Black, white, and used all over: The many applications of barcodes

Most people know barcodes from their experiences as consumers– these codes cause the "beeps" that sound off when a cashier scans items to add to the buyer's total purchase. These labels have indeed revolutionized the shopping experience, but at the same time, it might not readily occur to some people that barcodes have applications beyond the retail setting. Here are a few possible uses for these striped labels:  

 

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In libraries - Barcode systems are installed in libraries in order to manage the collection of books, cut down the time needed for checking books in and out of the library, and assist the staff in sorting the texts. The labels used in libraries typically contain information about the item number, call number, copy, and volume number, in addition to ISBNs and ISSNs.  

In hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies - Healthcare institutions with barcode technology find that issuing their admitted clients or patients barcoded wristbands makes it easier to keep track of treatment procedures or medicines given to the patient. Scanning these labels allows the clinician to see and add any updates to the patient's medical records. Blood samples and the like used in testing may also be tagged so that results may also be added to the patient's database. Pharmacies, meanwhile, use barcodes to identify drugs, dosages, and strengths, thereby avoiding medication errors.  
 

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For property or equipment custodians - Much like how librarians use barcodes to manage the books under their care, equipment custodians can stick barcode labels on furniture, appliances, and electronics, in order to take stock of their inventories. Having barcodes on items expedites and organizes circulation, loaning, and inventory keeping, especially for larger institutions.  

In manufacturing - The technology can also be applied in the production line where an item is scanned as it progresses down the assembly line, as a means of checking that a product has gone through the correct process.

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Barcodes have also been used to monitor student or staff attendance, restrict access to certain areas, and as a means of tracing the location of items sent through mail organizations like USPS and logistics companies.

Speedy Barcodes is a barcode number issuing-service that delivers verified, cost-effective solution for enterprises that require UPCs in their operations. Visit SpeedyBarcodes.com for additional information.

It's black and white: The world definitely needs barcodes

It's hard to imagine the world without barcodes. These tiny bars of alternating black and white stripes have put order to the retail industry since they first became widely available in the 1970s. Most businesses, regardless of size, can use barcode technology to ensure seamless and well-organized operations. The following are just some of its irresistible benefits:

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1. Accuracy. The best benefit of having a product coding system is the elimination of the possibility of human error. Manually encoded data are more prone to errors than data captured in a single scan. Barcode scanning is also much faster than typing product information by hand, allowing for speedy checkout and short waiting time. Also, because the bar code scanner is handheld and user-friendly, it only takes employees a few minutes to gain mastery of the device.  

 

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2. Affordability. Especially with the increased accessibility of technology, barcodes have become less expensive to design and print. They can be scaled and designed to fit items of any size, and can be read not only in physical retail stores but also on online merchants like Amazon, iTunes, and eBay. Companies like Speedy Barcodes provide International Article Number (EAN) and Universal Product Code (UPC) numbers at very affordable prices and with no renewal fees.  

 

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3. Inventory control. For retail stores, barcodes allow instant and precise tracking of goods and sales, and consequently, a more accurate control over the inventory from the warehouse, to the shelves, and into the checkout counters. Also, by scanning the products before and during delivery, logistics services can track their deliverables with much more efficiency.  

Acquiring EAN and UPC barcode numbers is much easier and more affordable than before with Speedy Barcodes. Visit this website to learn more about the company's services.