In June 26, 1974, a pack of chewing gum paved the way for better product traceability, reduced labour and inventory costs, and efficient business production. Every year this historic event is celebrated in what is called a “scanniversary.”
A pack of Juicy Fruit Gum was the first product to have a UPC barcode and the first product scanned by a barcode reader. Years later, barcodes became an essential tool for businesses and manufacturers. This innovation proved to be very useful.
Throughout the years though the simple barcode from that pack of gum has evolved and has provided tons of other benefits. Here are 4 of its newer valuable uses:
1. QR Codes in Retail and Consumer Products
We all see barcodes in our grocery items, clothing and electronic gadget purchases. Incorporating barcodes in the point-of-sale of products creates a faster and more efficient checkout process.
Recently the barcode has gotten a makeover and its use has been maximised in the retail and consumer product industry. This makeover comes in the form of QR codes, sometimes called as mobile barcodes. These QR codes can be read by a Smartphone, and just by scanning the code, a user gets redirected to the company website or social media pages and learns about promotions and other marketing information.
2. Anti-Theft in Assets
In every office there are many equipment and tools used for everyday tasks. Tracking and inventory of the assets can be difficult due to a great number of equipment and the large number of departments using them. The easiest way to track and make an inventory of all the machines, equipment and tools is to label them using barcodes.
Newer barcodes also have anti-theft mechanisms that can be used to monitor company assets. Some barcodes come in tamper evident and void labels. Through these types of labels, it will be more difficult for thieves to get rid of the evidence proving that the equipment is your property. As a result, these barcodes will give thieves hesitation in stealing your products and will make it easier for you to recover your company equipment in case they get stolen.
3. More Convenient Online Shipping
Incorporating barcodes in shipping can help you track your mail and packages in real time. It’s now a standard procedure followed by most shipping companies. Now, companies offer a more convenient way of shipping ideal for online merchants.
You can now send packages and do everything online, including printing shipping labels with barcodes. You no longer have to physically go to the shipping company or postal outlet to ship products. You can ask a postal courier to pick them up for you. This is made possible by Australia Post’s Click and Send option. Another great feature about using this service is that you get notifications and reports about your transaction.
4. Controlled Access in Large Events
Barcodes can be incorporated into employee IDs for time and attendance monitoring and controlled access. They eliminate the use of time sheets and time clocks, and can provide a secure right of entry in specific areas.
Aside from controlled access in offices and establishments, barcodes can also be used for controlled access in large events like concerts or benefits. Instead of using tickets, organisers can go for plastic wristbands with barcodes. This will give the guests access to designated areas only. It will also provide easier tracking of attendance.
These are only four of the many new uses barcodes offer. So if you haven’t implemented the use of barcodes in all these aspects, now is the time to do so. Discover for yourself the benefits of using barcodes today. A thermal label printer and a barcode scanner will also be a wise investment. Start printing out and sticking your barcode labels and take advantage of the convenience it brings.
