Barcoding

Barcodes have become so ubiquitous that they often go unnoticed, and consumers are so familiar with them that they know how to scan them to test themselves at the grocery store.

The concept of the barcode was developed by Norman Joseph Woodland, who drew a series of lines in the sand representing Morse code, and Bernard Silver. The patent was granted in 1966, and NCR (an American company specializing in products for retail chains) became the first company to develop a commercial scanner for reading barcode symbols. A pack of Wrigley chewing gum was the first item ever scanned at a Marsh supermarket in Troy, Ohio, NCR's hometown.

Barcodes are designed to store specific information about a product. They encrypt alphanumeric characters and symbols with the help of black and white bars, also known as stripes. Barcoding is an AIDC (Automatic Identification and Data Collection) technology that reduces the need for human intervention in data entry and collection, reducing errors and time.

How does a barcode work?

In a nutshell, a barcode is a method of encoding information in the form of a visual pattern (those black lines and white spaces) that can be read by a machine (barcode scanner).

The combination of black and white bars (also called elements) are different text characters that correspond to a given algorithm for a given barcode. This pattern of black and white bars will be read by the barcode scanner and converted into a string of text that your retail point of sale system will recognize.

A barcode and a scanner are two of the most important requirements for barcode technology to work. A scannable code with a digital counterpart at the bottom is the most common type of barcode. It has a pattern of parallel black and white lines. There are other barcodes, such as two-dimensional QR codes.

Barcode scanners can read barcodes very quickly and transmit this information to a computer or point-of-sale terminal, which can immediately identify them using a product database. The decrypted information about the scanned object is usually displayed on the screen of a mobile phone, laptop, or PC.

The scanner consists of three functional parts: a backlight system, a sensor and a decoder. Most barcode scanners process data by emitting red light. The light is then returned to the scanner and the sensor recognizes a flash of light from the lighting system. The lighting system then generates an analog signal. The sensor converts this signal into a digital signal, which is then sent to the decoder. Finally, the decoder sends the data to a computer connected to the scanner via USB or Bluetooth.

No special software is required to obtain barcode information. A decoder puts barcodes in a usable context, similar to how the human brain works and how we understand the differences between numbers, letters, and images.

Barcode structure

A typical barcode consists of the following:

The quiet/clean zone is the minimum space required to be able to scan the barcode, preceding the initial character of the barcode symbol. The quiet zone should be free of any printing and have the same color and reflectivity as the background of the barcode symbol. The quiet zone should be ten times the width of the narrowest barcode element.

Initial code – indicates the beginning of the barcode. These are special barcode characters that indicate the beginning of the data for the scanner/reader.

Data – the actual data stored in the bar code.

The check digit (not always present) is a mathematical sum that is used to verify the accuracy of other barcode elements. It is an additional digit added at the end of the barcode so that the scanner can confirm that the barcode was read correctly.

Control Character – indicates the stopping point of the barcode. These characters indicate the end of the data for the scanner/reader. They are also deleted and not transmitted to the host.

The final quiet zone is another unprinted free space after the stop symbol.

Types of Barcode Technology

Here are some of the main types of barcodes:

MSI Plessey

MSI Plessey (or Modified Plessey) barcodes are used in retail for inventory management, such as supermarket shelf labeling. They are also used in warehouses and other storage facilities to ensure inventory accuracy.

MSI Plessey can only encode numbers, but they can be of any length, allowing you to encode almost any amount of data. Its binary format is also less reliable and efficient than newer and more cost-effective barcodes.

UPC code

UPC barcodes are used to label and scan consumer products at retail outlets around the world, primarily in the United States, but also in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The UPC-A variant encodes twelve digits, whereas the UPC-E variant encodes only six digits.

UPC is an acronym for Universal Product Code. The purpose of this barcode in retail is to make it easier for users to identify specific product characteristics (such as size or color) when scanning an item at the checkout.

UPC codes, in addition to making the checkout process more efficient, help keep track of inventory in stores and warehouses. UPCs allow you to accurately and efficiently track products throughout the entire production process.

EAN code

EAN barcodes are also used to label consumer products for scanning at retail outlets around the world. In appearance, they resemble UPC codes, the main difference is their geographical application. While EAN-13 (13 digits) is a standard form factor, EAN-8 (eight digit) barcodes can be found on products with limited space, such as small candies.

The main advantage of EAN codes is their adaptability. EAN-13 codes are high-density barcodes that can encode relatively large amounts of data in a small area, whereas EAN-8 codes are ideal for identifying very small products or assets. EAN codes are also easily readable by 1D scanners, making the scanning process quick and easy.

Code39

Code39 barcodes (or code 3 of 9) are widely used to mark goods in many industries.

It supports both numbers and symbols, and its name comes from the fact that it can only encode 39 characters, although in the most recent version, the character set has been expanded to 43. It can be compared to a Code 128 barcode, but it's not that small.

One of the drawbacks of Code39 is its low data density. Due to the size required for these barcodes, they are not suitable for tiny goods and assets. However, Code39 remains a popular and versatile option because it eliminates the need to generate a check digit and can be decoded by almost any barcode reader.

Code 128

Code 128 barcodes are compact, high-density codes used for ordering and distribution in the logistics and transportation industries. They are calculated for products that are not intended for sale, such as when supply chain applications mark units with shipping container serial codes. Code 128 barcodes can store a wide range of data because they support any character from the ASCII 128 character set.

The most significant advantage of Code 128 is its high data density. Because these barcodes can store large amounts of linear data in a small space, they are ideal for identifying shipped or packaged containers and goods. Because of these benefits, Code 128 barcodes are the obvious choice for shipping and supply chain operations.

Reading barcodes

One of the most common tools for reading barcodes is a handheld barcode scanner. All barcode scanners have built-in decoders that can read several different barcode symbology. Most USB barcode scanners are powered by a PC keyboard or USB port, so no external power supply is required. When you scan a barcode, the data is sent to the PC as if it were typed on a keyboard. To learn more about barcode scanning, see How to Scan Barcode Data in Apps.

Most default barcode scanners can read common line characters such as Code 39, UPC, EAN, Code 128, and Codabar. Some scanner manufacturers ship new barcode scanners with most symbology disabled, so if a certain barcode cannot be read, make sure it is enabled in the scanner's firmware. Not all scanners can read barcodes printed with a small X size (size x is the width of a narrow strip in the code), so it's a good idea to check the barcode scanner's manual.

Difference Between Barcode and QR Code

A barcode is a traditional printed, machine-readable representation of data that consists of parallel black lines and white spaces of different widths. It is typically used to store information such as product numbers and prices.

A QR code stands for Quick Response Code and is a type of two-dimensional barcode. It consists of black and white modules arranged in a square pattern and can be used to store more data than traditional barcodes. QR codes can be scanned and read using smartphones, allowing users to quickly access websites, videos, and other digital content.

Why use barcodes?

Studies have shown that barcode solutions are implemented in more than 70% of installed Auto ID applications. Studies have shown that an experienced data operator will make one error for every 300 characters entered manually. Compare that to 1 in 3 million using barcode technology.

Almost everyone has seen barcodes on groceries in the supermarket and experienced the benefits of scanning barcodes at the checkout. Imagine how long it would take an operator to manually enter the SKU and price for each item.

ИсторHistorically, the first to adopt barcode technology was the industrial sector, followed by retail. Nowadays, bar code technology has spread to many industries and commerce.

Examples of applications include: Automobiles, books, courier services, defense, electronics, food, government, healthcare, insurance, postal orders, packaging, mail, printing, rental, transportation, and wholesale.

Barcoding is used in many fields as it has proven to be an adaptable and successful technology. In almost all industries, barcodes replace keyboard input.

Advantages of barcoding

Whether or not an organization uses bar coding, there are many benefits to be gained from using this system. Barcodes improve operational efficiency, improve customer service, and improve visibility into key business processes and management practices. Other benefits of barcoding include:

  • Get data immediately. Scanning barcodes is significantly faster and easier than documenting or recording information.
  • Accuracy. Keyboard operators make an average of ten errors for every 1,000 characters typed, compared with one error for every 10,000 readings for optical character readers, and one error for every 3 million. symbols with the help of wands and one error per 70 million entries with the help of laser technology.
  • Easy to implement. Most barcode scanner operators learn how to use the equipment in less than 15 minutes, and barcode labels are read by thousands of available devices.
  • Cost-effectiveness. Barcode systems often recoup the investment in 6-18 months and provide the highest level of reliability in a wide range of data collection applications; Barcode systems save time and prevent errors.

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