Improve the Check-Out Experience with Zebra On-Counter Scanners
Convenience is the driving force behind every retail experience. From quick product availability to easy coupon use and a fast checkout, every customer wants an easy and trouble free shopping experience.
The last place you want sour any customer experience is the check-out line. Keeping lines short, easy, and fast is key. A common overlooked component to every point-of-sale system is the barcode scanner. Many businesses opt for the least costly barcode scanner not realizing how it may effect the overall experience. The sooner items are scanned, the faster a customer can be on their way.
Where you would once see a basic 1D laser scanner, today the use of 2D Imagers like the Zebra DS9208 has become a more capable solution. Imagers require less aiming and provide faster reading on printed product barcodes but can also read 2D codes from mobile coupons, mobile gift and loyalty cards, boarding passes and even theater tickets. The DS9208 can even read barcodes off of a phone screen.
The DS9208 provides all the features you need to keep your workers productive, industry-leading scanning speed, true point-and-shoot scanning simplicity ‘ no need to align bar code and scanner, and hands-free and handheld flexibility.
1D vs 2D Barcodes Explained
When it comes to tracking anything from basic inventory to patient data, choosing the right type of barcode can be the difference in how effective your system works. Everyone is familiar with the standard picket fence 1D linear barcodes but more and more applications are migrating to 2D barcodes. Both types of codes have their benefits and advantages and our specialists at Barcodes, Inc can help you determine which is the best fit for your needs.
The Most Common Causes of Unreadable Barcodes
Item identification and data acquisition through barcodes is critical to the function of automated operations, from ensuring that the correct components are used in the assembly of a smart phone to recording accurate patient data for samples in a laboratory. When poorly-marked or damaged barcodes result in “no-reads” or failures, loss of data can have disastrous effects on product integrity and corporate reputation – not to mention potential legal implications and serious risks to consumer welfare. Understanding the root cause of unreadable barcodes and using technology appropriately to prepare for or resolve these issues is simple to do and it can mean the difference between success and failure in automation. This white paper describes potential solutions for the most common causes of unreadable barcodes, including:
- Low Contrast
- Quiet Zone Violations
- Improper Reading Position
- Print or Mark Inconsistency
- Damage or Distortion
Evaluating Barcode Reading Technologies: Laser vs. Imager
Choosing the right barcode reading technology is fundamental to achieving optimal performance from a data collection solution. As new symbologies and technologies are developed, the choices are more varied than ever. There has been much debate on the merits of laser-based and camera-based barcode readers, and in fact, some have asserted that only image-based readers should be considered for new automation applications.
Should laser barcode scanners be considered “obsolete” technology and are imagers (camera-based readers) the only viable technology for today’s applications? While imagers have seen increased use due to the growing adoption of 2D symbols such as Data Matrix, laser scanners still set the standard for accurate, high speed barcode reading in many applications. The optimal barcode reading solution will be dictated by the specific requirements of an application.
