Barcodes are everywhere, appearing on nearly every product, part and package. Barcodes automate and streamline the production, shipping and receiving processes. But when barcodes fail, problems ensue. While your equipment may scan your barcode, it may not scan at the receiving dock.
Unreadable barcodes break the chain of data and disrupt operations. Products are not on the shelves, affecting sales. And unreadable barcodes can increase returns or result in chargebacks, fees and fines. Excessive chargebacks and fees can affect your company’s reputation and can result in retailers not doing business with you in the future.
Barcode verification is the best way to avoid problems associated with unreadable barcodes, ensuring that when a barcode leaves the facility, it’s 100 percent accurate 100 percent of the time.
What Is Barcode Verification?
Barcode verification is the process of grading the quality of barcodes using industry standards such as ANSI or ISO. Barcode verification works by grading barcodes A through F for ANSI, and 4 through zero for ISO standards.
Barcode verification ensures that barcodes meet industry standards and are readable when they leave the warehouse and also ensures customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
Why Do You Need Barcode Verification?
For companies that do business with Walmart, Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, or other big retailers known for issuing chargebacks for unreadable barcodes, barcode verification will help keep product moving to and through their shelves, keeping sales up and costs down.
For companies that work with regulated industries such as health care, automotive or aerospace, fines for non-compliance can be avoided.
In all cases, your company will remain in the good graces of your customers, and provide these other benefits.
Benefits of Barcode Verification
100% Accuracy 100% of the Time
If a barcode isn't readable at the destination, the shipment may still be received using manual data entry, which is error prone. Barcode verification ensures that every barcode works and maintains data accuracy throughout the supply chain.
Increased Efficiency in Operations
Barcode verification is automated. Employees allocated to spot checking barcodes can be freed up to work in more productive areas. Additionally, a barcode printer integrated with verification will catch failing printheads before they cost your operation downtime, as well as indicate when printheads need cleaning due to poor print quality.
Cost Savings
Barcode verification reduces expenses due to wasted or excess labels, reprinted labels and wasted packaging.
Say Goodbye to Rejected Shipments and Fees
The verification process captures historical data on barcode quality that can be shared with customers. If it can be verified that the barcode scanned when it left your facility, it's possible to dispute chargebacks and fees. This is especially beneficial for operations that are printing barcodes using thermal transfer ribbons. It is common for barcodes printed when the ribbon wrinkles to be rejected; however, barcode verification catches this before the label goes out the door.
Implementation is Easier than Ever
Barcode verification may be easier than you think to implement. Older verifiers were clunky to use and required trained technicians to configure and calibrate. Products like Honeywell’s PX940 are designed for easy setup and operation. The PX940 is a high-performance industrial printer that prints labels and verifies in one step, and can verify multiple 1D and 2D codes on one label. You can even include a report with each shipment to show that the barcode is verified, or provide reports to customers on an as-needed basis if a barcode is questioned.
Conclusion
Barcodes are everywhere because they automate processes to ship quickly and accurately at the lowest cost. But when the barcode becomes a weakness in the process, the opposite happens. Barcode verification keeps your products moving swiftly through the supply chain while minimizing costs due to chargebacks, fees and fines, and will help you preserve your good customer relationships.
