Barcode Scanning - An Explanation
Barcode scanning has become common place in retail stores, yet so many retailers still do not adopt this easy and flexible technology because they assume barcodes are difficult to manage.
Stock Control software such as XSell Retail uses the system to accurately identify the item to stock control.
Some common questions about barcode scanning..
Q. What is held in a barcode?
A. Normally a barcode is a 13 character number. Sections of the code represent the supplier and other parts a unique number for that product. Some barcodes, such as the ones XSell EPOS prints allow the storeage of letters and numbers.
Q. My stock has many items that do not have a barcode, can I create my own?
A. Yes, XSell Retail has label printing is built in. You can opt to print a label for every item in stock or for a single item at a time for example. All common standards are supported.
Q. Can I plug a barcode scanner into my PC?
A. Yes, we can supply scanners in either USB or 'Keyboard Wedge' interfaces.Both of these formats convert the barcode information into 'typed text'. So when a barcode is scanned the embedded information is entered into your PC as if it were typed in via the keyboard.
Q. My Weighing Scales can produce Barcodes, will these be scanned by the XSell Epos software?
A. Yes, our software has been designed to extract price or weight information from embedded barcodes and calculate the correct selling price for that item. Full stock control is handled for these weighed items.
Q. Do I need expensive printing equipment to print in-house barcode labels?
A. No - We can supply a number of different models of barcode label printers, to suit all budgets and environments.
Q. Can we print a single label on demand?
A. Yes - POS can supply label printers that use labels stored on a roll, you can print as many or a single label per use.
Q. How does XSell or other software print barcode labels?
A. XSell Retail Software differs from many software products on the market, by not relying only on one barcode format 'code39'. XSell supports and can produce barcodes in formats including EAN13, UPC, CODABAR, 3 of 9 to name a few.
Q. Can we have a barcode label that relates to the same product but that sells the item at a different price, to achieve a special offer for example.
A. Yes XSell Retail supports multiple barcodes for the same item, ie. You may have 1 barcode that deducts a single item from stock at £2.99 and another that is linked to the same item yet it deducts 5 from stock at £2.49 - offering the customer a saving. Conversely, our software can scan barcodes on 'outers', and book in, for example 24 tins of beans.
