40s.

Later, during the ‘60s, a project sponsored by the Association of American Railroads employed the more familiar system of vertical lines to label boxcars with ownership details and a unique ID number to assist in tracking them. Decoding entailed using a refrigerator-sized scanner to shine a bright light on the label, collecting and interpreting data from the reflection, and printing the result on paper, a teletype machine or magnetic tape.

Today, the data retrieval and interpretation steps are achieved with a compact handheld or desk-mounted digital scanning device, and the embedded information is transmitted wirelessly to wherever it may be of use.

Typical Applications for Wireless Barcode Scanning

Scanners are used extensively to read the barcodes on patients’ wristbands to verify their medication details. Also, the increased data capacity of QR codes provides fast links to websites and details of movie tickets purchased online that can be scanned on admission.

However, manufacturers, wholesale warehouses and retailers probably account for the most widespread use of this technology. Although using barcode scanning at supermarket checkouts is invaluable in reducing waiting times when dealing with long queues of impatient shoppers, some procedures are even more challenging. For example:

Inventory control: Few activities in the wholesale, distribution and retail sectors could be more tedious or subject to human error than the stocktake. Before the advent of barcodes, staff were required to read 12–digit stock numbers and enter them into a PC via a keyboard. Wireless barcode scanning offers several benefits when conducting a stocktake. For example:

Staff members become fatigued when performing repetitive tasks over a prolonged period, increasing the chance of mistakes. Scanning a barcode is far less stressful and can eliminate most human errors. Multiple users can transmit stock details and their identity wirelessly to a single shared device with a one-touch action, limiting hardware requirements and added expenditure. Individuals can use a tablet. Wireless barcode scanning is much faster than manual procedures. It can be applied to individual items and packaged stock to complete the task in a fraction of the time required by the conventional approach. Automating the stocktaking procedure is a more cost-effective option. Personnel requirements are minimal, and, where applicable, overtime payments will be significantly reduced. Data from the stock take can be seamlessly integrated into enterprise resource planning software to generate and share informative reports with selected stakeholders.

Wireless Barcode Scanning for Your Business

Investing in our FenyaWMS software offers an opportunity to transform your company’s inventory control and enjoy all the benefits mentioned. Why not contact us and begin that transformation today?

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