| We hear the statement "disadvantages of barcode | | | | within 3-4 months. Not bad! |
| scanners" from time to time and as we probe the | | | | The disadvantage of barcode scanners when it |
| customers that believe this we find a common theme. | | | | comes to change is referencing change to the work |
| Most customers that believe there are disadvantages | | | | place. Many organizations that have been in business |
| of barcode scanners are customers that are not using | | | | for many years have really tweaked their processes |
| them and keep a well managed manual system in | | | | and have many employees that have been trained |
| place because it works for them. | | | | and know the current way of doing things. Well, to |
| Many manufacturers and distributors still manage | | | | keep up with the competitive nature of business, |
| inventory on log sheets and with index card systems. | | | | change must be a part of the plan. Adding barcode |
| This was a tried and true method for years, but in | | | | scanning capabilities is really not that big of a change. If |
| todays world of speed and error free work, you | | | | you think about it, the scanner really only writes the |
| should not rely on your employees always getting the | | | | data for the employee. So, it really does not change |
| number right. The advantage of the barcode scanner | | | | much, it just makes the process easier and employees |
| is that it reads what is there. There is no way the | | | | usually embrace it. Really, who likes to hand right |
| scanner can transpose numbers or recognize the | | | | everything anyway? |
| number 0 as a letter o or a number 1 with a letter l. | | | | Now we are down to the last issue of durability as a |
| There are many human error elements that lead to | | | | disadvantage of barcode scanners. Today, barcode |
| duplicate work because of errors and the barcode | | | | scanners are designed for all kinds of environments |
| scanner prevents the errors of transposing and | | | | from libraries to industrial steel plants. No Disadvantage |
| mis-reading number and letter characters. | | | | of barcode scanner here. If durability is what you want, |
| Now the disadvantages of barcode scanners are | | | | take a look at this workhorse that has been around |
| usually perceived as cost, change, and durability of the | | | | for over 10 years. It is the Quick Scan 6000, now |
| rough environment that customers may think, there is | | | | replaced by the QS3800. This scanner is known as |
| no way we can automate. Well, lets look at each | | | | the Hammer! Over the years it has been run over by |
| disadvantage at a time. | | | | forklifts, dropped from high ladders, covered in ash and |
| The disadvantage of a barcode scanner because of | | | | it still keeps scanning. There are many newer models |
| cost is a real easy one to tackle. The costs have | | | | in the market today, but that is an example on durability |
| really come down on both inventory management | | | | in a barcode scanner. |
| software packages and barcode scanning hardware. | | | | So, now I ask, what are the disadvantages of barcode |
| The payback in time saved due to error free work | | | | scanners? If you have any thoughts that were not |
| and the speed in which cycle counts and inventories | | | | covered here, let us know. We are extremely |
| can be done can provide a return on the investment | | | | interested in hearing from you. |