Whether your company has a large event soon approaching, needs to perform a year-end inventory count, or simply wants to test drive a barcode scanner or mobile device, it’s now easy to rent barcode scanners from Barcoding Inc. With Barcoding Inc.’s Barcode Rental program, companies can easily rent the following popular devices:

• Motorola MC70
• Motorola MC9090
• Motorola MC55
• Intermec CN3
• Zebra Mobile Printers

In addition to renting the necessary hardware, Barcoding Inc. offers superior customer services, and CaptureSoft eXpress, a pre-loaded software application that allows users to design and deploy custom programs for simple data collection processes.

Average rentals last about two weeks, with extended options available.

If you’re interested in renting a barcode scanner from Barcoding Inc., learn more here.

Here at barcode.com, we often describe mobile devices as “rugged,” but what exactly does that mean? Since wireless technology is constantly being used in harsh environments, it’s important that they last through even the toughest of conditions. All mobile devices should have:

Physical Reliability
Accidents, such as spills, can happen, so physical reliability is crucial in mobile devices, especially when used in mission-critical environments.

Ruggedized Technology Categories
When looking for a truly rugged mobile device, be weary of claims such as “durable” and “semi-rugged.” Look for fully rugged laptops and handhelds that can withstand the toughest conditions.

International Testing Standards
Various government agencies and industry groups around the world have developed numerous performance and reliability standards, many of which require detailed testing procedures to ensure adherence. The most commonly followed ruggedness standards include the:

• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
• European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
• United States Military

A good rugged device will endure a series of “torture tests” that include water intrusion, salt, fog, humidity, dust intrusion, drop testing, extreme temperatures, sun exposure, shock/crash testing, vibration, and low pressure. When you’re in a mission critical situation, make sure the equipment is indeed fully rugged, not semi-rugged, to ensure that it has undergone the above testing.

Based On: Motorola White Paper

If you’re curious to see how companies use barcoding and RFID technologies to their advantage, then you’re opportunity has arrived. Barcoding Inc., in conjunction with Motorola (Symbol) will be hosting a warehouse tour at Ingram Micro’s distribution center in Carrollton, TX, on April 22.

This hands-on opportunity will provide you with the visibility to see how companies are using automated data collection to lower their total operation expenses and increase profit margins. Ingram Micro is an exceptional example warehouse because it is a $32 billion company that ships to over 165,000 customers worldwide, making it one of the most operationally efficient companies in the world.

By participating in the Ingram Micro Warehouse Tour, you will not only gain first-hand knowledge from industry experts, but also receive the opportunity to test-drive the latest hardware from Motorola and more!

If you’re interested in signing up for the Ingram Micro Warehouse Tour, you can register here.

Arthur Schuman Inc. is now the largest importer of Italian-style hard cheese, thanks to the help of automated data capture. Back in 2000, Arthur Schuman was still managing a large amount of inventory, but was still using paper-based systems for inventory tracking and management. They were using a legacy inventory management that had no data collection or inventory tracking functions, making it extremely difficult for workers to locate and process specific cheeses for order fulfillment. This lack of automation and real-time data made it difficult to track perishable products and created order-processing problems. In addition, since there was no data automation, each cheese was simply labeled with abbreviations of the type of cheese, demanding a lot of knowledge from warehouse personnel.

After much frustration, Arthur Schuman Inc. decided they needed a completely new, integrated system. After much searching, they decided to implement Intermec handheld barcode scanners with an accompanying inventory management system that provided automated data collection, order fulfillment modules, and many picking/receiving enhancements.

With their new system, Arthur Schuman was immediately to see measurable results in multiple areas of their business. Warehouse personnel became equipped with the Intermec handheld barcode scanners, allowing them to link to the whole enterprise via a barcode interface. The barcoding system included standardized label formats, making training quick and easy. Before the system, workers would be on a constant hunt for the proper type of cheese, but now orders were being transmitted directly to the handheld devices, providing them with a precise zone and bin location of the cheese needed. Orders that once took up to six hours to pick and pack now only take one thanks to automated data collection using Intermec handheld barcode scanners.

By automating their process, warehouse personnel were able to save time, and energy, and simply had to scan the bin, rather than interpreting product labels. This improved all aspects of Arthur Schuman Inc., slashing their per pound picked cost by 30%, doubling inventory turns, and reducing errors in every facet of the business.

Going from a paper-based system to using an automated data capture system with Intermec handheld barcode scanners truly helped Arthur Schuman Inc. become more efficient, allowing them to take the lead in the cheese importing industry. If you would like to find out more about what automated data capture can do for your company, please contact our sponsor.

Barcode Scanners can be hand-held or stationary and are used for capturing data stored in barcodes. A barcode scanner consists of a code reader and a decoder. These devices are connected to a computer through compatible ports.

The earliest form of barcode scanners contained a fixed light and one photo-sensor, but modern barcode scanners are much more advanced, having polygonal mirrors that use laser technology.

Barcode scanner are available in a variety of forms such as:

• LED Scanner: Often referred to as a CCD scanners, they are most commonly used in point of sale applications, with an average scan rate of 45 scans per second.
• PDA Scanner: Features a wireless portable data assistant (PDA) with a built-in barcode reader.
• Imager Scanner: Captures image of linear barcodes and can be used in slightly more rugged applications because they have no moving parts
• Fixed Position Scanner: Commonly used in the manufacturing industry as apart of the conveyer line
• Pen/Wand Scanner: A small, pen-like barcode scanner that can be swiped to read barcodes
• 2D Imaging Scanner: A small camera is used to capture the barcode image, which is then decoded by the reader using advanced digital image processing
• Handheld Scanner: Has a handle and trigger button that can be used to switch light source
• Stationary Scanner: Commonly used in supermarkets, these wall or table-mounted scanners decode the barcode when it passes under or beside
• Laser Scanner: Use a laser beam as a light source and either a reciprocating mirror or a rotating prism to scan the laser beam across the bar code.

The advent of barcode scanners has greatly increased the speed of data capture and processing and has become a key component in almost every facet of business. Barcode scanning allows for organizing inventory, monitoring goods, and ensuring security and has helped businesses streamline their workflow. Because of this, choosing the right barcode scanner for your business is essential.

Ask yourself the following questions before purchasing a barcode scanner:

• What environment will the barcodes need to be scanned?
• Will you need a portable barcode scanner?
• Which barcode symbology do you plan to use?
• What will the average scanning range be?

After considering the above, be sure to choose a reliable company that provides a scanner that meets all your needs. I personally recommend Symbol/Motorola barcode scanners, Datalogic barcode scanners, and Intermec barcode scanners. However, keep in mind that many times you cannot buy direct from a manufacturer. For more information on barcode scanners and how to purchase them, check out a value added reseller.