I Need Barcodes for my SMB, Where do I start?

Whether you have a convenience store or operate a big industrial supply business, barcode software is vital to the work of anyone who oversees physical goods. Barcodes can hold an extremely high product information volume in a tiny space and can be readily read by handheld devices, like modern smartphones.

Nevertheless, barcodes are not made equal: there are several kinds of barcodes, and each will store different numbers and types of information while differing in size. And because most of these barcodes look alike, they may create confusion when seeking to pick the right barcode for your company.

Let’s explore the different types of barcodes and which one fits your small business.

One Dimensional Barcodes

UPC

This is the most common barcode. They are commonly used in the retail sector. UPC bars record 8-15 digits of data and are mainly used in the U.S, U.K, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Europe to record retail product details.

EAN

These barcodes are regarded as a subset of the UPC and are used primarily by libraries, booksellers, colleges, and wholesalers to track books. The International Standard Book Numbers generate these 13-digit codes for each tracked book.

Code 128 and Code 39

Code 128 and Code39 codes are high-density linear bars mostly used in name badges, supply chain, and the US Department of Defense. These barcodes can store lots of details.

As a matter of fact, Code39 can hold up to 43 digits and characters, and Code128 can hold ASCII characters.

ITF-14

Commonly found in manufacturing, distribution, and warehouse. ITF-14 is a bar code that uses only numbers to encode a set of numbers. Every two digits are combined to produce a single symbol. The number of figures used should be even for the format to operate; therefore, zero is usually inserted at the end of a set of odd numbers.

GS1 Data Bar

These barcodes are normally found in meat, fresh produce, and sometimes coupons. They store data such as expiration date, weight, and other essential details.

Two Dimensional Barcodes

Aztec

These barcodes are commonly used in the transportation sector on bus and train tickets. They are handy since they can interpret any 8-bit code, such as digits and letters from ISO 8859, ASCII, and the Latin alphabet. Furthermore, these barcodes expand in size as more details are introduced. Therefore, you can place an almost infinite number of characters.

PDF417

This 2D barcode is mostly found in various forms of identification, including your driver’s license. It is also the Department of Homeland Security and USPS’s preferred standard because of its sophisticated abilities, like programming links to many data files.

Data Matrix

These are tiny 2D barcodes with high density. They can hold plenty of data and are also used to mark small electronic components due to their small scale. The size of the data matrix dictates the amount of data it can store.

QR Codes

These barcodes can hold a range of characters and are usually consumer-centered; they can be found in stores, restaurants, magazines, and advertisements. If scanned, they usually direct the user to a webpage, making it highly useful for marketing purposes.

How Will Barcode Benefit Your Small Business?

• Barcodes eliminate the risk of human mistakes. The frequency of errors for manual entry data is considerably greater than for barcodes. Barcode scanning is quick and accurate and takes exponentially less time than manual entry.
• Using a barcode inventory system minimizes staff training time. Moreover, your staff does not need to be familiar with the complete pricing or inventory procedure.
• Barcodes are very versatile. They may be used for every type of data collection that is required. This can involve inventory or pricing details.
• Barcodes improve inventory control. Since they track inventory accurately, the levels of inventory can be reduced. This leads to reduced overhead costs.

There you go: the most common types of barcodes for small businesses. With barcode software, your company will be more productive and organized.