Barcoding News
Data tracking news, product updates, tips, and more
Datalogic’s New QuickScan QD2131 Linear Imager
Datalogic has announced their newest QuickScan product: the QD2131 1D linear imager. This is an entry level scanner with enhanced performance for general linear bar code scanning applications. When compared to the current QuickScan QD2130 imager, the new QD2131 imager brings to the table many enhancements in all aspects of scanning:
- A longer reading range and depth of field (DOF)
- A wider scan angle and field of view (FOV)
- A brighter, crisper and longer scanning line
- Snappier bar code reading
- A more durable and sturdy look and feel
Additionally, the QuickScan QD2131 imager will have the updated QuickScan product family look and will be able to share the same stands and accessories as the QuickScan QD2400 imagers.
Case Study: Datamax-O’Neil Performance Series Meets the Challenge of Small Text and Data on Cryogenic Labels
For a leading ISO 13485:2003-certified OEM manufacturer of enzymes, meeting the rigorous demands of commercial entities engaged in the development, manufacture, and distribution of platforms dedicated to nucleic-acid identification is a daily challenge. Enzymes are critical to the performance of these applications, and the industry’s relentless pursuit of higher performance emphasizes the need for analytical-reagent purity and absolute production consistency.
Operating from the perspective that they are “a manufacturing division of their customer,” the company consistently delivers the highest quality and value enzymes, leveraging them to drive customer success via a business partnership model. Part of that consistent delivery means labeling goods so that they are easily and accurately identified when they arrive in the lab.
Problem
When enzymes are manufactured, they start in batches of 50-gallon vats, and then are broken down into small vials as part of a kit sold to research and testing facilities. These vials must be labeled individually; the labels include a great deal of data, two-dimensional barcodes, and very small type. Because of the temperatures at which they need to be maintained, cryogenic polypropylene labels are used.
Why Digital Signage?
Why do retailers need Digital Signage today? It can educate, entertain, and sell. Elo Touch Solutions is a market leader and has many different solutions ranging from 10” to 70”. With companies like Industry Weapon creating innovative content that fit all of their hardware platforms you will have no shortage of options. If you are looking to increase your sales or brand look to Elo for all your Digital Signage needs.
7001LT Digital Signage Display
- Big, bright, and beautiful “lifesize” scale delivers interactive brand experiences
- Thin, commercial-grade touchscreen ideal for wayfinding, whiteboard, and other office applications
- Optional plug in Intel Core i3/i5 processors running Microsoft Windows
- Infrared for up to 10 points with “Built for Touch” reliability
I-Series Interactive Signage Digital Signage Display
- Professional-grade touchscreens managed with cloud-based software – powered by your content
- Stylish front that excites Marketing
- Management and security that keeps IT happy
The Benefits of Implementing a Gift or Loyalty Card Program
Implementing a new gift or loyalty card program can have significant material benefits to your business. Businesses have reported that gift cards deliver increased revenues, increased margins, interest from unredeemed balances, increased potential for future sales and a decrease in returned merchandise. Customers feel an attachment to the brand, which results in increased retention
Gift card offer the following benefits
Revenue increases. Uplift, or the amount that a customer spends over the amount of the gift card, averaged $23 for each card sold in 2008. Also, gift cards attract new customers, with 11% of recipients indicating that they never or rarely visit the issuing merchant’s locations
Zebra Launches WiNG 5.8
Zebra has announced the launch of the WiNG 5.8 software release. WiNG 5.8 is a major software release for the WLAN portfolio of products delivering a variety of new features and capabilities including: Zebra NSight –a new network visualization engine with rich analytics that makes it easier than ever to manage and troubleshoot your WLAN; Application Visibility and Control (AVC) to give you complete control over the applications that are running on your WLAN and fine-tune/rate-limit based on the business need; a full-featured Guest access solution with self-registration, support for social media login credentials for guest access and large data-store for guest user profile; Mobile extension enhancements for better wireless experience for Zebra mobile devices; Centralized EX-3500 switch management through NX.
In addition, 5.8 release supports following new hardware platforms
White Paper: Mobile Coupon Return on Investment
Mobile coupon popularity is growing rapidly in the retail sector. One analyst firm, solely focused on mobile, predicts that mobile coupons redeemed will almost double between 2014 and 2019 to more than 31 billion.
Initially, the move to incorporate mobile coupons into the mix of discounts available to consumers was driven by retailers wanting to provide a unique and improved consumer experience. In addition, a handful of retailers were looking for a solution that would limit their coupon liability exposure through the use of one-time-use mobile coupons. Today, a majority of retailers are interested in the ROI of implementing a mobile coupon solution as mobile coupon use is becoming increasingly popular with consumers. This is also driving the adoption of area-imaging (2D) scanners capable of reading QR codes and other coupons directly off the screen of customers’ mobile devices.
Zebra’s New ET50/55 Enterprise Tablets
The enterprise tablet market barely existed a few years ago and yet the adoption of enterprise tablets continues on an upward trajectory that few predicted where an ever increasing set of applications and use cases are emerging. On one hand, big windows applications are being modified to support mobility. On the other, needs being satisfied by traditional mobile handheld devices are now being met with enterprise class tablets providing improved processing power, battery efficiency, and durability.
Today’s fragmented tablet market creates a distinctive opportunity for Zebra Technologies and the introduction of the ET50 and ET55 line of tablets. ET5X tablets are not consumer grade solutions and nor are they fully rugged, high tier PC devices. ET5X takes a value approach by delivering the reliability and enterprise solutions that consumer tablets miss while being selective on the features and specifications to control costs. A diversity of ET5X accessories enables a myriad of enterprise use cases in various verticals including field service, transportation and logistics, direct store delivery, manufacturing, and retail/hospitality.
Transforming the Customer Experience with RFID
Despite the explosion of online choices, customers still value seeing and touching merchandise firsthand – an experience only available to them in a brick-and-mortar store. When retailers add the cutting-edge benefits of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to that unique advantage, they help close the all-to-common gaps in service, information and inventory of traditional retail and open more opportunities for sales and customer satisfaction.
RFID empowers retailers like never before, elevating shopping into an enriching and positive experience. With RFID as part of a total solution, retailers can greet customers by name, impress them with a wider selection of merchandise, and better serve them with faster assistance, deeper product information and more personalized promotions. What’s more, retailers can turn shopping time into social time with RFID enabled kiosks that enable customers to interact with their social network of family and friends. And when customers are ready to buy, so are retailers. RFID applications can identify merchandise, recognize loyalty accounts and facilitate mobile transactions. Even fulfilling customers’ needs is easier using RFID. Retailers gain real-time visibility into inventory, so they can expedite fulfillment of orders from closer locations. In short, RFID – along with advanced retail technology – can help keep customers happy and coming back in this intensely competitive industry.
Zebra DS4208 vs. DS4308 Side-By-Side Comparison
When choosing the right 2D imager you ultimately need a device that meets the demands of your specific application while being easy to use out of the box.
Historically, the DS4208 was one of the most popular imagers from Motorola/Zebra which has been discontinued and replaced with the even more capable Symbol DS4308. The chart below is a quick comparison of the new features and capabilities found in the newer DS4308.
If you’re looking for a new 2D imager, the DS4308 is a scanner that will easily improve the efficiency and speed of any scanning application.
 DS4208 |
 DS4308 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Market Positioning | Introductory: 1D/2D Imager for paper/ mobile bar codes | 2nd Generation: 1D/2D Imager with PRZM technology which enhances decode performance and snappiness, dramatically improving the user experience |
| Market Advantage |
|
|
| DEFAULT SETTINGS | ||
| Quick Keypad Emulation | Disabled | Enabled |
| Unique Barcode Reporting in Continuous Barcode Mode | Disabled | Enabled |
| Emulate Numeric Keypad | Disabled | Enabled |
| Length for Code 39 | 2 to 55 | 1 to 55 |
| Code 93 | Disabled | Enabled |
| Length for Code 93 | 4 to 55 | 1 to 55 |
| Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF) | Disabled | Enabled |
| Lengths for I 2 of 5 | Fixed Length = 14 | 6 to 55 |
| Length for D 2 of 5 | Fixed Length = 12 | Any Length (1 to 55) |
| Codabar | Disabled | Enabled |
| Lengths for Codabar | 5 to 55 | 4 to 55 |
| Matrix 2 of 5 Lengths | Fixed Length = 14 | 4 to 55 |
| GS1 DataBar Limited | Disabled | Enabled |
| USB Fast HID | Disabled | Enabled |
| USB Polling Interval | 8ms | 3ms |
| Different Symbol Time-out | 200ms | 100ms |
Case Study: Using High-Speed Communications to Improve Paradise
SITUATION
Due to an outdated communications infrastructure and inefficient public and guestroom Wi-Fi access, the Grand Hyatt Kauai’s guest satisfaction ratings were dropping.
Although one of Hyatt’s showcase resort properties, the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa was struggling with low guest satisfaction scores in its high-speed Internet service. The property’s outdated frame relay and microwave system was constantly going down during heavy rainstorms, requiring numerous resources— including helicopter service—and up to two weeks to fix problems. In addition, Wi-Fi service in guest rooms was slow, inconsistent and unreliable, especially during high occupancy periods like the holiday season.
SOLUTION
Working with a new service provider and using Zebra technology, the Grand Hyatt Kauai successfully completed the upgrade before the 2012 holiday season.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai worked with island-based systems integrator Pacific DirectConnect, a company highly experienced in the use of Zebra’s leading edge wireless technology. The team installed a high-speed wireless network using Zebra indoor Access Points (APs) and three-port wall plates in guestrooms, outdoor APs for property-wide roaming and an RF Switch (RFS) controller for consistent, reliable coverage everywhere on the resort. The system enables the resort to communicate with Wi-Fi-enabled devices, and the Hyatt corporate platform.
