Barcoding News
Data tracking news, product updates, tips, and more
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.
Infographic: Data Breaches – Is your Business at Risk?
The impending EMV Compliance deadline has brought more attention to Point of Sale security in general for all retailers these days. This infographic brings up the key concerns and steps you can take to keep your business and customers safe.
Advanced Record Keeping and Document Capture with Honeywell’s 4850dr
Document scanning and processing has historically been a task for traditional flat-bed style scanners to capture a basic image of the document. While these devices were once the only real option, they were limited by their slower speeds and moving parts that require regular maintenance.
Today we have options beyond the standard flat-bed scanner with faster, more capable full 2D imagers like Honeywell’s 4850dr. With no moving parts, the 4850dr can take full imagers of 8.5″ x 11″ or A4 documents on any color paper. On top of this, the 4850dr can also decode any linear, stacked, and 2D codes. on the documents for easier processing.
The 4850dr comes with an integrated suite of easy-to-use image enhancement tools can be used to sharpen text, improve contrast, reorient or magnify the image. In addition, built-in auto-cropping and an array of file configuration options and compression functions ensure optimum image quality and file size for your application requirements.
Streamline your recordkeeping and document management process with the accurate, full-featured 4850dr Document Imager.
Star Micronic’s SM-S230i Compact, High Speed Bluetooth Portable Printer
Star has announced the launch of their smallest portable printer. The SM-S230i is a compact, lightweight, high speed two inch Bluetooth and USB portable printer. The SM-S230i Bluetooth portable printer is compatible with all operating systems including Windows, Android, and iOS. With Apple MFi certification, the SM-S230i can easily connect and pair with the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
The SM-S230i is suitable for a wide range of mobile printing applications with no configuration changes required when switching between various operating systems. The clerk will be able to use the SM-S230i with an iOS, Android or Windows device with no set up required using its auto detection Bluetooth feature. This feature eliminates frustration caused from changing your settings when using devices with different operating systems. With an additional convenient connection option for USB 2.0, the SM-S230i can send fast transfer speeds of data and provide security with an easy plug-in USB cable.
Infographic: Manufacturing Solutions with Zebra and Barcodes, Inc.
Having the right technology is crucial to keeping any manufacturing chain running smoothly and accurately. From receiving to production and fulfillment, Zebra’s cutting-edge technology and Barcodes, Inc can help enable your business to achieve maximum efficiency with the greatest return on your investment.
White Paper: The Internet of Things
What is it?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the coming connectivity of everything you own, everything you see. No longer will access to the internet be limited to single point interfaces like your phone or computer, or single-point data sources like web pages or servers. Nor will it be limited to you! Everything you see can, and someday will, be interconnected and sharing data: your tv, your refrigerator, your home, your car, the roads you drive on, the building you work in, the package you’re delivering…everything.
So far, the Internet of Things has been most closely associated with machine-to-machine (M2M) communication in manufacturing and power, oil and gas utilities. Products built with M2M communication capabilities are often referred to as being smart.
Infographic: Warehouse to Register with Zebra and Barcodes, Inc.
No matter the retail application, Barcodes, Inc and Zebra have the cutting-edge technology and solution-based experience to empower your business from warehouse to the register.
Infographic: The Order and Chaos of Mobile POS
With the wide range of options for a Point of Sale System these days it can be a bit daunting to figure out which type will meet all your needs. Especially with the adoption of tablets and mobile devices as substitutes for a traditional computer, sometimes price may not be the driving factor in your decision.
Making sure you can process all the types of payments your customers will use, integration to other software systems, and transaction security are some of the key concerns when figuring out what type of system will work for your business. This infographic is a great primer and comparison of mobile vs traditional POS Systems to get you started on your decision. As any questions come up, feel free to contact one of our POS specialists at Barcodes, Inc for further assistance.
