SR
EN
DE
SLERP
Barcode scanners in the warehouse — are they worth it?
How barcode scanning speeds up goods receipt and issue and reduces errors, and what you need to introduce it.
Manually entering item codes during goods receipt or issue is a slow, error-prone process — typing one wrong digit in the code means the system shows the wrong item or the wrong quantity, and the mistake is often discovered much later when it is harder to fix. A barcode scanner, or even an ordinary phone camera, solves both problems — speed and accuracy — at once.
The concrete benefits of scanning
Considerably faster goods receipt and issue — scanning a barcode takes a fraction of a second compared to manually finding and typing an item code into the system.
Fewer errors entering quantities and codes — the machine reads exactly what the label says, without the typo risk always present with manual typing.
Precise tracking of who received or issued a given item and when — every scan leaves a trace with time and user, useful both for control and for resolving disagreements about "who took what".
What you actually need to start
A warehouse system that supports scanning in software — the good news is modern systems do it through an ordinary phone camera, without needing expensive specialised equipment to start.
Barcode labels on items or pallets — if items already have a manufacturer's barcode, it can be used directly; if not, printing your own labels is a cheap, quick process.
Short training for warehouse staff — the scanning process itself is intuitive, but a couple of days of practice helps it become routine before fully relying on the new system.
Related
Nikola Cerić
Founder & CEO, Manage IT
More than 10 years of software development experience — in his own company and in major IT companies across the Balkans.