Whether you run a large corporation, a start-up, or something in between, you can benefit greatly from having a barcode inventory management system. For one, it can save you money and time in nearly all departments of your business. Along with that, you can boost the efficiency of your enterprise without breaking a sweat.
Essentially, a barcode label provides a way for manufacturers, consumers, and distributors to identify a product accurately. So a product that has a barcode can be scanned using barcode hardware that is coordinated with the existing management software system. Scanning barcodes finds use in many inventory control applications such as order picking, conducting inventory counts, warehouse transfers, and receiving inventory. To achieve this, the barcode inventory control system must have the ability to do the following:
Scan and print barcodes
First off, a barcode inventory system must be able to scan and print as many barcodes as possible onto labels. Once the labels are printed, you can attach them to any product, bin, shelf unit, and any virtually anything that you want to identify, re-order, and receive through scanning.
Track products across many geographical locations
Your barcode inventory system should also not be limited to the current location of a product but rather, multiple locations. Additionally, you should be able to check the quantities of the product in other stores and warehouses to see if there’s a need from transfer between specific locations.
Handle management of orders
A barcode system makes order management easy especially for small businesses. You can check the status of all orders in an instant and even place new ones by scanning a barcode. It also enables you to go over your warehouse and automate reorder points on your orders so you can be informed when you need to buy more products. This way, you can avoid product shortages.
Ship, count, and receive inventory
Rather than using pen and paper for cycle counts, you can enlist the help of a barcode inventory system for accuracy and speed. A barcode scanner will show you the current location of the item, update it, and speedily ship it during the picking process. Once you receive the items, you can confirm from the purchase order if you got what you had ordered.
By now, you know if your barcode inventory management system is up to par or not. If one of the characteristics is missing, you might want to do the needful to maximize its potential. Hopefully, the above guide will help you choose the right barcode inventory management system.
