| Ever since the old Codebar barcode used in the | | | | 2D barcodes are far more complex in their |
| first automated library systems to the recently | | | | physical structure and the type of information |
| developed Intelligent Mail System and the | | | | they hold, understandable when you consider the |
| information-rich PDF417 barcode, there are many | | | | fact that up to 2000 characters can be stored on |
| different choices available, depending on what | | | | a PDF-417 barcode or up to the physical |
| your application is and how simple you would like | | | | restraints of the printer on a DataMatrix barcode. |
| the barcoding process to be. Simply choosing a 2D | | | | As a result, these barcodes are much more |
| barcode because it stores a lot of information is | | | | appropriate to compensate for the downfalls of a |
| blind to the cost of implementing a 2D barcode | | | | 1D barcode. However, 2D barcodes can only be |
| scanner or other imaging solutions, not to mention | | | | read by a 2D barcode scanner or a CCD barcode |
| the special decoding software you will need to | | | | scanner, the latter capturing the 2D barcode as |
| operate the whole system. | | | | an image and processing it using software |
| So what's out there in terms of barcoding | | | | algorithms. |
| technology, how will it benefit your business and | | | | The best use of 2D barcodes are when you want |
| most importantly, how much does it cost? All this | | | | to transport the data associated with that |
| depends on what you might want to store on the | | | | product independently. In other words, we do not |
| barcodes and whether you want to make the | | | | need to rely on the receiver of the goods to hold |
| most of the latest technological innovations to get | | | | a shared database that will translate an ID into |
| the most out of carrying information along the | | | | product information - all of the information stored |
| supply chain. | | | | about the product is held on the barcode itself. |
| First of all, the barcode symbology, or the type | | | | This is especially useful in postal situations, where |
| of barcode, is simply a standard way of encoding | | | | a 2D barcode would hold names, postal addresses |
| ASCII (letters and digits) into a format readable | | | | and return addresses. The receiver of this |
| by devices that capture light and process its | | | | information could easily use a CCD barcode |
| formation, also knowns as a handheld barcode | | | | scanner and store this information for future |
| scanner. | | | | purposes into a relational database, thus enriching |
| 1D Barcodes | | | | their inventory management system with contact |
| Many of the products you see on the shelves are | | | | details etc. |
| EAN-13 or EAN-8 format, referred to as a 1D | | | | The PDF-417 barcode may be ideal for this |
| barcode, readable by all laser barcode scanners | | | | concept, but what if you need to identify very |
| and CCD barcode scanners. These barcodes are | | | | small pieces of equipment such as a circuit board? |
| simple in their structure and simply contain a string | | | | Due to the nature of the algorithms used to |
| of numbers which are usually placed underneath | | | | create PDF417 barcodes, you will only be able to |
| the barcode. If the EAN-13/8 barcode is | | | | produce around 170 bytes per square cm. With a |
| damaged, the user can input the barcode into a | | | | DataMatrix barcode, however, the numbers of |
| POS for example and the result is the same. This | | | | bytes stored is simply dictated to how accurate |
| number (or ID) is typically assigned to a product | | | | your printer can reproduce barcodes at their |
| or piece of stock information, generated | | | | smallest size. Due to this restriction, it's |
| automatically by the stock control software or | | | | recommended to use only the highest quality |
| assigned manually as stock arrives into the | | | | thermal laser printer for such a task. |
| warehouse. | | | | Using a High Quality Barcode Scanner |
| For inventory management, this type of barcode | | | | Not only that, the 2D scanner you choose to scan |
| is useful because you can control what those | | | | the barcode with, whether it is a red laser |
| barcodes represent and read them easily with | | | | scanner or a high quality CCD barcode scanner, is |
| any type of barcode scanner or PDA device. This | | | | very important. If the barcode is too small and |
| results in a low-cost, easily implemented solution | | | | the CCD imaging technology isn't as accurate, |
| which will instantly save time and increase | | | | errors will occur in the scanning process or the |
| productivity in an environment that has access to | | | | scanner will simply not recognize the barcode. For |
| the same product information and IDs (usually in a | | | | example, the Symbol DS7600 barcode scanner |
| company that shares a product database but | | | | can read a datamatrix barcode as small as 1.1 inch |
| may have multiple sites). | | | | using its 1.3 megapixel CCD sensor. |
| One obvious problem with the the EAN-13/8 and | | | | So, with 1D barcodes, the considerations are fairly |
| other 1D barcodes such as Code 39 is that the | | | | straightforward - choose the most appropriate |
| information stored in the barcode is dependent -- | | | | barcode and use a regular laser barcode scanner |
| that is it needs to relate to something else. For | | | | or CCD scanner. However, with 2D barcode |
| example, if a piece of specialist equipment is sent | | | | scanning, you will need to select a barcode |
| from the supplier to a business that do not hold | | | | symbology that is compatible with your |
| common product information databases, a 1D | | | | application, select a barcode printer that will be up |
| barcode that contains a 12-digit number will not | | | | to the task and lastly choose a scanner that will |
| hold any value to that business. Therefore, all of | | | | be able to cope with small barcodes if need be. |
| the product information, including specifications or | | | | Don't let the myriad of options scare you aware |
| whatever else that the company will need to | | | | from using 2D barcode technology but be aware |
| know when receiving that piece of equipment, will | | | | of what you need to consider when implementing |
| need to be included in the barcode itself. | | | | such a solution. |
| 2D Barcodes | | | | |