5 Ways Barcode Scanner Can Improve Your Online Store
Stores worldwide adopted barcode scanning in the 1980s. The technology was further improved by the Japanese company, Denso Wave, which developed the QR Code. The two types of codes differ in terms of data storage capacity and readability.
Barcodes comprise 20 data characters, they’re one-dimensional and read linearly. But QR codes include up to 7,100 data characters, they’re two-dimensional and read both horizontally and vertically. Nevertheless, both codes share the same main principle.
They allow real-time data transfer, which improves record-keeping and inventory management. With the rise of the smartphone and eCommerce businesses, scanning codes has also evolved. Here’s a list of the 5 ways in which barcode scanning improves your eCommerce business.
Real-time Access to Inventory
Instant access to your inventory is useful for both brick and mortar stores and eCommerce businesses. Use high-performance software solutions and barcode scanner in c# to ensure that your inventory management is accurate.
Online stores deal with storage houses and shipping centres, which can cause confusion when centralizing data from multiple locations.
With scannable codes, you can track products to make sure you don’t run out of stock. You can track what products are available and which aren’t. This way, you’ll streamline and improve the customer shopping experience.
Integration with Accounting Software
Once you’ve adopted barcode scanning with your inventory management system, you can integrate it with your business’ accounting software. You’ll increase productivity and ensure seamless inventory management. As every product has a barcode, you can easily track it and update your accounting system.
What’s best scanning barcodes minimizes any inventory errors. While human error during inventory accounts for 1 in 100 entries, barcodes errors stand at a ratio of 1:10000. And even a small inventory error can lead to significant financial losses.
Seamless Order Fulfilment
Scanning barcodes allows eCommerce stores to offer precise package tracking. With the advancements in online stores, customers are focusing more on tracking their orders, to make sure that delivery is accurately on schedule.
This way, you can prevent misplaced packages or delayed deliveries. You can centralize delivery and tracking data in one code to ensure that all the information is accurate. Considering that every product has a barcode, you can have complete control over your inventory.
For example, warehouses can scan items once they’re received or leave the premises. Shipping companies can confirm that products are loaded or unloaded. And customers can confirm safe receipt of their orders by simply scanning the barcode.
Guides In-store Customers to Your Online Store
According to a study performed by SessionM in 2015, about 90% of shoppers in brick-and-mortar stores use their smartphones during shopping sessions. Almost half perform price comparison on their smartphones and check for online reviews or extra information about the product.
Shoppers can scan a barcode to find products. With scannable codes, you have an additional chance to win customers over before they checkout, especially when your company manufactures the products.
Engaging Marketing Techniques
You can use the barcode scanning technology to create innovative and engaging marketing campaigns. Because of the initial flood of QR codes, their use declined. Use them in moderation and place them selectively. For example, you can use QR code in social media campaigns to reach your target audience.
When you’re promoting discounts or coupons, use QR codes to reach your prospects. You can also use QR codes for better analytics data. You can find out how many times customers scan the product code. The data will show you if the marketing campaign was successful or not.
