subject: What Are Barcode Scanners Plus Why Are They Mandatory For Business? [print this page] Almost everything sold at retail or wholesale is fitted with a bar code. Even the tiniest items like lollipops carry a unique bar code that identifies what they are and the brand.
Height, width and spacing of the bars within the bar code are all symbols for what they actually represent. Depending on the types of symbols that are used in the code, each bar represents a type of data, whether it be numbers or alphabets.
When a bar code is scanned, it is converted into electrical signals by a photo sensor or bar code scanner and read in this manner.
Every product gives a unique signal since each barcode is distinct, and the signal is converted into legible characters by specialized software programs which accurately calculates the height, width and space.
Most of a time the reader sends the information to a connected personal computer and all of this happens in only a second or two.
The key tool is the decoder, which is efficient at taking upwards of 200 scans per scanning rate while not making a mistake. Scanners additionally come equipped with an automated identification function that will allow the scanner to recognize what kind of code is getting read.
There are many other very important bits to a barcode scanner, but what are all these parts intended for?
When you look at each of the merchandise across the racks of a supermarket, you may become aware that just about all of them have a "Universal Price Code" label. The scanner reads the bars of the UPC and tallies that to your bill.
When you are creating an annual report, a bar code can help you to account for your inventory. Those that are involved in retail see that their data is more exact and reflects fewer mistakes, while saving time and making business more efficient by scanning products.
This leads to a speedy checkout when in a store or store and saves customers time as well as cashiers.
by: Sandra Kerr
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)