Thursday, June 18, 2015

Common Features Of Barcode Tracking Software

By Jeanie Bailey


Products, assets, and other inventory should be tracked by all companies. Using barcode tracking software makes the job easier. There are several different software providers that have their own systems and features. Customer demand has pushed these companies to provide a set of standards that are typically included with the product. Most include them as regular program features while others will charge for different add-ons. The main items included are inventory management, asset control, multi-site coordination, scanners, printers, and software system integration.

Keeping track of the products a company has on hand is the basic premise of inventory control. In the past, employees would be required to track everything on paper which slows the process and is very costly. In order to keep up with the fast paced global economy, companies have to keep better track of products in order to fulfill orders for customers in a timely fashion.

Keeping track of assets includes items that are usually not considered part of the products to be sold. Office furniture, work computers, and vehicles are primary examples of items a company may own as an asset. Keeping track of this information is important for tax purposes and can eliminate duplicate purchases when assets such as desks are already available for new employees.

Many businesses have multiple locations to store products. Retail businesses with more than one store may need to tag each product with the store location. Warehouses often ship or trade products in order to fulfill orders quickly. Using this feature a company can easily shift inventory from one location to another without losing track. This provides a better customer experience and eliminates wasted expenses.

Scanners are made in different formats. Wireless hand scanners are the most popular style. These are used by employees to scan items during weekly or monthly inventory counts. Using these scanners eliminates costly mistakes made by employees entering incorrect handwritten data into the system. Wired and desk scanners are popular in warehouses to check items in and out as they are transferred from one location to another.

Barcode printers have been manufactured for some time. They include special paper with a sticky sheet that is peeled and stuck onto the item. This allows companies to track products using their own barcodes. Using this type of system makes inventory management extremely efficient. The programs are also able to print the codes using standard paper.

Integrating the data with other software programs provides greater flexibility. Being able to transport the date electronically through an export process means the information will not be lost or changed when being imported into financial software, spreadsheets, or even via the Internet. Most will include the more popular data formats for export.

Companies must keep track of both inventory and assets in order to compete in today's global economy. The standard features of tracking software provide an efficient and effective way of handling this process. The systems reduce employee time and mistakes that could be very costly to a company trying to grow and compete. Using these systems ensures nearly immediate and perfectly accurate access to company inventory data which allows for better management decisions.




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